Virginia rail official steps down

Woman in dark coat in front of Virginia flag

RICHMOND, Va. — Jennifer Mitchell, who as director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation helped the state reach a landmark deal with CSX Transportation to expand rail passenger service, is stepping down to take a position with the Federal Railroad Administration. The website Virginia Business reports Mitchell will depart on March 18 […]

Read More…

Railroads say unions’ request to end mediation is premature

Logo of the National Railway Labor Conference

ARLINGTON, Va. — The organization representing railroads in bargaining with labor over a new national contract is disputing a request by unions to move the process from mediation to arbitration, saying the two sides have not yet reached an impasse. The statement issued Friday by the railroad group, the National Carrier’s Conference Committee, was responding […]

Read More…

Hear the Whistle biography book review

Cover of book with man and train

“Hear the Whistle” is Jack Haley’s biography, written by his daughter. It primarily covers his career in the rail industry. His first short line in Iowa and Minnesota focused on the revenue side — marketing and sales — rather than trying to reduce costs by trimming staff and deferring maintenance. The book’s most interesting portion […]

Read More…

Delaware, Lackawanna & Western passenger trains

GL140303-1

The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad is Classic Trains’ railroad of the month for March 2022. Please enjoy this photo gallery highlighting DL&W passenger train images from Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library. This gallery was first published in August 2019.   Only from Trains.com! […]

Read More…

Railroads yet to benefit from East Coast intermodal boom: Analysis

Train of containers on high bridge

NEW YORK — East Coast ports are handling a record number of containers due to ongoing supply chain issues in California and the West, but railroads aren’t seeing this equate to more intermodal volume for a number of reasons. First, rail doesn’t have the same international intermodal market share in the East as it does […]

Read More…

NTSB report details fatal 2021 Arizona accident involving Union Pacific track worker

Aerial view of site of rail accident

WASHINGTON — The failure of an operator to stop a tie tamping machine — with the operator admitting he was in a panicked state because the machine did not appear to stop when he expected —  led to the death of a track worker struck by the tamper, the National Transportation Safety Board determined in […]

Read More…

State won’t enter dispute over ownership of North Dakota bridge

Steam-powered passenger train on large truss bridge over water

BISMARCK, N.D. — The state of North Dakota will not become involved in a claim that the state owns a BNSF rail bridge slated for replacement, leading the preservation group that made the contention to say it is “shocked” by the decision. The Bismarck Tribune reports the Friends of the Rail Bridge group seeks to […]

Read More…

Rail employee group voices support for Amtrak Gulf Coast service

Logo of Railroad Workers United

WASHINGTON — Railroad Workers United, which describes itself as “an inter-union, cross-craft solidarity caucus of railroad workers and their supporters,” has expressed its support for Amtrak’s efforts to launch service on the Gulf Coast — while taking more than a few shots at CSX and other Class I railroads. In a statement filed with the […]

Read More…

Minnesota bill would provide $20 million for short line capital projects

Man with glasses wearing coat and tie

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Legislation introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives would provide $20 million for capital improvements on the state’s short lines, which face significant costs to upgrade their infrastructure, according to the bill’s sponsor. Rep. Paul Tokelson (R-Hanska, Minn.) says the state’s 821 miles of Class II, III, and private rail lines […]

Read More…

Caltrain collision with ‘on-track equipment’ ignites fire; 13 injured

Train on fire with plume of black smoke

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — At least 13 people were injured Thursday when a Caltrain commuter train struck a vehicle described as “on-track equipment” and caught fire. Southbound train No. 506 struck the vehicle at about 10:38 a.m. near Scott Street in San Bruno, and caught fire, leading to evacuation of those on board. KGO-TV reports […]

Read More…

Amtrak recognizes Canadian Pacific as top host railroad

Two men on station platform with Amtrak locomotive in background

CHICAGO — In a brief ceremony in Chicago, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner has recognized Canadian Pacific for its sixth straight year with the industry-leading A grade on the passenger carrier’s annual Host Railroad Report Card. The report card measures the freight railroads’ performance in keeping Amtrak trains on time. Gardner presented a plaque commemorating the […]

Read More…