Surfacing Weekly Update #25

7 October 2004

 

 

 

AGGRESSIVE SURFACING SCHEDULE CONTINUES “ON TRACK”!!!

 

As of October 7, we have surfaced over 660 of the 800 pass miles that we had projected to be surfaced in the 2004 production year, over 80% of the total miles scheduled.  All information from the field still indicates to us that the schedule will be met or exceeded yet this fall.

           

 

¨       The engineering management teams on both properties have determined that there is a need for another surfacing crew on the DM&E to complete the surfacing projects this year. Safe Trak will be starting on the Huron sub near the state line around the middle of next week and will surface from there to Volga SD

¨       We also recently added a contract surfacing crew from Progress Rail Services on the Kansas City sub and this crew will spend the remainder of the year on the Kansas City and River subs.

¨       The Railworks surfacing crew, on the DM&E who will work between Verdi and Huron for the remainder of the year.

¨       The ARB surfacing crew continues to perform well on the Waseca sub of the DM&E and will complete this project today, and then will do some spot surfacing on the Mankato Hill and east of New Ulm prior to finishing the year west of Sleepy Eye.

¨       As of October 7, 2004 over 205,000 tons of ballast has been distributed on both properties.  This is over 90% of the 230,000 tons of ballast that we now require to complete this year’s projects.  The engineering and transportation managers are working very closely with the New Ulm and LG Everist Quarries to complete theses deliveries on time.