NTSB report on conductor fatality calls for new rule on shoving moves

Satellite image of rail accident site

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board is calling for new rules regarding crew members riding shoving moves through grade crossings as a result of a fatal October 2021 accident in Houston, Texas. The board has recommended that crew members be prohibited from riding such moves through crossings equipped only with warning lights or passive […]

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First VIA Siemens trainsets begin serving Toronto

Champagne shattered on coupler of passenger equipment

TORONTO — After months of service limited to a handful of round-trips regularly operating between Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City, a VIA Rail Canada Venture trainset made its Toronto debut Tuesday, rolling into the company’s Toronto Maintenance Centre Tuesday after bringing passengers from Ottawa on train no. 41. The first trip was celebrated with a […]

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CN earnings fall on lower volume, but executives say traffic rebound is under way

MONTREAL — Canadian National’s third-quarter profits tumbled on lower freight volume, the railway reported today, but most business segments are bouncing back. “I believe we’ve seen the bottom on volumes,” CEO Tracy Robinson told investors and analysts on the railway’s earnings call this afternoon. CN’s third-quarter operating income sank 21%, to $1.5 billion, as revenue […]

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Amtrak’s Dash 8-32BWH

A gray locomotive with wide red, white, and blue stripes sits in a large and brightly lit factory building. A similar engine is in the background.

In the early 1990s, as the bulk of Amtrak’s EMD F40PH diesel fleet began nearing potential retirement age, the passenger carrier quietly began nosing around for potential replacements. After testing Electro Motive’s F69 AC traction prototypes, the company opted to explore a less-expensive option. To save money, Amtrak sought to modify an existing freight locomotive model […]

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TSA extends rail cybersecurity directives for one year

U.S. Transportation Security Administration logo

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration announced that it has extended by one year a set of three cybersecurity directives regarding railroad infrastructure that were scheduled to expire today (Oct. 24, 2023). The directives, developed with input from the industry and government agencies including the Federal Railroad Administration and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, […]

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Wabtec to provide brakes, couplers for New York subway cars

Side view of silver subway car with blue striping

PITTSBURGH — Wabtec will provide brakes and couplers for New York City Transit’s second order of R211 subway cars to be built by Kawasaki Rail Car, Wabtec has announced. The 640-car order, placed last year, fulfills an option from an original 535-car order now being delivered that includes 440 R211A cars, 20 pilot cars with […]

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STB appoints six to Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board on Monday announced appointment of six new members to the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee, which advises the board on matters regarding rail movement of coal, ethanol, and other energy resources by rail. New to the board are: — Bryan Boaz, rail operations field supervisor of ExxonMobil, an at-large […]

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SEPTA engineers, conductors voting on strike authorization (updated)

Four-car electric multiple-unit trainset

PHILADELPHIA — Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority locomotive engineers and conductors are voting on a strike authorization, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and SMART-TD unions announced today. Results of voting, which began today, will be announced on Nov. 20. If a majority of engineers back a strike, the referendum would allow BLET National President […]

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