ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern shareholders delivered a split verdict today, sparing CEO Alan Shaw while electing three of activist investor Ancora Holdings’ insurgent director candidates and ousting its independent chair, Amy Miles. Investors sent a clear message that ends the bitter proxy fight. They backed Ancora’s desire for change but sought to give Shaw & […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Maersk begins planning for possible Canadian rail strike
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Shipping and logistics company Maersk has begun developing contingency plans for a possible strike by Canadian National and CPKC crews in Canada, including having ships call at Tacoma, Wash., rather than Vancouver, British Columbia. In a customer advisory, Maersk said it is working with CN, CPKC, and terminal operator DP world to […]
BNSF appeals outcome of Montana asbestos trial
MISSOULA, Mont. — BNSF Railway is appealing the results of a recent trial that found the railroad liable in the deaths of two people exposed to asbestos when mining materials were shipped from the town of Libby, Mont., delaying the start of a similar case, Montana Public Radio reports. In April, a jury found the […]
Santa Barbara agency asks for agreement for launch of Metrolink service
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The board of directors of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments has directed its staff to prepare a formal agreement for commuter rail service between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, following a meeting of the organization on Wednesday, KEYT-TV reports. The proposal would add an early-morning Metrolink trip for commuters […]
Minnesota DOT provides $9.6 million in funding for 11 freight rail projects
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Transportation has awarded a total of $9.6 million to 11 freight rail projects under the Minnesota Rail Service improvement program, the agency announced this week. Funding, approved during the 2023 legislative special session, supports economic development in regions across the state. “Improving Minnesota’s rail service gives local […]
Sparks from locomotive likely caused fire on CPKC train in Ontario, TSB says
LONDON, Ontario — Sparks from a CPKC locomotive’s exhaust likely triggered the fire that sent burning railcars through downtown London in April, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada has concluded. The CBC reports that the TSB has ended its investigation into the incident based on that conclusion, saying in a statement that “there is nothing that […]
U.S. weekly rail traffic flat for week ending May 4
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic was even with 2023 levels for the week ending May 4, according to the Association of American Railroads, ending a streak of 14 straight weeks showing gains over previous-year levels. Traffic for the week was 463,106 carloads and intermodal units. That included 213,410 carloads, down 5.1% from the corresponding week in […]
Passenger rail committee launched in central Texas
AUSTIN, Texas — Two Central Texas county judges have announced the formation of a committee to pursue passenger rail service in the region. The Austin Monitor reports that Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Bexar County judge Peter Sakai this week said they have fored the Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, a 24-member group seeking […]
Improperly lined switch led to CSX collision in Folkston, Ga., according to preliminary NTSB report
WASHINGTON — An improperly aligned switch during maintenance work that had signal operation suspended led to the collision of two CSX trains in Folkston, Ga., on April 15, according to the preliminary report on the incident released today (May 8) by the National Transportation Safety Board. Three crew members were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening […]
CPKC video teases completion of first locomotive in new paint scheme
Slightly over a year after the creation of the railroad, and more than 10 months after announcing its new paint scheme, Canadian Pacific Kansas City appears to be ready to actually unveil a locomotive wearing the livery. CPKC today (May 8) released a brief teaser video showing ES44AC No. 9375 entering a paint booth and […]
Union Pacific CEO advocates seamless border operations at Mexico gateways
CHICAGO — Freight train operations across the U.S.-Mexican border should be as seamless as they are across the U.S.-Canadian border, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena told a shipper group last week. Cross-border trains entering the U.S. from Canada use Canadian crews to reach the nearest rail yard — and vice versa. “I never used to […]
Concert for Michigan Central opening to feature Detroit artists
DETROIT — “Iconic Detroit performers” will headline the opening-night concert for the revitalized Michigan Central station, the company in charge of the facility announced Tuesday, although no specific acts have been announced. The Detroit Free Press reports that the lineup is not yet set as producers continue to nail down commitments, but names “circulating in […]