Strike shuts down British Columbia ports

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Port workers in British Columbia went on strike Saturday, an action with the potential for impacts on the Canadian and U.S. economies and immediate significance for three Class I Railroads. Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada’s Longshore Division walked out at 8 a.m. Saturday. The move affects about […]

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Workers strike at Canada’s National Steel Car

White end-cab switcher moves cars

HAMILTON, Ontario — About 1,500 workers are on strike at railcar manufacturer National Steel Car, the Hamilton Spectator reports. The workers, represented by United Steelworkers Local 7135, walked out on Thursday, June 29. Local president Frank Crowder told the newspaper via email that “significant issues,” including wages, remain on the table. The company’s latest offer […]

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AAR sues over Virginia law on broadband access

Seal with woman standing on top of man

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Association of American Railroads has filed suit against a group of Virginia officials, seeking to overturn a law that makes it easier for broadband companies to install lines across railroad property. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports the suit was filed in U.S. District Court against the heads of the Virginia Department of […]

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BLET members ratify engineer scheduling agreement with Union Pacific

Freight train with two yellow locomotives with small town in distance

Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen approved a landmark agreement with Union Pacific that will provide engineers with more predictable schedules. The union’s six general chairmen reported today that 90% of the BLET divisions representing 5,600 UP engineers had voted in favor of the agreement. The agreement provides locomotive engineers in unassigned […]

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Railroading Heritage of Midwest America sells car to CPKC

Maroon passenger car

MINNEAPOLIS — Railroading Heritage of Midwest America has sold one of its passenger cars to CPKC. The baggage-dormitory car, once used on trips pulled by Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261,  will be used as a dormitory on steam trips this summer behind Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816. The car, which RRHMA had named Grand Canyon […]

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Honolulu rail system to debut today

Light rail train at elevated station with city in distance

HONOLULU — Hawaii’s new Skyline light rail system, billed by manufacturer Hitachi as the first fully autonomous metro system in the U.S., will make its debut today. It will be the first new major rail transit system to debut in the United States since 1993. The first train is slated to run at 11:30 a.m. local […]

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Australian agricultural cooperative orders 17 locomotives from Wabtec

Aerial view of grain train with two blue double-ended locomotives

PERTH, Australia — Australian agricultural cooperative CBH Group will purchase 17 narrow gauge locomotives from Wabtec, CBH has announced. Wabtec will build 17 dual-cab, diesel-electric CM20ACi locomotives, with the first group of five set for delivery in the March quarter of 2026 and the remainder in the following quarter. The order, which follows a December […]

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VRE opens new maintenance facility

Interior of new shop building with locomotive and bilevel passenger car

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Railway Express has opened its new Lifecycle Overhaul and Upgrade maintenance facility, or LOU, at its Crossroads Yard in Fredericksburg. The 33,500-foot, two-track structure features a drop table for removing locomotive and railcar trucks and wheelsets; a wheel truing machine; and an overhead bridge crane with two lift points, one with […]

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NTSB releases annual report

Cover of report with photo of NTSB workers at collapsed bridge

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board has released its annual report to Congress for 2022, which outlines the board’s work during the calendar year, as well as providing an overview of its structure and mission. Board chair Jennifer Homendy, in her message accompanying the report, notes that the board issued 1,864 investigation reports during […]

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