SACRAMENTO, Calif. – President Donald Trump fired the latest salvo in the California High Speed Rail firestorm late Wednesday when he sent the following tweet: California has been forced to cancel the massive bullet train project after having spent and wasted many billions of dollars. They owe the Federal Government three and a half billion […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Utility to shutter rail-served, coal-fired power plants in Tennessee and Kentucky NEWSWIRE
The Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors approved closing the Bull Run Fossil Plant at Oak Ridge, Tenn., and the Paradise Fossil Plant Unit 3 in Western Kentucky on Feb. 14, 2019. Chattanooga, TENN. — A major Tennessee utility provider has approved closing two rail-served, coal-fired power plants, alluding to a changing landscape in electricity […]
Amtrak, New Jersey reach multi-million dollar settlement NEWSWIRE
Amtrak Chairman Anthony Coscia, left, speaks at a news conference in New York City Wednesday announcing a $189 million settlement agreement between the railroad and the state of New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett stand behind Coscia. Ralph Spielman NEW YORK CITY — New Jersey officials have […]
Amtrak to increase weekday service to Norfolk NEWSWIRE
Amtrak began serving Norfolk, Va., in December 2012. Fred W. Frailey NORFOLK, Va. – Amtrak will soon offer two weekday departures from Norfolk. Tickets are now available to purchase for travel to and from the waterfront city beginning on March 4. The first Northeast Regional departs Norfolk at 6:15 a.m. every weekday and arrives in […]
BNSF Railway announces billion-dollar capital spending plan for 2019 NEWSWIRE
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway today announced its 2019 capital investment plan of $3.57 billion. The emphasis of this year’s capital plan continues to be on maintaining and expanding its network with an unwavering focus on operating a safe railroad that meets customers’ demands. “Our rail network is in excellent shape and its condition […]
Dissecting ‘what’s next’ for California high speed rail NEWSWIRE
FRESNO, Calif. – California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s has tweeted a clarification following Tuesday’s “State of the State” address. He state, “We’re going to make high-speed rail a reality for California. We have the capacity to complete the rail between Merced and Bakersfield. We will continue our regional projects north and south. Finish phase 1 enviro […]
Infrastructure politics: Senate and House take up infrastructure spending bills NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — The wheels in Washington are beginning to turn on what could become landmark infrastructure legislation. “We are seeing are a lot of stars aligning,” says Brittney Kohler, program director of transportation and infrastructure at the National League of Cities. “The optimism is that Congress seems to understand, and local governments are prepared to […]
Nickel Plate Road No. 757 nearly traverses Pennsylvania NEWSWIRE
No. 757 passes the Wabtec plant at Wilmerding, Pa., on Wednesday. The locomotive is en route to Bellevue, Ohio, a former Nickel Plate Road hub. Steve Raith PITTSBURGH – Nickel Plate 2-8-4 No. 757 is still making tracks on its journey to Bellevue, Ohio, this week. The locomotive was spotted in east suburban Pittsburgh passing […]
Union Pacific announces another round of layoffs, closure of Pine Bluff shop NEWSWIRE
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific announced another round of layoffs on Tuesday that affects 700 employees and includes the closure of the locomotive shop in Pine Bluff, Ark. UP has notified the mechanical department that 450 positions will be eliminated across the system this month. In addition, 250 other jobs were eliminated, most of them […]
Virgin Trains USA delays public offering NEWSWIRE
A Miami-bound Brightline train crosses the New River at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on May 11, 2018. Bob Johnston MIAMI – Virgin Trains USA has postponed its previously-announced public stock offering. Company spokesman Ben Porritt issued the following statement to financial reporting outlets: “As we explored a public offering, a number of alternative financing sources became […]
California governor sinks SF-LA high speed rail plans NEWSWIRE
A high speed rail bridge under construction over the Fresno River near Madera in May 2016. Two photos, Bob Johnston SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In his “state of the state” message Tuesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he intends to withdraw the state’s support of the California High Speed Rail Authority’s plans to build a […]
Japanese railroad, manufacturers working on 250-mph bullet train NEWSWIRE
TOKYO — One Japanese railroad seeks to push the latest high speed train technology to nearly 250 mph with a new passenger trainset in development. The English-language version of Kyodo News reports on a 10-car “next-generation Shinkansen” train with a designed top speed of about 224 mph. The news site reports that the East Japan […]
