MONTE VISTA, Colo. — The San Luis Central reopens its main line running the first train to operate since May 24, 2024. Here, it crosses an irrigation canal on newly installed culverts that repaired a washout on this section of line on Sept. 9, 2024. Electro-Motive SW8, No. 70, with General Manager Tom Tancula at […]
Type of Train: Freight
US weekly rail traffic marks fourth consecutive week of gains
WASHINGTON — For the week ending Sept. 7, 2024, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 479,179 carloads and intermodal units, up 7.3% compared with the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads. Total carloads for the week were 222,201, up 2.2% compared with the same week in 2023, while U.S. weekly […]
Norfolk Southern dismisses CEO Alan Shaw, promotes Chief Financial Officer Mark George to president and chief executive
ATLANTA – Norfolk Southern today terminated the contracts of embattled CEO Alan Shaw and the railroad’s chief legal officer, Nabanita Nag, for having a consensual relationship in violation of company policy. The NS board unanimously named Chief Financial Officer Mark George as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately, the railroad announced Wednesday evening. George […]
Swiss Saga, 2024, Part 1: In Chur, for sure
CHUR, Switzerland — I’m baack … For the second year in a row and third time since joining Trains Magazine, your senior editor is wandering Switzerland by train, developing some stories for the magazine. While this is my first blog post from this trip, it’s actually day three of my 2024 visit. I’ve been on […]
Study on impact of long freight trains is due out next week
WASHINGTON – The long-awaited National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report on the impact of long freight trains will be released next week. “Over the last two decades, railroad companies have been operating increasingly longer trains to reduce the number of crews, locomotives, and overall number of trains needed,” the academies said today. “In […]
CPKC expects a long-term boost from anticipated U.S. East Coast port labor disruption
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – The looming dockworker strike on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts could turn into a long-term opportunity for Canadian Pacific Kansas City to develop the Mexican port of Lazaro Cardenas into an alternate gateway to Texas, CEO Keith Creel says. The International Longshoremen’s Association says its 45,000 workers will walk off […]
CN revises financial outlook due to labor uncertainty, wildfires, and weak economy
MONTREAL – Canadian National has lowered its financial outlook for the year due to the impact of several factors, including the rail labor uncertainty and work stoppage in Canada, wildfires in Alberta, weaker than expected demand for forest products and metals, and delayed recovery of international intermodal volumes. CN now expects to deliver earnings per […]
Amtrak cancels, modifies New Orleans service as tropical storm approaches (updated)
With Tropical Storm Francine approaching the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast – and expected to make landfall tomorrow afternoon – Amtrak has canceled or modified service on its trains that serve New Orleans. Union Pacific, meanwhile, today told customers that it’s preparing for the storm, which is expected to strike as a Category 2 hurricane. […]
News & Products for the week of September 9th 2024
News & Products for the week of September 9th 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 September 9th […]
In remarks to regulators, rail shippers reveal preference for trucks
WASHINGTON — More regulatory oversight is needed to keep rail volumes from shifting to trucks and limiting the railroads’ growth potential, rail customers have told the Surface Transportation Board. Their testimony, along with that of railroads, unions, industry consultants and others, has been filed with STB ahead of a two-day hearing at the agency next […]
Analysis: Amtrak flexes its legal muscles against host railroads
You can’t blame Amtrak for being disappointed with the on-time performance of its long distance trains, which roll off the vast majority of their mileage on host railroads. In the 12 months ending June 30, 2024, just 57% of long distance passengers arrived on the advertised. Amtrak’s No. 1 culprit for late trains: Freight train […]
Norfolk Southern confirms investigation of alleged CEO misconduct (updated)
ATLANTA – Norfolk Southern confirmed late Sunday night that its board has opened an investigation into allegations of conduct by CEO Alan Shaw that is “inconsistent with the company’s Code of Ethics and company policy.” The Wall Street Journal reported this afternoon that Shaw is expected to leave the company by the end of the […]