STB approves proposal for new Utah short line

WASHINGTON – Federal regulators have approved Savage Tooele Railroad’s proposal to build and operate 11 miles of trackage in Utah. Savage Tooele aims to revive Union Pacific’s former 6-mile Warner Branch, restore a quarter mile of ripped-up track, and build 5 miles of new track in the Lakeview Business Park, which is being developed in […]

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FRA issues rule requiring two-person train crews (updated)

BNSF crew change

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration today issued its new final rule generally requiring two-person crews on trains, which it says “enhances safety” and industry group the Association of American Railroads immediately blasted as “unfounded and unnecessary.” The 223-page final rule requires two-person crews except for certain operations “that do not pose significant safety risks […]

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DOT Inspector General finds flaws in FRA’s efforts to address Hours of Service compliance, worker fatigue

Log of DOT Office of Inspector General

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration’s efforts to address Hours of Service compliance and worker fatigue are hampered by a lack of procedures and accurate data to allow it to effectively target its limited resources, the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General said in a report released last week. The Inspector General examination came […]

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BNSF highlights customer investments in 2023

BNSF Railway logo

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF customers made more than $4.1 billion in investments in 2023, the railroad reports, with BNSF projects from these and other rail-served customers supporting creation of more than 4,200 jobs. The figures are the largest the railroad’s customers and local economic development organizations have made in new or expanded facilities in […]

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STB denies CPKC request to give CN’s acquisition of Iowa Northern a more thorough review

Canadian National and lease locomotive with Iowa Northern locomotives on bridge

WASHINGTON – Federal regulators have rejected Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s contention that Canadian National’s proposed acquisition of 218-mile short line Iowa Northern should be subject to a more thorough review as a “significant” transaction. In a decision issued on Friday, the Surface Transportation Board denied CPKC’s petition that had asked the board to reconsider its […]

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CPKC derailment closes Louisiana highway

CPKC logo

TAYLOR, La. — A major Louisiana highway remains closed following the derailment of a CPKC train on Friday, KSLA-TV reports. Approximately 29 cars of a train derailed near the unincorporated community of Taylor about 7:30 a.m. Friday, closing U.S. Route 80 between Oscar Kilpatrick Road and Martin Pond Road in the community of Ada, according […]

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