CHICAGO — The Chicago-Seattle/Portland, Ore., Empire Builder is finally on the road to recovery after incurring significant challenges during the past week following a late October High Plains snowstorm and related issues. A series of delays throughout the week culminated in eastbound train No. 8 departing Seattle more than 5 hours late on Saturday, Oct. […]
Section: News Wire
CPKC asks federal regulators to settle dispute over Wisconsin bridge repair
WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific Kansas City has asked federal regulators to wade into a dispute with Wisconsin officials regarding emergency repairs the railway made to a bridge over the Menomonee River in Milwaukee. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is threatening to sue CPKC for its 2017 bridge work, arguing that it was performed without […]
Analysis: Norfolk Southern stands behind its long-term growth strategy despite Wall Street concerns over poor quarter
When Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw outlined the railroad’s long-term growth strategy in December, he couldn’t have been more clear: Keeping train crews on the payroll during freight downturns would hurt the operating ratio over the short term. But not furloughing crews would pay off over the long term by enabling NS to maintain service […]
Fort Lauderdale, county officials at odds over replacement for downtown rail drawbridge
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The mayor of Fort Lauderdale and officials in Broward County are at odds over the best way to handle expanded rail operation by Brightline — and proposed future commuter rail service — across the New River in the middle of town. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports Mayor Dean Trantalis wants […]
Attorneys General call for additions to federal proposal on hazardous-material information (corrected)
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry and 12 of her counterparts have indicated their support for a rule requiring railroads to make hazardous-material information available to first responders, and are calling for the rule to be expanded to strengthen aspects of its communications requirements. Henry said in a Friday press release that the […]
SEPTA, Transport Workers Union avert strike with tentative agreement
PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority on Friday averted a strike that would have shut down trolley, subway, and bus service, reaching an agreement with its largest union, Transport Workers Union Local 234. The one-year agreement was reached about 4:30 a.m. Friday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, and must be ratified by a majority of […]
Virginia Railway Express seeks to add Saturday service
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Virginia Railway Express is in discussions with its host railroads over plans to launch Saturday service for the first time in the commuter operator’s 31-year history, the Washington Post reports. The move is part of VRE’s effort to lure riders back to the system in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The […]
Preview November and December 2023 Trains content
Coming in November We’re always adding new content to our website! Here’s a sneak peek at a few items coming up soon … Travel column: The allure of holiday trains The winter holiday season is a wonderful time to experience rail travel and to create memories that will last a lifetime. This is the busiest […]
News photo: Montreal commuter cars delivered to museum
MONTREAL — The last two remaining Bombardier MR-90 commuter railcars have been delivered to Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum in Saint-Constant, Quebec, on Saturday, Oct. 28, following donation by commuter railroad Exo. They are shown heading south on the CPKC Adirondack Subdivision in LaSalle, Que. These MU cars served on the Deux-Montagnes line from 1995 […]
News photos: ‘Rocket’ debuts at Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
STRASBURG, Pa. — The Rocket, the 185-year-old former Reading Co. steam engine which had long been displayed at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute, made its debut Friday at its new home, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. About 60 people were on hand for a ribbon-cutting of the new display, a ceremony featuring Patrick Morrison, the museum’s executive […]
New Amtrak fare structure takes effect
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has launched the simplied fare structure announced earlier this month, moving from three categories of fares to two, the company said today (Friday, Oct. 27). The company had previously announced the new fare plan, but had not specified when it would take effect [see “Amtrak to implement two-tier fare structure: Analysis,” Trains […]
CPKC and CSX urge regulators to reject NS request for pause in review of Meridian & Bigbee transactions
WASHINGTON – Canadian Pacific Kansas City and CSX Transportation told the Surface Transportation Board today that there’s no reason to grant Norfolk Southern’s request for a delay in review of their proposals to create a new through route linking the Southeast and Mexico via Myrtlewood, Ala. Earlier this month CPKC and CSX filed separate applications […]