SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation requiring the organization overseeing Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner trains to assess the effects of climate change on its operations as part of its annual business plan. SB677, introduced by state Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas), requires the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency to identify projects to increase resiliency […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
News photo: NJ Transit’s latest heritage locomotive
NJ Transit has unveiled its latest heritage unit, painted for the Erie Railroad, one of its commuter-rail predecessors. The commuter operator released the photo of GP40PH-2B No. 4210 this weekend in Erie’s black-and-gold paint scheme, noting the railroad “held a large presence in the North Jersey commuter rail scene” and operated on what are now […]
Canadian National releases Winter Plan
MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway has released its 2023-24 Winter Plan, a document required by the Canadian Transportation Act in which the railroad details plans for operations during the winter months. “The plan serves as our compass, providing clear direction and objectives,” CEO Tracy Robinson says in an introductory statement. “It will enable us to […]
Operation Toy Train sets schedule for 2023
DINGMANS FERRY, Pa. — New stops in western Connecticut, eastern Pennsylvania, and southern New Jersey will highlight the 15th season of Operation Toy Train, the special train collecting toy donations for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots Foundation to benefit underpriviledged children. The train will operate for more than 200 miles across seven […]
Union Pacific issues Request for Qualifications for part of CREATE’s 75th Street project
CHICAGO — Union Pacific has issued a Request for Qualifications for property acquisition services for a portion of the CREATE Program’s 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project to be overseen by UP. The property acquisition will be part of Project EW2, the Belt Junction and 80th Street Junction realignments, between Ashland Avenue and the Dan Ryan […]
Brightline increases service between Orlando and Miami to 15 daily round trips
ORLANDO — Brightline is set to nearly double service between Orlando and Miami on Monday, Oct. 9, moving from eight to 15 daily round trips. Trains from Orlando to Miami run on a near-hourly basis beginning at 4:38 a.m. (good for an 8:11 a.m. arrival in Miami), with the last departure at 8:54 p.m. (arriving […]
LA’s Metrolink to offer free passes for students
LOS ANGELES — LA-area commuter rail operator Metrolink is launching a “Student Adventure Pass” program, allowing students with valid school identification to ride anywhere on the Metrolink system for free. The program begins this Monday, Oct. 9. Students can receive the pass via the Metrolink mobile app by registering via their school email address and […]
Cleveland man arrested for alleged attempts to derail trains
CLEVELAND — The FBI on Friday arrested a 43-year-old Cleveland man for allegedly attempting to derail trains on CSX Transportation lines used by Amtrak over a three-month period. Joseph Findley was charged in federal court with terrorist attacks against railroad carriers, Cleveland.com reports. He was ordered by U.S. District Magistrate Judge James Grimes to remain […]
Canadian government announces agreements to allow work to begin on Lac-Mégantic bypass
LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — Two key agreements to allow work to begin on the bypass to reroute rail traffic out of downtown Lac-Mégantic have been signed, Canadian Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said Friday, setting the stage for the first work to move forward more than a decade after the derailment and fire that killed 47 people. […]
No injuries reported in DART light rail derailment
RICHARDSON, Texas — A Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail train derailed in suburban Richardson on Thursday evening, disrupting service on the Red and Orange lines. KTVT-TV reports the southbound Red Line train derailed near the Galatyn Park Station, north of downtown Dallas, about 7 p.m. DART is saying the derailment was caused by a […]
Amtrak runs specials to mark CPKC performance
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Amtrak is operating two days of trips along CPKC’s former Milwaukee Road River Subdivision in Minnesota to recognize the company as Amtrak’s best performing Class I railroad in 2022. The trains make a round trip from St. Paul Union Depot to La Crescent, Minn., where they are turned on the wye […]
Broken rail led to 2019 Canadian Pacific oil train derailment and fire, TSB says
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — A broken rail led to a December 2019 derailment and fire involving a Canadian Pacific crude oil train near Guernsey, Saskatchewan, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said in a report released Thursday. The incident, along with another derailment in the same area about two months later, led to changes in Canadian […]