MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway called for government intervention this evening as Canada moved closer to a shutdown of its two Class I railroads, but earlier today [Aug. 21] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau simply called on the two sides to reach a deal. CN plans to lock out members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference […]
Type of Train: Freight
Operating Behind the Scenes | La Mesa Model Railroad Club’s Tehachapi Subdivision
Operating Behind the Scenes | La Mesa Model Railroad Club’s Tehachapi Subdivision | Join Model Railroader Editor Eric White for a rare, insider look at a world-class operating session over the gigantic HO (1:87) scale public display highlighting Southern California’s famed Tehachapi Loop. Peer into the invite-only November 2023 session that required more than 30 […]
Business as usual for CN, CPKC shortline partners as labor strike looms
CHICAGO — Short line and regional railroads interchanging with Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City say it’s business as usual — for now — despite the growing threat of a railroad strike and lockout later this week between the Canadian railroads and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference. Michael Martinez, the director of business development […]
Federal court shoots down STB’s streamlined rate dispute resolution process
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court today tossed out the Surface Transportation Board’s streamlined process for resolving rate disputes between shippers and railroads, saying the 2022 Final Offer Rate Review rule exceeded the board’s authority. Union Pacific and the Association of American Railroads had challenged the Final Offer Rate Review process. The U.S. Court of […]
STB to end discovery portion of Sunset Limited on-time performance probe
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will wrap up the discovery portion of its investigation into the on-time performance of Amtrak’s Sunset Limited on Friday and has set a schedule for the remainder of the proceeding. In a decision issued yesterday, the STB also ordered Amtrak to provide an opening statement that addresses several key […]
Canada’s labor minister to meet with CN, CPKC, union
OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada’s Minister of Labor, Steve MacKinnon, will meet with representatives of Canadian National, CPKC, and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference Tuesday and Wednesday in an effort to avoid the work stoppage set to begin at 12:01 a.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 22. The CBC reports MacKinnon will be in Montreal, headquarters of […]
Arizona fire that destroyed homes blamed on BNSF track work
WICKENBURG, Ariz. — A June wildfire that destroyed 15 structures near the town of Wickenburg and cost nearly $1 million to fight was caused by BNSF Railway work, according to fire officials. The 266-acre Rose Fire, which began on June 12 and was contained five days later, was started by sparks from a welder, grinder, […]
News & Products for the week of August 19th 2024
News & Products for the week of August 19th 2024 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of August 19th […]
STB misses its own deadline for decision on CN acquisition of Iowa Northern
WASHINGTON – The Surface Transportation Board has sailed past its deadline for issuing a decision on Canadian National’s proposed $230 million acquisition of Iowa Northern Railway. The board was set to issue a decision by July 26, according to the procedural schedule that regulators spelled out on Feb. 29. A board spokesman says the proposed […]
First test trains begin running through repaired Gotthard Base Tunnel
FAIDO, Switzerland — The first freight train operated through the repaired western tube of the Gotthard Base Tunnel today (Monday, Aug. 19) as part of test operations preparing for full reopening of the tunnel, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) reports. The 5:30 a.m. train from Chiasso bound for Basel was the first train to use the […]
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference delivers strike notice to CPKC; CN delivers lockout notice (updated)
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference today (Aug. 18) served a 72-hour strike notice to Canadian Pacific Kansas City, saying the union will walk out at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22, barring a last-minute labor agreement. Canadian National Railway, meanwhile, announced it had delivered a formal 72-hour lockout notice, following up on plans it had […]
BNSF and UP testing longer schedules for Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, and Texas Eagle
WASHINGTON — Nearly four years after new federal on-time performance standards went into effect, Amtrak is nearing agreements with BNSF Railway and Union Pacific for certification of disputed train schedules. Some 95% of Amtrak train schedules have been certified under the federal Metrics and Minimum Standards for Intercity Passenger Service rule, according to the latest […]