Two Norfolk Southern crew members injured in Alabama derailment

Norfolk Southern logo

JASPER, Ala. — Two crew members were injured Saturday night when a locomotive and 11 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed Saturday night, AL.com reports. Also on Saturday, an NS train was involved in a minor derailment in Pittsburgh. In the Alabama incident, the railroad said the locomotive rolled onto its side, spilling some […]

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Virginia seeks additional funding for Long Bridge project

Aerial-view rendering of bridge across river

RICHMOND, Va. — The cost of a second rail bridge over the Potomac River — a key part of Virginia’s plan for major expansion of Amtrak and commuter-rail service on the I-95 corridor south from Washington, D.C.— has risen substantially, leading to a $389 million shortfall, the Washington Post reports.= The new two-track Long Bridge […]

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FRA issues safety advisory on train makeup issues

Aerial view of derailed freight cars

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration on Friday issued a safety advisory calling on railroads to address potential safety risks resulting from the structure of long freight trains, saying it has “noticed a rising trend in recent incidents where train build and makeup have been identified as a potential cause or contributing factor.” Limitations on […]

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CSX reaches sick-time deal with SMART-MD

CSX logo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation has reached an agreement with the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical Department (SMART-MD) to provide paid sick leave, its ninth such agreement with a union representing CSX workers. “CSX continues to work collaboratively with all of our union partners to find solutions that improve the […]

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Bill to limit train length introduced in Nevada

CARSON CITY, Nevada — The Nevada legislature has become the latest to consider limiting the length of freight trains, through introduction of a bill which would prohibit trains of more than 7,500 feet. AB 456, introduced on March 27, sets penalties for violations beginning at $5,000 and escalating to $25,000. The bill also would set […]

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U.S. rail traffic slump continues in March

Weekly table showing U.S. carload traffic by commodity type, plus intermodal totals

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic was down 7.6% in March compared to the same month in 2022, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads, extending and deepening the downward trend so far in 2023. Traffic for the week ending April 1 was down by 7.4%, the AAR reported. The figures for the month […]

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CN grain train derails in Alberta

Canadian National logo

UNCAS, Alberta — Seventeen cars of a Canadian National Railway grain train derailed early today (April 5), Global News reports. No injuries were reported. Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada have been sent to the scene east of Edmonton. CN told Global News the derailment occurred about 6 a.m. near Uncas, about 22 […]

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Gravel spilled in Ohio shortline derailment

Derailed hopper cars and damaged track

SARDINIA, Ohio — Ten railcars of gravel derailed on a Cincinnati Eastern Railroad train Tuesday afternoon, with two cars overturning, according to WCPO-TV and WXIX-TV. No injuries were reported. A grade crossing at Cowboy Road was blocked as a result of the derailment; Eastern Joint Fire and EMS District estimates the road will remain closed […]

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