CHICAGO — Stadler US will build eight two-car battery-electric trainsets for Chicago’s Metra, its first order for such equipment in the United States, the commuter operator and manufacturer announced today (Wednesday, Feb. 21). The eight trainsets are the initial order for an agreement that could expand to as many as 16 trainsets. While the trainsets […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Metra receives federal grant for new railcars
WASHINGTON — Metra will receive $100 million to purchase 50 new multilevel commuter rail cars, the Federal Transit Administration announced today, part of almost $631 million in federal funding awarded through the FTA’s Rail Vehicle Replacement Program. Other awards — to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and the Maryland Transit Administration — had previously been […]
BNSF makes $2 million donation to National Juneteenth Museum
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has made a founding donation of $2 million to the National Juneteenth Museum, the planned Fort Worth facility has announced. “BNSF is proud to partner with the National Juneteenth Museum to help honor American history and foster opportunities for economic and cultural growth, right near our headquarters here in […]
Maryland to receive $213 million grant for replacement of Baltimore light rail fleet
BALTIMORE — The Maryland Transit Administration will receive more than $213 million in federal funding to help replace its entire light rail fleet, Democratic members of the state’s congressional delegation announced Tuesday. The $213,696,341 from the Federal Transit Administration’s Rail Vehicle Replacement program will go toward MTA plans to replace the 52-vehicle light rail fleet. […]
Kansas short line projects receive almost $16.5 million in state funding
TOPEKA, Kan. — Seventeen short line rail expansion and rehabilitation projects in Kansas will receive almost $16.5 million in grants through the state Department of Transportation’s Rail Service Improvement Program, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Tuesday. Railroads and shippers are among the recipients. They will provide a 30% match to the state funding, resulting in total […]
MacDonald named vice president, chief operating officer at Sierra Northern
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Brenton A. MacDonald has been named vice president and chief operating officer at Sierra Northern Railway, the company announced Tuesday. MacDonald, who joined the company in 2013, most recently had served as general manager. He has also been manager of safety and training and well as a conductor and engineer. He […]
CPKC says union for Canadian crews misrepresents negotiations
CALGARY — The union representing engineers, conductors and yard workers has “chosen to grossly misrepresent the facts” and “distorted the truth,” Canadian Pacific Kansas City said late Monday in a response to statements by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference regarding contract negotiations, saying the railroad has “offered two options for renewed contracts that provide benefits […]
Michigan Central Station to reopen June 6
DETROIT — The landmark Michigan Central Station, purchased by Ford Motor Co. in 2018 after decades of decay for revival as an innovation center, will have its public reopening on June 6, the Detroit Free Press reports. First teased with the projection of the June 6 date on the side of the building, the opening […]
Activist investor seeks to install former UPS president to run Norfolk Southern (updated)
CLEVELAND — Activist investor Ancora Holdings Group, which seeks to oust current Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, would replace him with former United Parcel Service President Jim Barber Jr., the investment group said today in announcing its slate of eight candidates for the company’s board of directors. Jamie Boychuk, former CSX executive vice president of […]
The evolution of EMD’s SD70-series locomotives
SD70-series locomotives EMD’s SD70-series is the longest-running locomotive series in railroading, spanning over three decades. There have been nine domestic new-build models. There are also many more export and remanufactured models that use the “70-series” designation. First introduced in 1992 as the successor to EMD’s “60-series” locomotives, the “70-series” locomotives were the builder’s first to […]
BNSF train derails in Montana
HEDGESVILLE, Mont. — Twenty-six cars of a BNSF train derailed early Monday near Hedgesville, in Golden Valley County in central Montana. The incident occurred about 3:30 a.m., according to the Golden Valley County Sheriff’s Office. No injuries were reported, and all the cars that derailed were empty. KTVQ-TV reports BNSF was hoping to have the […]
Ukraine’s railways enter third year of war (updated)
Ukraine and its rail network will enter the third year of full-scale war this Saturday, Feb, 24, following the Russian invasion of the country in 2022. While the front line in the country’s east has barely moved in a year, the role of the railways has evolved. The immediate urgency of evacuating civilians has passed, […]