Remembering the New York Central System — Part 1

To read Part 2 of George Drury’s New York Central history, click here History of the New York Central System The New York Central was a large railroad, and it had several subsidiaries whose identity remained strong, not so much in cars and locomotives carrying the old name but in local loyalties: If you lived […]

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News Wire Top 10 stories of 2020: Nos. 2-4

Continuing the Trains News Wire countdown of 2020’s top stories: No. 4: The PTC deadline It was a long, expensive process, but the railroad industry has met the huge technological challenge of positive train control. When NJ Transit announced on Dec. 18 that its PTC system had been certified, it meant the last railroad considered […]

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Digest: Honolulu gets extension for federal rail funding

Still more Wednesday morning rail news: Honolulu gets extension for federal funds withheld because of rail system issues Honolulu has secured a year-long extension for $250 million in federal funding for its troubled light rail system, but must make enough progress in that year to earn the release of that money from the Federal Transit […]

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Digest: Railroad associations granted exemption to trucking hours-of-service laws

Wednesday morning rail news: Railroads granted exemption to trucking hours-of-service laws The Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted railroads an exemption to the hours of service law for truck drivers. The Association of American Railroads and American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association had requested the exemption for their member railroads […]

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Orangeville, Ontario, short line faces abandonment

By: Stephen C. Host ORANGEVILLE, Ontario — The Orangeville Brampton Railway, a 34-mile short line between Mississauga and Orangeville, is slated to be abandoned after the line’s customers gave notice of their intent to terminate their contract with the railway. The Orangeville Banner newspaper reports the Orangeville Brampton Rail Access Group, which represents the customers, […]

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Digest: Metra, CP complete Franklin Park, Ill., CREATE project

More Tuesday morning rail news: Metra, CP, CREATE complete project in Franklin Park, Ill. Metra, Canadian Pacific, and Chicago’s CREATE program have completed the Canadian Pacific Crossover upgrade project in Franklin Park, Ill. The B1 project eliminates commuter and freight train delays by adding five crossovers and associated signals on Metra tracks used by the Milwaukee District […]

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News Wire top stories of 2020: Outside the Top 10

On Tuesday, Trains News Wire will begin counting down its Top 10 stories of 2020, a year marked by a wide range of stories in the realms of freight, passenger, rail transit, and preservation news. How wide? Well, 25 stories received votes in the end-of-the-year balloting among staff members and key contributing writers; excluding the […]

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Digest: NJ Transit resumes full operations after winter storm

Friday morning rail news: NJ Transit set to resume regular service following storm NJ Transit is slated to return to regular service today following a severe winter storm that brought rail service to a halt Wednesday night and limited operations on Thursday. NJ.com reports commuter rail service was partially restored at midday Thursday, with four […]

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Huron Central gets reprieve — again

Ontario’s Huron Central will continue operating until at least June 30, marking at least the third time owner Genesee & Wyoming has reversed plans to close the 173-mile line between Sault St. Marie and Sudbury. CTV News reports the company, which had planned to cease operations on Dec. 18, extended the deadline because of progress […]

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Railroads ride intermodal surge, with strong demand expected to continue

BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, and Union Pacific all set intermodal volume records in November as imports surged, retailers continued to restock depleted inventories, and consumer spending and e-commerce remained strong. The other big Class I systems — Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and Norfolk Southern — were handling intermodal volumes at near-record levels. “It’s a perfect […]

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Digest: Transit officials hold ‘virtual rally’ to pressure Congress for aid

Nine transit agencies participate in ‘virtual rally’ seeking COVID-19 relief funds Officials from nine transit agencies held a “virtual rally” on Wednesday, trying once again to stir Congress to provide COVID-19 relief funding to operations facing significant deficits and contemplating major service cuts. Taking part were New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the New Orleans Regional […]

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