Wednesday morning rail news: BNSF train in Texas derails, catches fire after hitting semi A BNSF Railway derailed and caught fire after hitting a truck in Texas on Tuesday morning, leading to a spectacular blaze and triggering an evacuation of nearby residents. The train crew and truck driver escaped injury. The accident in Cameron, Texas, […]
Overall intermodal traffic in North America is expected to return to growth this year as retail inventories remain low, consumers continue to spend on goods instead of services during the pandemic, and trucking companies can’t field enough drivers to meet demand. That’s the view of a trio of TTX analysts who participated in an Intermodal […]
After a topsy-turvy 2020, intermodal volume should bounce back with 7.3% growth in international containers and a 4.7% gain in domestic volume, according to the TTX forecast. Last year intermodal volume was down 2% overall in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico due to the economic impact of the pandemic. Intermodal volume declined sharply in the […]
Wednesday midday rail news: Fire out at site of BNSF derailment; line expected to reopen tonight The fire at the site of Tuesday’s BNSF Railway derailment in Cameron, Texas, has now been extinguished, the National Post reports, citing information from the railroad. In a customer advisory, the railroad said it anticipates reopening the section of […]
More Wednesday morning rail news: New Jersey budget avoids NJ Transit fare increases, does not address dedicated funding for agency New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy does not plan NJ Transit fare increases as part of his fiscal 2022 budget — the fourth straight year that has been the case — but his budget plan also […]
SEATTLE — A federal appeals court has overturned a Federal Railroad Administration decision on train crew size, saying the agency’s decision to withdraw a proposed rule requiring two-person crews has a “real and intended effect … to authorize nationwide one-person train crews and to bar any contrary state regulations.” Calling that decision “arbitrary and capricious,” […]
Canadian government revises rules for winter operations, hazardous-material trains The Canadian government has revised rules regarding winter operation and hazardous material trains, updating rules first issued in response to derailments in 2020. The rules announced by Transport Minister Omar Alghabra will: — Define “higher risk key trains” as those carrying large quantities of crude oil […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has decided to maintain late-night commuter rail service on weekdays, and is planning a new round of schedule changes this spring that will be “closer to regional rail,” according to MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. The Boston Globe reports MBTA officials told the Fiscal and Management Control Board […]
Union approves one-year extension of contract with Denver RTD The largest union representing employees of Denver’s Regional Transportation District has voted by a 90%-10% margin in favor of a one-year extension of its current contract. The website Colorado Politics reports Amalgamated Transit Union Local 101, which represents approximately 2,300 rail and bus operators and other […]
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — In separate bills, Illinois legislators are proposing to limit train lengths in the state to 8,500 feet and provide multiple actions to address trespassing along rail lines. The train length bill, HB 2524, sponsored by state Reps. Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville) and Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park), was prompted by increasing complaints from constituents […]
Judge rules against railroads on evidence in fuel-surcharge case A federal judge has denied a request by four Class I railroads to exclude certain evidence from a long-running case over fuel surcharges that involves more than 200 major shippers. The motion by BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific contended that federal law permits limited […]
WASHINGTON — Control of Chicago Union Station emerges as the key issue in the latest filings in Metra’s dispute with Amtrak over its station lease, with Metra reviving a question whether Amtrak lawfully owns the property, while Amtrak claims Metra’s proposals “would wrest from Amtrak control over its own facility.” The latest documents, filed Friday […]
