WASHINGTON — Federal regulation of railroads preempts state laws regarding regulation of grade crossings, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar has told the U.S. Supreme Court in a filing on behalf of the federal government. The filing, reported by WXIX-TV, came as the court considers whether to hear Ohio’s appeal of case regarding the ability of […]
Section: News Wire
Financial deal between Toronto, Ontario includes new subway equipment
TORONTO — Toronto will receive 70 new subway trains and up to $1.2 billion in operating support for subway, light-rail, and other transit projects, as part of a major deal between the city and the Province of Ontario announced on Monday. The largest financial aspect of the agreement will see oversight and costs of maintaining […]
Indiana Rail Road’s 33rd Santa Train set for this weekend
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Rail Road’s Santa Train returns for its 33rd year beginning this Friday, Dec. 1, making stops in a dozen cities on a three-day journey across the Indiana Rail Road system. At the locations listed on the schedule below, visitors will board the train’s decorated cars to visit with Santa and Mrs. […]
MBTA begins maintenance shutdowns on Green Line
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority on Monday began the first work in its massive program to eliminate slow orders on its rail transit network, initiating maintenance shutdowns on the Green Line that will run through Dec. 10. Full closures are set through Dec. 5 downtown between North Station and Kenmore; on the Green […]
Genesee & Wyoming switching subsidiary announces new contracts
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Genesee & Wyoming’s switching subsidiary, Rail Link, Inc., announced it has signed five new contracts since September with customers across the U.S. The agreements include handling of biofuels and liquid petroleum gases for a facility in Southern California; wood chips, chemicals, and containerboard for paper manufacturers in Savannah, Ga., and South Carolina; […]
CSX unveils Atlantic Coast Line heritage locomotive
A tribute to Atlantic Coast Line is the latest heritage locomotive to emerge from CSX’s paint shop in Waycross, Ga. CEO Joe Hinrichs posted photos of the locomotive on his LinkedIn account this afternoon. “Here’s the new CSX Atlantic Coast Line Heritage Locomotive fresh out of the paint shop in Waycross, Georgia,” Hinrichs wrote. “We […]
CTA’s Yellow Line remains shut down after collision
CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority’s Yellow Line remains shut down today (Monday, Nov. 27) as the Thanksgiving holiday period ends, some 11 days after the Nov. 16 collision between a Yellow Line train and a snowplow that injured 38 people. WLS-TV reports that the CTA has not offered any estimate when the line will […]
Failed wheel bearing caused Kentucky derailment, CSX says
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX says a failed wheel bearing caused the Nov. 22 derailment that led to an evacuation of residents in Livington, Ky., on Thanksgiving. In a Sunday statement, the railroad said it has completed the removal of all 16 railcars involved in the incident that occurred about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and has […]
Amtrak trains handle holiday crowds with less capacity, steep fares
CHICAGO — Airports and highways generally get the most media attention at Thanksgiving because they accommodate the majority of the people on the move during the nation’s busiest travel period. Passenger rail did get rare coverage last week on “CBS Mornings” with coverage of Brightline including a live shot and an interview with Amtrak President […]
Competition heats up under the English Channel
LONDON — Since the Channel Tunnel connecting Britain and France opened in 1994, a high speed passenger service operated by Eurostar has connected London, Paris and Brussels (extended to Amsterdam in 2018). Although competition on the route has been theoretically possible for decades, none has started — but this may be about to change as no […]
SMS Rail Lines 0-6-0 returns to steam, certified for operation (updated)
WOODSTOWN, N.J. — SMS Rail Lines Alco 0-6-0 locomotive No. 9 has been certified for operation by the Federal Railroad Administration after a 14-year restoration at the SMS shops in Bridgeport, N.J. The locomotive was built for the U.S. Army in 1942, working first at Fort Dix, N.J., and at Fort Eustis, Va., as No. […]
Weekly U.S. rail traffic up again
WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic was up for the second week in a row, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Overall traffic for the week ending Nov. 18 included 501,416 carloads and intermodal units, a 4% increase from the same week a year ago. That includes 237,416 carloads, up […]