OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific is now dealing with flooding along Texas’ Gulf Coast as a result of Tropical Storm Harold, adding to the issues it continues to address in Southern California from Tropical Storm Hilary. In a Tuesday evening update to customers, UP said a 5-mile stretch of track was underwater in Corpus Christi, […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
One tube of Gotthard Base Tunnel reopens for freight traffic
The east tube of the Gotthard Base Tunnel has been reopened for freight traffic and is available for almost 100 trains per day, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) reports. With that route now handling freight traffic that had been rerouted over the Gotthard Pass panorama route, improved passenger service over the panoramic route is planned as […]
Brightline says new Stuart, Fla., bridge would cost $218 million, take four years to build (updated)
STUART, Fla. — A new double-track bridge for the Florida East Coast Railway at Stuart would cost about $218 million and take four years to build, Brightline Vice President of Community Relations Ali Soule told Martin County officials on Tuesday. WPTV reports Soule appeared before Martin County Commissioners to ask them to pass a resolution […]
Amtrak to add Texas Eagle stop in De Soto, Mo.
DE SOTO, Mo. — Amtrak will add a Texas Eagle stop in De Soto, the De Soto city council announced at its meeting on Monday. The Leader newspaper reports that the announcement comes after a five-year campaign to gain the station stop. Council members have previously agreed to provide the matching funds necessary for construction […]
Union Pacific reopens Mojave Subdivision as cleanup continues from Hilary flooding
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific reopened its Mojave Subdivision in Southern California today and continues to clean up the mess that tropical storm Hilary left on Sunday. The Mojave Sub, part of UP’s I-5 Corridor, suffered storm damage near Mojave as well as 10 miles north of Fontana. All tracks have been restored to service. […]
BNSF train derails after grade-crossing collision in Louisiana (updated)
NEW IBERIA, La. — Two locomotives and 20 cars of a BNSF train derailed on Monday evening after the train struck a truck at a grade crossing near New Iberia. While KLFY-TV reported one crew member had been taken to a hospital after the 5 p.m. incident, BNSF said in a Tuesday statement that no […]
Preservation group makes arguments to North Dakota Supreme Court on BNSF bridge
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on a preservation group’s appeal of permits allowing BNSF to build a new bridge across the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mandan, N.D., and demolish its existing bridge — as well as the group’s separate request for the court to determine whether the state, […]
Metra’s ‘Rails, Trails and Ales’ program returns on Heritage Corridor
CHICAGO — Metra’s “Rails, Trails and Ales” excursions on the Heritage Corridor line will return on six fall Saturdays beginning Sept. 9, marking the third straight year for the program offering Saturday rail outings on the normally weekday-only commuter line to Joliet. Three round trips will operate on each Saturday through Oct. 14, departing from […]
Brakes on trolley involved in SEPTA derailment had been disabled for repair work
WASHINGTON — A technician who was repositioning a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority trolley at a maintenance facility was unaware its brakes had been disabled to allow for repairs when the vehicle ran away, derailed, and struck an SUV and a historic building in Philadelphia on July 27, according to the preliminary National Transportation Safety Board […]
CPKC says Union Pacific aims to stifle competition for Gulf Coast grain
WASHINGTON — Union Pacific’s contention that Kansas City Southern can’t haul grain from the Upper Midwest to the Gulf Coast using trackage rights south of Beaumont, Texas, is “revisionist history,” Canadian Pacific Kansas City has told federal regulators. Earlier this month CPKC asked the Surface Transportation Board to enforce the trackage rights that KCS gained […]
Tropical storm flooding hits Union Pacific routes in Southern California
Tropical storm Hilary, the first to hit Southern California in 84 years, brought heavy rains and flooding that have shut down Union Pacific’s Mojave and Yuma subdivisions. Both subdivisions were out of service this morning due to water and mud over the tracks between Banning and Indio, Calif., on the Yuma Sub and near Mojave […]
NJ Transit plans excursion, heritage equipment display to celebrate 40th anniversary
NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit and the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey will celebrate 40 years of NJ Transit rail operations the weekend of Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, with NJ Transit and the URHS partnering on a special excursion Sept. 30 and the transit agency displaying its heritage locomotives at Hoboken Terminal […]