WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads says long freight trains are safe and has told the Federal Railroad Administration that there’s no need for an emergency order that would cap train length at 7,500 feet. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen on Oct. 9 called on the FRA to limit train length, claiming […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
R.J. Corman leases closed West Virginia intermodal facility
PRICHARD, W.Va. — R.J. Corman Railroad Group has leased a former Norfolk Southern intermodal facility in Pritchard — the state’s only intermodal terminal when it was closed after four disappointing years — and originally plans to use it as a car repair site. However, long-term goals could see the facility, built for $32 million, returned […]
Broken rail caused March BNSF derailment in Minnesota, NTSB says
WASHINGTON — A broken rail caused the derailment and subsequent fire involving a BNSF Railway train in Raymond, Minn., according to a National Transportation Safety Board memo in the investigation docket of the March 30, 2023, incident released Monday. Twenty-three cars derailed in the incident, 10 of which were carrying ethanol; material was released from […]
Union calls on FRA to impose 7,500-foot train-length limit
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has called on the Federal Railroad Administraton to issue an emergency order setting a 7,500-foot maximum length for trains on Class I railroads, the union announced today (Monday, Oct. 16). The BLET said in a press release that the union’s national president, Eddie Hall, had […]
Brightline introduces new All-Station Shared Pass, revamps South Florida passes
ORLANDO — Brightline has introduced a new All-Station Shared Pass for frequent travelers between Orlando and South Florida, offering consistent fares over a 90-day period. The pass is good between Orlando and any of the five South Florida stations — West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura, and Miami — and is good for […]
New Jersey short line holds golden spike ceremony
FARMINGDALE, N.J. — The Delaware & Raritan River Railroad, a Chesapeake & Delaware subsidiary, celebrated the completion of its F&S Connection with a golden spike ceremony in Farmingdale on Oct. 13. The $12 million project extended D&RR’s Freehold Branch by 5 miles from Freehold to Farmingdale, where it joins D&RR’s Southern Branch. Interchange with Conrail, […]
NJ Transit fires official overseeing Portal Bridge replacement project
NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit has fired its head of construction management, who was overseeing the $2.3 billion Portal North Bridge project, NorthJersey.com reports. Mohammad Nasim told the news site he was given no reason for his firing last week other than being an “at will” employee, and was escorted out of the transit agency’s […]
One killed in coal-train derailment that closed I-25 (continuing updates)
PUEBLO, Colo. — The driver of a semi truck was killed when a bridge collapsed Sunday as a result of a BNSF coal-train derailment that has closed Interstate 25, Colorado’s main north-south highway, near Pueblo. An image from a Colorado State Patrol post on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, shows the train derailed […]
South Shore sets schedule for resumption of Michigan City-Dune Park trains
CHESTERTON, Ind. — The South Shore Line has released new schedules effective Oct. 25 for the resumption of train service between the Carroll Avenue station in Michigan City, Ind., and Dune Park in Chesterton, Ind., as well as continued bus substitution between Dune Park and the Gary (Ind.) Metro Center station. New schedules are available […]
Canada’s High Frequency Rail project begins Request for Proposal phase
OTTAWA — The Canadian government’s slow-moving process of developing its proposed High-Frequency Rail passenger route between Toronto and Quebec City is taking its next step. Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced Friday the start of the Request for Proposals process for the rail project, with a deadline announced only as “summer 2024.” Those proposals will come […]
CPKC announces schedules for Holiday Train, Holiday Express
CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Kansas City has announced the schedule and lineup for the 25th annual Holiday Train begun by Canadian Pacific, which this year will expand its route to visit a number of communities on the former Kansas City Southern. Meanwhile, the Holiday Express train formerly operated by KCS will also visit 20 locations […]
Stadler, California sign deal for hydrogen trainsets
SALT LAKE CITY — Rail equipment manufacturer Stadler and the state of California on Thursday signed a contract calling for Stadler to build four hydrogen-powered trainsets for use in the state, with an option for up to 25 more trains. The contract signed Thursday formalizes an agreement announced as a “memorandum of understanding” in September […]