WASHINGTON, Iowa — The city of Washington has become the latest to accept an offer from Canadian Pacific for funds to address impacts of its potential merger with Kansas City Southern, approving a deal worth at least $255,000 at its most recent city council meeting The Southeast Iowa Union reported today (Monday, Nov. 21) that […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
Closed portion of Denver-area light rail line to reopen week of Nov. 28
AURORA, Colo. — A 4-mile section of the Regional Transportation District’s light rail R Line, shut down since a Sept. 21 derailment, should reopen the week of Nov. 28, the RTD has announced. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission has approved an RTD plan to address issues at the intersection of Sable Boulevard and Exposition Avenue, […]
Canadian legislation includes new rail security mandates
OTTAWA — The Canadian government would gain new abilities to require railroads to create security management systems, and to grant or cancel transportation security clearances, under a proposed set of legislative amendments introduced last week by Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra. Those authorities and others are part of the Strengthening the Port System and Railway […]
GAO report finds FRA’s close-call program is underused, with reporting of results lacking
WASHINGTON — Few railroads participate in a voluntary Federal Railroad Administration program to report situations that could have resulted in serious accidents, and those that do find notable flaws in the program, according to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The report summary notes that as of August 2022, only 23 of the […]
Wabtec to acquire Brazilian maintenance equipment firm Super Metal
PITTSBURGH — Wabtec has reached agreement to acquire Super Metal, a leading Brazilian supplier of automated vehicles and other maintenance-of-way equipment. Wabtec describes the deal as complementing its 2021 acquisition of U.S. maintenance equipment manufacturer Nordco [see “Wabtec to acquire …,” Trains News Wire, March 23, 2021] and accelerating its strategy of expansion into international […]
Amtrak service returns in western New York; trains elsewhere see issues
BUFFALO, N.Y. — After a two-day hiatus while up to 6 feet of heavy lake-effect snow fell in Buffalo, Amtrak trains were moving again today (Sunday, Nov. 20) through western New York even as many area roads remained impassable. Meanwhile, with the Thanksgiving holiday — and its usual heavy ridership — approaching, operating obstacles cropped […]
Norfolk Southern offers to buy Cincinnati-owned route to Chattanooga
CINCINNATI — Norfolk Southern has offered to buy the Cincinnati Southern Railway, the route owned by the city of Cincinnati that it currently leases, for more than $1.6 billion. A meeting to consider the sale will be held Monday, Nov. 21, according to the Cincinnati Southern website. The meeting, set for 1 p.m. EST in […]
Southern California authorities say they’ve broken up crime rings involved in UP container thefts
LOS ANGELES — Southern California authorities say they have broken up two crime rings involved in thefts from Union Pacific intermodal trains that drew national attention last year because of images of the trackside area awash in empty boxes left behind after containers were broken into and their contents were stolen — activity that reportedly […]
CSX selects engineering, consulting firm to oversee Virginia projects
PITTSBURGH — Engineering and consulting firm Michael Baker International will lead program and construction management for projects in the Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, CSX Transportation has announced. Some $3.7 billion in design and construction projects between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va., are involved. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is the lead state agency in […]
RailPulse freight car telematics pilot program to expand early next year
NEW YORK — RailPulse, the joint venture aiming to provide shippers with real-time, precise freight car location no matter where the car is in North America, will expand its pilot program to more than 1,000 cars early next year. The pilot program began in April with just over 300 cars equipped with GPS sensors that […]
Union Pacific “hospital” train detoured onto Iowa Interstate
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The “hospital” train ferrying historic Union Pacific steam locomotives and other equipment to Silvis, Ill. was detoured onto the Iowa Interstate Railroad at Council Bluffs this morning. The train has been making a slow move across the UP main line since departing Cheyenne, Wyo. on Nov. 11. The slow speed of […]
Civic group “adopts” Santa Fe locomotive
SANTA FE, N.M. — Santa Fe 2-10-4 No. 5030, displayed in a Santa Fe park since 1959, is getting a refresh thanks to the Old Santa Fe Association. Volunteers from the civic association cleared trash and weeds and set up a new fence around the 380,300-pound machine. They repaired some of the rust and corroded […]