Metra to mark 40th anniversary with weekend of free rides

Two commuter trains meet with Chicago skylline in background

CHICAGO — Commuter rail operator Metra will offer free rides on the weekend of June 8-9, concluding a week of activities to mark its 40th anniversary. The agency dates its birth from June 8, 1984, when the first meeting was held of the Regional Transportation Authority’s Commuter Rail Division. The Metra name was adopted a […]

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Senate confirms Fuchs for second term on STB

Man speaking at podium

WASHINGTON — Patrick J. Fuchs has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a second term on the Surface Transportation Board. Fuchs was confirmed by a voice vote on Tuesday, May 14. His latest term expires on Jan. 14, 2029. President Joe Biden had nominated Fuchs for reappointment in January, and the Senate Committee on […]

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Weekly U.S. rail traffic shows slight gain over 2023 levels

Weekly table showing U.S. carload traffic by commodity type, plus overall intermodal figures.

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 11 was up slightly over the same week in 2023, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Total volume for the week was 468,748 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.6% from the corresponding week a year ago. That included 209,319 carloads, down 7% […]

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Final Spike Steam Tour features ‘The Empress’ No. 2816

steam train behind old blue car

Final Spike Steam Tour On Thursday, May 9, 2024, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad’s Class H-1b Hudson No. 2816 continued its Final Spike Steam Tour operating over former Milwaukee Road trackage into Iowa following a display day in Franklin Park, Ill. The 4-6-4 and the CPKC executive train rolled west across the old Milwaukee Road […]

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Canadian government to regain ownership of CN’s Québec Bridge

OTTAWA, Ontario – The Canadian government will once again own the landmark Québec Bridge over the St. Lawrence River after negotiations with Canadian National, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today. “The Québec Bridge is a source of pride for the people of Quebec City and all Canadians. It is a timeless symbol of what is […]

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CSX CEO surprises three employees with new Ford trucks

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs made three employees’ days yesterday when he handed them the keys to new Ford pickup trucks. All unionized employees with perfect attendance over a six-month span are entered into the ONE CSX Drive to Succeed raffle. The prize: One of three F-150 Lariat Supercrew trucks. Hinrichs started his […]

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Patriot Rail names Port of New Orleans leader as its next CEO

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Short line railroad and transload operator Patriot Rail Co. has named Port of New Orleans CEO Brandy D. Christian as its next chief executive officer. Christian will join Patriot Rail on June 17, the company said today. She’ll succeed CEO John Fenton, who is retiring after 12 years at the helm. “Brandy […]

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Alstom sells Russian stake and seeks cash injection

Paris-based rail engineering firm Alstom has announced its results for the 2023 financial year, with EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) profits of €997 million ($1.08 billion), and a future order book worth €18.9 billion ($ 20.4 billion). However, despite the apparently positive numbers. the company also reported that overall it had a net loss […]

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