Trains News Wire spoke with Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena after the railroad’s first quarter earnings call this morning. [See Union Pacific profits improve despite drop in coal.] UP introduced a Service Performance Index that showed how well the railroad met customer commitments during the quarter. The Intermodal Service Performance Index was 95%, while the […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Preview May and June Trains 2024 content
Up in May … We’re always adding new content to our website! Here’s a sneak peek at a few items coming up soon. Travel: Exploring London by rail Exploring London by rail unlocks the best the metropolis has to offer. As one of the world’s great cities, London is a popular destination for American travelers […]
News photos: First part of steam engine arrives at Wisconsin Great Northern
TREGO, Wis. — Duluth & Northeastern No. 27 — or at least part of it — has arrived at its new home at the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad. The boiler and rest of the superstructure of the Alco 2-8-0, long displayed at the Carlton County Fairgrounds in Barnum, Minn., arrived at the WGN in Trego […]
BNSF dispatchers join FRA’s Confidential Close Call Reporting System
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway’s train dispatchers will participate in the Federal Railroad Administration’s Confidential Close Call Reporting System under an agreement announced today. BNSF becomes the second Class I railroad to participate in the Confidential Close Call Reporting System, or C3RS. Norfolk Southern joined the program in March. The American Train Dispatchers Association, […]
Union Pacific profits improve despite drop in coal traffic
OMAHA Neb. — Union Pacific’s first-quarter profits rose despite flat revenue and lower freight volume. “We are pleased to be able to report earnings growth in a tough environment,” CEO Jim Vena told investors and analysts on the railroad’s earnings call this morning. Operating income rose 3%, to $2.3 billion, on flat revenue of $6 […]
Activist investor wins backing of union representing Norfolk Southern maintenance of way employees (updated)
CLEVELAND – The union representing Norfolk Southern’s maintenance of way employees has thrown its support behind activist investor Ancora Holdings. The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters said today that a change in leadership is necessary at NS. The union is backing Ancora’s full slate of director candidates […]
BNSF found liable in Montana asbestos deaths
HELENA, Mont. — A federal jury found earlier this week that BNSF Railway contributed to the death of two people who were exposed to asbestos when mining material was shipped through the town of Libby, Mont., and awarded $4 million each in compensatory damages to the estate of the two plaintiffs, who died in 2020 […]
U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, member of Transportation Committee and rail subcommittee, dies at 65
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Ranking Member of its Railroad, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, died Wednesday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced. He was 65. NorthJersey.com reports he had been hospitalized since suffering a heart attack from diabetes complications on April […]
Grand Canyon No. 4960 concludes April operations with Earth Day excursion (updated)
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — While the busy steam season for most locomotives is beginning to build up around this time, 2-8-2 No. 4960 is already in full form on the Grand Canyon Railway. The Mikado-type recently completed three April round trips from Williams to Grand Canyon National Park. While the locomotive performed well during the public […]
Racine council calls for contract to study Milwaukee-Kenosha commuter service
RACINE, Wis. — The city of Racine is continuing efforts to revive the proposed Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail project along Union Pacific’s line through those communities, with the Racine Common Council calling for a contract to study infrastructure needs for the project. According to the construction industry publication the Daily Reporter, the council passed a resolution […]
Citing safety issue, Metrolink temporarily ends carriage of surfboards
LOS ANGELES — In a truly California announcement, LA-area commuter rail operator Metrolink says it is removing nets designed to carry surfboards from its railcars. The agency says that a recent inspection determined that the placement of those nets would make it difficult to access emergency exit windows. “As a result, we are removing the […]
Completion of Maya Train pushed back to September
CANCÚN, Mexico — Completion of Mexico’s Maya Train, originally touted as coming in February and subsequently projected for April or May, has been pushed back to September after a decision to modify plans to avoid further damage to underground caverns along the incomplete section of the 950-mile tourist rail system. The work in the 120-kilometer […]