New York-bound ‘Acela Express’ train No. 2104 hurtles through Princeton Junction, N.J., on April 25, 2019. The discounted $87 Washington-New York September fare is available for Sept. 13 on this train but not on eight of 15 other ‘Acelas’ running that day. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON – Beginning today through Aug. 17, Amtrak is offering a […]
THE coal train that Kentucky coal miners have prevented from leaving the mine until they are paid back wages. Chris Anderson Coal miners are physically blocking a CSX Transportation branch leading to a Kentucky coal mine. Miners claim they are owed back wages of as much as $4,000 each. Chris Anderson CUMBERLAND, Ky. — The […]
North American intermodal volumes are expected to remain in the doldrums for the rest of the year amid a complicated brew of factors that will keep railroading’s growth engine stuck in low gear. That’s the view of a trio of TTX intermodal experts, who shared their outlooks during an Intermodal Association of North America webcast […]
Trains editors discuss the rail news that’s fit to publish. This week, editors talk about Alcos, Canadian National’s Alabama short line, and Amtrak food. Only from Trains! […]
Burlington Junction Railway has added four MK1500D locomotives to its already eclectic roster. The new units operate mostly around Quincy, Ill., where much of the traffic base is located. In this photo, three of the four units work the Quincy yard on July 3, 2019. Steve Smedley QUINCY, Ill. – The future of the unique […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Northeastern railway preservationists have saved hundreds of drawings — some dating to the 1860s — from Conrail predecessors from the shredder in what has been called a “monumental achievement” for railroad historians. The documents came from the Smithsonian Institution, which collected them between 1981 to 1984. With an Aug. 1 deadline to […]
Luis Arroyo, Illinois state representative Illinois General Assembly website CHICAGO — A key Illinois legislator appeared before Metra’s board Wednesday to take credit for helping the agency receive about $1.6 billion in infrastructure funding, but also chided the agency’s lack of Latino leadership, calling it a “good old boys network” that needed to change. Illinois […]
WASHINGTON — Short line operator OmniTRAX is throwing in the towel on its Central Texas & Colorado River Railway. OmniTRAX this week filed to abandon the 67.5-mile line, citing its dim prospects and millions of dollars in operating losses since it acquired the route in 2016. The prime culprits: New crushed rock traffic that never […]
Broiled salmon, mashed potatoes, and green beans on the ‘Crescent’ in July 2019. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON – A leaked Amtrak presentation that describes the elimination of Auto Train’s coach dining car and introduction of so-called “contemporary” pre-packaged meals on the New York-Miami Silver Meteor and New York-New Orleans Crescent may not be the last word […]
Black Mesa & Lake Powell crosses a bridge near Cow Springs, Ariz. Andy Kirol PAGE, Ariz. – The end is in sight for the isolated Black Mesa & Lake Powell Railroad in northern Arizona, with some reports putting the end of operation in August yet. Each day, except Wednesday, a single set of hoppers makes […]
The underside of a specially equipped boxcar on CSX Transportation. CSX Transportation JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation has significantly improved its key safety metrics during the past 18 months, with the railroad’s personal injury rate leading the industry so far this year and train accidents at their lowest levels in company history. CSX’s key safety […]
A replica combine is underway in Eastern Iowa. John Schumann MAQUOKETA, Iowa — The Bellevue & Cascade was a 3-foot gauge Milwaukee Road branch that ran between its namesake towns in eastern Iowa. The B&C lasted longer than any other Midwestern narrow gauge, being sold to a shortline railroad before finally folding in 1936. In […]
