TORONTO — GO Transit parent Metrolinx and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587 have reached tentative agreement on a new contract, averting a possible strike by 2,200 GO Transit workers that was set to begin on Monday, Oct. 31. The CBC reports union members will vote on the agreement next week. The union represents bus drivers, […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
Wolverine incident leads to Amtrak policy changes (updated)
Amtrak will change its policies in the wake of a disastrous trip of a Chicago-bound Wolverine train earlier this month, prioritizing getting passengers off trains without heating, air condition, electricity and/or toilets, the MLive.com news site reports. Passengers involved in the 19-hour trip from Pontiac, Mich., to Chicago that began at 6 a.m. on Oct. […]
Get ready for the first U.S. railroad strike in three decades: Analysis
A U.S. railroad strike now seems inevitable. The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen overwhelmingly rejected their tentative contract agreement with the railroads this week, following in the footsteps of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, who turned down their deal earlier this month. This makes it almost certain that the rank-and-file members of the two […]
Trade associations ask White House to help avert U.S. railroad strike
WASHINGTON — An array of shipper groups has asked the Biden administration to head off a potential railroad strike. Trade associations representing manufacturers, farmers, food and beverage producers, and retailers sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Thursday urging the White House to work with railroads and unions to ensure that tentative contract agreements […]
Railroad mail service on the Burlington
I was able to secure part time employment with the railroad mail service on the Burlington during the mid-1950s. This occurred both in summer and during the heavy Christmas mail seasons. This was with the help of my father, who was a traveling auditor for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, which eventually brought us to […]
KCS business train visits Illinois grain elevator (updated with video)
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — With officials from both KCS and Canadian Pacific reportedly aboard, Kansas City Southern’s Southern Belle business train visited the Bartlett Grain facility in Jacksonville on Wednesday, Oct. 26. KCS No. 1 led the A-B-A set of FP9 from Kansas City, Mo., to Roodhouse, Ill., then north to the Bartlett facility’s loop on […]
Metrolink, Pacific Surfliner adjust schedules on routes halted by hillside issue
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Metrolink will resume weekend operations to and from its San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, and San Clemente Pier stations as of this Saturday, Oct. 29, while Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner will offer an updated schedule for service south of Irvine as of Monday, Oct. 31. Metrolink’s limited return of service will be […]
Two rail issues included on Watchlist from Transportation Safety Board of Canada
GATINEAU, Quebec — Two rail-specific issues — failure by crew members to follow railway signal indications, and unplanned or uncontrolled equipment movements — are on the 2022 Watchlist of leading safety issues released Wednesday, Oct. 26, by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Three other issues on the eight-item list — fatigue, safety management, and […]
Brightline to begin 79-mph testing in Brevard County
COCOA, Fla.— Brightline is scheduled begin higher-speed testing on another segment of its route to Orlando as of this Saturday, a 13-mile portion of track in north Brevard County that will see 79 mph testing beginning this Saturday and 110-mph testing in early 2023. During testing, flaggers will be stationed at a total of 18 […]
Norfolk Southern reports record quarterly results as operations improve
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern on Wednesday reported record third-quarter financial results despite handling lower volume. “The Norfolk Southern team delivered strong financial results in the third quarter, achieving quarterly records for revenue, net income, and earnings per share,” CEO Alan Shaw said on the railroad’s earnings call with investors and analysts. NS’s operations also improved […]
MBTA GM says some Orange Line slow orders will persist into December
BOSTON — Speed restrictions introduced after the MBTA’s 30-day shutdown of the rapid-transit Orange Line will remain in place as late as December, the agency’s general manager has said. WCVB-TV reports GM Steve Poftak informed U.S. Sen Ed Markey that the five slow orders in each direction “are scheduled to be lifted in November and […]
Developer announces plan for new rail-served container facility at Port of Baltimore
BALTIMORE — Tradepoint Atlantic, developer of the former Sparrows Point steel mill at the Port of Baltimore, has announced plans for a 165-acre container terminal with on-dock rail as the next major step of redevelopment of the 3,300-acre site. The project, a partnership with Terminal Investment Limited, should lead to hundreds of new jobs during […]