CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs today released the first photos of the railroad’s Western Maryland heritage locomotive. The unit, No. 1852 in honor of the Western Maryland’s founding year, was rolled out of the paint shop in Waycross, Ga., and into the sun. It includes the railroad’s fireball logo. “Here is the latest Heritage Locomotive from […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Norfolk Southern customers say activist investor’s short-term strategy would hurt service
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A vast majority of Norfolk Southern customers believe an activist investor’s plans for the railroad would worsen service and prompt them to shift some of their freight to truck or rival CSX, according to a Stephens, Inc. shipper survey released today. The Arkansas-based investment bank found that 91% of shippers believe […]
Indiana Rail Road executives Engle, Kaelin retire
INDIANAPOLIS — Michael D. Engel and Larry F. Kaelin, who played key roles in the success of the Indiana Rail Road during their tenure as executives, have retired, the railroad has announced. Both men retired as of March 31. Engel held the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer; Kaelin was vice president, […]
Eight charged in beer thefts targeting rail yards, warehouses in Northeast
NEW YORK — Eight men from the Bronx have been charged with involvement in a two-year string of beer thefts targeting rail yards and warehouses in the Northeastern U.S.. The thefts netted hundreds of thousands of dollars of beer; those involved face charges carrying maximum penalties ranging from five years to life in prison, according […]
Metra gears up for 2024 construction season
CHICAGO — With spring having arrived, at least according to the calendar, commuter operator Metra on Wednesday outlined plans for capital projects planned for the 2024 construction season. The Metra budget calls for $332.4 million in projects this fiscal year, including $140.7 million for bridge projects; $81.6 million for station and parking improvements; $66.2 million […]
U.S. rail traffic increases in March
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic was up 4.2% in March compared to the same month in 2023, the second straight month of year-over-year gains, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Traffic for the week ending March 30 was also up, the 10th straight week showing gains compared to a year ago. The […]
Intramotev battery-electric hopper debuts on isolated Pennsylvania coal mine railroad
ST. LOUIS – Intramotev, which is converting standard freight cars into autonomous rail vehicles, says it has successfully deployed the world’s first self-propelled battery-electric railcar in a traditional freight train. In what Intramotev called a major step forward for sustainable freight transportation, the company’s ReVolt hopper has run more than 1,000 miles making trips between […]
Norfolk Southern begins detour moves of coal that normally moves through Port of Baltimore
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern today delivered the first coal train diverted from the closed Port of Baltimore to the railroad’s Lambert’s Point coal terminal in Norfolk, Va. The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge following a March 26 strike by a container ship blocked access to the NS-served Consol coal terminal. “At Norfolk Southern, […]
Amtrak chooses joint AECOM/Jacobs venture to oversee Frederick Douglass Tunnel project
BALTIMORE — Amtrak has selected Advance, a joint venture by infrastructure firms AECOM and Jacobs, to manage oversight of design, construction, contract management, administrative support, and other aspects of the $6 billion Frederick Douglass Tunnel project. The project includes replacement of the nearly 150-year old, 1.4-mile B&P tunnel, a major bottleneck on the Northeast Corridor, […]
Design work under way on new Stuart bridge for Brightline, FEC
STUART, Fla. — Design work and other preparations for the new Florida East Coast/Brightline bridge over the St. Lucie River in Stuart are under way, the TC Palm newspaper reports, while FEC seeks a federal grant to address the $31.5 million grant to address the unfunded portion of the $218 million project. The current Stuart […]
Norfolk Southern acquires Chicago transload and warehouse operation
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has acquired Great Lakes Reload’s Chicago transload warehouse facility, which handles inbound loads of steel and outbound loads of agricultural and construction equipment. NS said the deal, announced on Tuesday, advances its strategy to convert so-called flexible freight to rail. Flexible freight can move via truck or rail. “Transloading solutions play […]
CN modernizes DM&IR fleet with acquisition of 600 new iron ore jennies
MONTREAL — Canadian National is acquiring 600 new iron ore jennies for its former Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway operation in Minnesota. Freight Car America is building the cars in Mexico using materials from U.S. Steel, the onetime owner of DM&IR. CN transports iron ore pellets mined by U. S. Steel to the company’s […]