WASHINGTON — With a significant drop in intermodal traffic dragging down the overall number, U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 11 showed the biggest decline for any week so far this year, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. The overall traffic of 473,972 carloads and intermodal units represented a 6.2% […]
Type of Train: Freight
Citing ‘physical threat,’ Norfolk Southern withdraws from East Palestine town hall meeting
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Norfolk Southern announced earlier today it would not take part in tonight’s scheduled town hall meeting on the East Palestine derailment, citing concerns about “a growing physical threat.” The meeting was slated for 7 p.m. at the East Palestine High Auditorium. WEWS-TV reports the meeting would not feature speakers, but was […]
Ohio governor calls for Congress to act on movement of hazardous materials by rail
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has called for congressional action requiring railroads to provide notification when they are transporting hazardous materials through states in the wake of the Feb. 3 derailment and fire of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio. The Columbus Dispatch reports that in a Tuesday press conference, DeWine […]
Mobile port’s intermodal facility to receive $60 million upgrade
MOBILE, Ala. — The operator of the intermodal facility at the Port of Mobile announced plans Tuesday for a $60 million upgrade that will help the effort to more than double the port’s container capacity. Al.com reports that APM Terminals Mobile will double the amount of track at the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility to 12,000 […]
Geneva, Ill., to host Union Pacific meeting on third track project
GENEVA, Ill. — Union Pacific will hold an open house meeting, offering an update on its Third Main project through the city of Geneva, on Feb. 23 at the Geneva Public Works Department, 1800 South Street. The session will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Work began in September on the project to […]
STB denies California poultry producer’s request for emergency service order
WASHINGTON — Federal regulators today officially rejected as moot a California poultry producer’s request for an emergency service order that would cover corn deliveries from Union Pacific. But the Surface Transportation Board ordered UP to continue to provide the board with weekly updates regarding unit grain train deliveries to Foster Farms, which operates three rail-served […]
NTSB updates preliminary information on East Palestine derailment
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board has updated its preliminary information on the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment and fire in East Palestine, Ohio, revising the count of cars that derailed to 38 and providing a link to an Environmental Protection Agency list of what those cars were carrying. In all, the train included […]
CSX reaches paid sick time agreements with two more labor unions
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation has reached paid sick time agreements with two more unions representing mechanical workers, the railroad announced today. The agreements, which provide four paid sick days, were reached with divisions of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and Brotherhood of Railway Carmen. Specifically, the deals cover members of the […]
Canadian government begins process to acquire land for Lac-Mégantic bypass
LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — The Canadian government has begun the process of expropriating land for the planned Lac-Mégantic rail bypass after being unable to negotiate land purchases, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced Monday. “I understand that some of the landowners are angry, saddened or anxious about this decision,” Alghabra said in a statement. “Believe me, it […]
Norfolk Southern plans wells to monitor groundwater as part of East Palestine remediation
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Norfolk Southern will install wells to monitor groundwater as part of its ongoing efforts to manage fallout from the Feb. 3 derailment and fire involving toxic chemicals in East Palestine, according to the remedial action plan released by the company. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the railroad will also engage in soil […]
Truck driver killed, UP train derailed in Texas crossing collision
SPLENDORA, Texas — A truck driver was killed and at least 15 cars of a Union Pacific intermodal train were derailed following a grade-crossing accident Monday morning in Splendora, about 40 miles north of Houston. Houston Public Media reports the accident occurred about 7:30 a.m. near the intersection of U.S. Route 59 and Fostoria and […]
Penn Central freight
A mix of EMD and GE diesels power a westbound Penn Central freight on the former Pennsy Pittsburgh–St. Louis line at Mingo Junction, Ohio. The condition of the right of way hints at PC’s health. Jay Potter photo […]