Beginning in the early 2000s, the rail industry was introduced to something not seen before, new-build six-axle locomotive lease fleets. CIT Group was the first to purchase, acquiring 40 EMD SD9043MACs in late 1999 and early 2000. This was followed by 25 new General Electric AC4400CWs in 2001 and another 35 AC4400CWs in 2004. The […]
Well, I left everybody hanging with the end of my last story, the Cascade Tunnel adventure. The adventure continued even after my conductor, Chris, and I left our freight train inside the 7.9-mile-long Cascade Tunnel after the ventilation failed and hurried our light engines to daylight — and fresh air. Once outside, Chris and I […]
MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway and Iowa Northern Railway have officially joined their operations, CN said today (Monday, March 3). “This additional investment in the United States underscores our dedication to delivering outstanding rail service while driving economic growth,” CN CEO Tracy Robinson said in a press release. “CN customers and partners along this network […]
WASHINGTON — Disbursement of funds from grants awarded under a variety of Federal Railroad Administration continue to be held up by a lengthy approval process involving FRA personnel. These investments are threatened by potential staff reductions at the agency, as well as possible vetos by overseers invoking new Trump administration ideological criteria. Concerned about such […]
DULUTH, Ga. — The Southeastern Railway Museum, a 35-acre facility established in Duluth in 1970, is among sites included on Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2025 list of 10 Places in Peril. The organization says the list, issued Feb. 26, is designed to raise awareness about Georgia historic, archaeological, and cultural resources threatened by demolition, […]
WASHINGTON — U.S. railroads generated more than $233 billion in economic activity and support almost 750,000 jobs nationwide, the Association of American Railroads says in a new report on the economic impact of the rail industry in 2023. “Railroads are a key pillar of American commerce, powering our supply chains and driving economic growth nationwide,” […]
CHICAGO — The Chicago Tribune is suing the Chicago Transit Authority over the CTA’s alleged failure to fulfill requests under the Freedom of Information Act, the newspaper reported Saturday. The Tribune reports the suit filed Friday, Feb. 28, in Cook County Circuit Court, cites six instances where the CTA did not respond promptly, fully, or […]
SAN DIEGO — The North County Transit District’s Sprinter rail service is facing an unexpected need to replace its fleet of diesel multiple-unit trainsets, which could place the service between Oceanside and Escondido, Calif., in jeopardy. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that maintenance issues have sidelined all but five of the Sprinter’s 12 two-car trainsets, […]
A late train can happen for many reasons. It’s up to you to make the most of an unexpected delay. It’s no secret — and it shouldn’t be a surprise — that sometimes North American overnight long-haul passenger trains can run hours behind schedule. Here’s are tips for making the most of an extended journey. […]
WASHINGTON — All service between New York Penn Station and Newark, N.J., was suspended for about an hour today (Saturday, March 1) after debris apparently fouled electrical transmission wires over the tracks at Newark, according to an advisory on Amtrak’s website. Meanwhile, “ongoing switch and signal issues” at Washington Union Station has primarily affected trains […]
ST. LOUIS — A 21-year-old Missouri man has admitted to stealing more than $1.5 million in railroad equipment in Missouri and Illinois. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said in a press release that Jesse Henry of Laclede County, Mo., pleaded guilty on Friday, Feb. 28, to one count of damaging […]
SAN DIEGO — The effort to determine a new rail route through Del Mar, Calif., will repeat a step — and has a new twist, as well. At a Friday, Feb. 28, meeting, the San Diego Association of Governments restarted the run-up to developing an environmental assessment of the project, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. […]
