WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has asked the federal government to offer its view on an effort by states to regulate how long railroads can block grade crossings. The Kansas City Star reports that the invitation means the court might address Ohio’s appeal of a lower-court ruling that blocked the state’s blocked-crossing law. The […]
Train Topic: Rail Industry
CSX Transportation makes operating department changes after executive’s departure
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX Transportation has promoted Casey Albright to senior vice president of network operations and service design as part of leadership changes in the operating department. Albright, who headed service design, is taking on the network operations responsibilities that were handled by Brian Barr, who left CSX to become senior vice president of […]
TTX begins equipping boxcars and auto racks with GPS tracking devices
CHICAGO – TTX is beginning to equip its boxcar and auto rack fleets with GPS-based telematics so that railroads and shippers can monitor car location and status in real time. The car pooling company, which is owned by the Class I railroads, aims to equip 1,700 new and existing boxcars by the end of the […]
Genesee Valley Transportation prepares for move of PA
BATAVIA, N.Y. — The move of a preserved Alco PA locomotive from Oregon to its new home at Genesee Valley Transportation’s shops in Scranton, Pa., is tentatively slated to begin in April, although exact plans have yet to be finalized, GVT President Michael D. Thomas says. Thomas, speaking Sunday with Trains News Wire, said no […]
Canadian government to provide $23 million for expansion of transload facility
SURREY, British Columbia — The Canadian government will provide up to C$23 million in funding to expand an agricultural shipping terminal near the U.S. border, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced Friday. Money provided from the National Trade Corridors Fund will expand rail capacity at Global Agricultural Trans-Loading in Surrey, B.C., by helping to pay for […]
Reading & Northern names first VP for governmental affairs, EVP for strategic planning (updated)
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Matt Johnson has been appointed to Reading & Northern’s new position of vice president-governmental affairs, the railroad has announced. Also, Christina (Tina) Muller-Levan has been appointed executive vice president-strategic planning. Johnson has been with the railroad since 2005 in roles ranging from police officer to head of the R&N police force […]
CP, Canadian maintenance workers reach contract agreement
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific has reached a tentative agreement with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference Maintenance-of-Way Employees Division, the railroad said today (March 17). The new contract will cover approximately 2,600 workers. Details will not be released until the agreement is ratified. “By working collaboratively with our valued union partners, we’ve reached another negotiated […]
BNSF reaches paid sick days agreement with boilermakers union
FORT WORTH, Texas – BNSF Railway has reached a paid sick time agreement with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, the railroad announced today. BNSF said the deal was part of larger ongoing discussions about modernizing the work environment. Seven of BNSF’s 12 labor unions are now covered by paid sick leave agreements. Building upon existing […]
Rail safety bill introduced in U.S. House
WASHINGTON — Two U.S. representatives from Ohio — Bill Johnson (R) and Emilia Sykes (D) — today introduced the Reducing Accidents in Locomotives Act, or RAIL Act, the latest legislative response to the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment. The companion bill to the Rail Safety Act introduced earlier this month in the Senate [see “Senators propose […]
Norfolk Southern sued over stockholder losses from East Palestine derailment (updated)
NEW YORK — Norfolk Southern, already facing suits from the state of Ohio and a number of individuals and businesses over the East Palestine derailment, is now the target of multiple lawsuits from or on behalf of its stockholders. At least three such lawsuits have now been filed. Bragar Eagle & Squire, which describes itself […]
Canadian Pacific Kansas City eyes April 14 start date
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific will waste no time officially combining with Kansas City Southern. CP said today that it will create Canadian Pacific Kansas City on April 14, the earliest date CP could take control of KCS under the Surface Transportation Board’s approval of the $31 billion merger. “Under the leadership of the exceptional […]
NJ Transit joins partnership to bring transportation training center to Rutgers
NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit, the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation, and the International Association of Public Transportation, or UITP, on Thursday announced a partnership to establish UITP’s first North American Regional Training Center at Rutgers. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said state residents “will reap massive benefits” from the partnership. “By hosting […]