Railroad Development Corp.’s German subsidiary, RDC Deutschland, has bought two railway lines in northwestern Germany from the international freight business of French Railways (SNCF). Both lines, acquired in a transaction completed at the beginning of November, have regional passenger service, or will shortly. This makes them potentially attractive as an investment, as much of the […]
Metra introduces locomotive honoring veterans
CHICAGO — Metra has added to its fleet of specially painted locomotives with an F40PH-3 honoring veterans. The Chicago Sun-Times reports the unit, introduced last week at a luncheon to honor veterans who work at the commuter rail operator, will enter service on the Rock Island District, moving to the BNSF and Milwaukee District lines […]
BNSF logistics center in Arizona clears first regulatory hurdle
PHOENIX — Plans for a major BNSF intermodal and logistics facility near Phoenix have passed the first step in the permitting process. In a meeting last week, the Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for the BNSF Logistics Park Phoenix development, the Phoenix Business Journal reports. The county’s Board of Supervisors will vote […]
Getting the shot: John Crisanti
Photographer John Crisanti John Crisanti is a railroader, photographer, and model railroader residing on Colorado’s Front Range. His creative use of light, weather, and wide-angle allows him to capture dramatic scenes of everyday freight. His interest in rail photography does extend beyond The Centennial State. Crisanti recently shared (with Trains) the story of going off-the-grid […]
First U.S. hydrogen-powered trainset enters Phase II of testing in California
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — North America’s first hydrogen-powered passenger trainset planned for regular use is getting closer to entering service in Southern California. The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority’s zero-emission multiple unit trainset, which the agency is promoting as ZEMU, will enter its second phase of testing next week. After several months of tests between […]
TWU puts strike against SEPTA on hold, but second union votes to authorize strike
PHILADELPHIA — A potential strike against the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has been placed on hold by Transit Workers Union local 234 after the two sides reported progress at the bargaining table before a midnight Thursday/Friday strike deadline. “We’re willing to go the extra mile and grant additional time to reach a fair agreement,” Local […]
Mexican man sentenced in human smuggling case using fake Union Pacific truck
LAREDO, Texas — A Mexican national illegally living in Laredo has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for a human smuggling operation using a fake Union Pacific vehicle, the U.S. Attorney’s office has announced. Jesus Aleman-Serrano, 34, had previously pleaded guilty in the case in May. Following the end of his prison term, he […]
The Trains Interview: MTA Chief of Rolling Stock Tim Mulligan
NEW YORK — Trains News Wire spoke with Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chief of Rolling Stock Tim Mulligan to discuss the agency’s robust, once-in-a-generation capital plan that involves replacing 2,000 subway cars and modernizing fleets across the agency. MTA’s five-year 2025-2029 capital plan totals $68 billion in investment, including $10.9 billion for modernized rolling stock. Mulligan […]
Photo shoot with Santa Fe No. 2926 flashes a photo finish for 2024 season
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The final operations of the 2024 season for Santa Fe No. 2926 can be described as a photo finish. The 1944-built 4-8-4 was chartered by Pete Lerro for a private photo shoot on Oct. 28-29. Originally planned to be entirely at the Rail Yards complex in Downtown Albuquerque for both days, a […]
Railroads ask federal courts to order FRA to take action on waylaid safety waivers
WASHINGTON – BNSF Railway, CSX, and Union Pacific filed lawsuits against the Federal Railroad Administration today for its failure to act on a half dozen safety waiver requests that in some cases would allow railroads to scale back visual inspections in areas where they have deployed new high-tech train and track inspection systems. The litigation […]
CSX expects U.S. manufacturing growth to spur carload revival
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — CSX is banking on a U.S. manufacturing renaissance to fuel a billion-dollar revival of its carload traffic over the next three years. A record number of industrial development projects — largely in the Southeast but also scattered around the CSX network — should produce annual merchandise volume growth of 1% to […]
Metrolink CEO’s home destroyed in California wildfire
CAMARILLO, Calif. — The home of Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle is among those destroyed in the Mountain fire, a wildfire fueled by high winds that has whipped through Ventura County, the Los Angeles Times reports. The house was destroyed Wednesday, after Kettle and his wife had heeded an evacuation order. “When I left the house, […]