As the Russian military adjusts its strategy and goals following the failure of its original invasion of Ukraine that began Feb. 24, it has increased strategic attacks on the network of national rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) in the west of the country, largely through missile strikes. The Ukraine war is the first since World War […]
CHICAGO — Ukrainian refugee trains being operated by RDC Deutschland, the German subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Railroad Development Corp., have stopped running as of April 19. In a presentation that day to Northwestern University’s Sandhouse Rail Group, RDC Chairmain Henry Posner III recounted experiences in operating those trains, as well as observations based on past visits […]
Polish steam comforts Ukrainian refugees: On Saturday, April 16, the Hub Division of the NMRA Ukraine Support Fund together with The Wolsztyn Experience Mutual Trust Society and the Wolsztyn Steam Shed Cultural Institute ran a free steam special and picnic for nearly 300 Ukrainian refugees housed in the Wolsztyn, Poland area. The Hub`s Ukraine Support […]
KRAMATORSK, Ukraine – A station in Kramatorsk, packed with refugees waiting for trains to take them westward, was hit by a Russian missile attack on April 8. The death toll updated by the Ukrainian government on April 10 stands at 57 with 109 injured. Pictures from the scene depict abandoned belongings and children’s toys, in […]
Modelers supporting Ukrainian refugees: The HUB Division of the National Model Railroad Association, a 501(c)3 organization, has set up a fund to help our fellow model railroaders and prototype steam railroaders in their support of the Ukrainian refugee families who have arrived in Wolsztyn Poland. 100% of all funds donated go directly to this support. […]
EASTLEIGH, England — British container freight operator GB Railfreight has outshopped a locomotive specially painted to honor the people of Ukraine. The Class 66 locomotive, named “Glory to Ukraine,” is shown at the Arlington Fleet Services shop near Southampton in Southern England. The dual-cab locomotive was built at EMD’s General Motors Diesel factory in London, […]
BRUSSELS — European regulators have approved the pandemic-delayed merger of two high speed rail companies, Politico.eu reports. The merger of the Eurostar and Thalys companies was first proposed in 2019 [see “Proposed high speed merger …,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 30, 2019] but delayed as both companies struggled with plummeting ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
CONTAGEM, Brazil — Wabtec is introducing a new heavy-haul locomotive in Brazil designed to address decarbonization concerns while providing similar performance. The ES44ACi features a 12-cylinder Evolution Series diesel engine, producing the same 4,500 horsepower as the 16-cylinder FDL engine in its predecessor. “This represents greater energy efficiency and lower emissions,” Daniela Ornelas, Wabtec vice […]
Several of the largest steam heritage railways in Britain have announced reduced schedules or postponed special events involving multiple locomotives. The reason: a shortage of suitable coal because of transport or supply problems following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Britain once boasted the world’s largest coal export ports. Railways around the world relied on coal […]
OMAHA — Union Pacific will donate $500,000 to humanitarian relief in Ukraine, its largest-ever corporate donation for disaster relief, the company announced today. The funds will be split between the American Red Cross and Save the Children. The company had previously announced a 2-1 match for employee donations to six organizations providing direct support in […]
The thousands of refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine have rapidly become millions, and a huge number continue to rely on railways — both in Ukraine to get to the border, and in the European countries to which they are moving. Major stations across Europe, as well as those at previously insignificant rail junctions, […]
TAPACHULA, Mexico — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced plans to spend $1.4 billion to rehabilitate about 240 miles of rail lines in Chiapas and Oaxaxa states. The work will be part of the project to develop a rail line across the Tehuantepec Isthmus as an alternative to the Panama Canal. In a Friday […]
