SKAGWAY, Alaska — One berth at the White Pass & Yukon Railway’s cruise-ship dock in Skagway has been closed because of concerns over rockslide risk, forcing Princess Cruises to change plans for some scheduled visits by its ships. Travel Weekly reports the forward berth on the Railroad Dock has been closed following a report by […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
CN reports record quarterly results as operations improve
MONTREAL – Canadian National reported record revenue and operating income in the second quarter amid a dramatic operational turnaround that has the railway performing at its highest levels in five years. “The network is fluid and the operating team has done a great job of improving performance across the network,” CEO Tracy Robinson told investors […]
World’s first hydrogen trains enter regular passenger service
BREMERVORDE, Germany — The world’s first hydrogen-powered trains in regular passenger service are now in operation, having begun service July 25 on a German regional rail line between Cuxhaven and Buxtehude, via Bremervörde. Bremervörde is around 40 miles southwest of the city of Hamburg. The initial service is being billed as “preliminary,” in case operating […]
Moffat Tunnel work cancels mid-route portion of California Zephyr service Thursday
WINTER PARK, Colo. — A track closure for Moffat Tunnel repairs this week is causing cancellation on part of the route for California Zephyrs departing Wednesday, July 27, from Chicago and Emeryville, Calif. Amtrak travelers with reservations on those trains that include the Denver-Salt Lake City segment were notified Sunday that the train was cancelled […]
Transport Canada announces new rules regarding train brakes
OTTAWA — The Canadian government will require railroads to revise rules regarding inspection and maintenance of air brakes and develop a winter operating plan under a ministerial order announced Monday. The move is one of several undertaken by Transport Canada as a result of Transportation Safety Board findings into the February 2019 runaway of a […]
New study makes case for Peoria-Chicago passenger service
PEORIA, Ill. — Officials from Peoria and nearby communities have announced results of a feasibility study for a Chicago-Peoria passenger rail corridor over former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific tracks that last saw passenger trains in 1978. The clear intent of last week’s announcement is to compete for $1.8 billion in the Federal Railroad Administration’s […]
Ontario Northland train visits southern Ontario for TV production
An Ontario Northland Railway passenger train is working its way back to Cochrane, Ontario, after several days use in filming of the Hulu TV series “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which has been shooting at locations around Southern Ontario. Filming occurred on GIO Rail’s Trillium Railway July 20-23, with the train initially parked at the Ceres Global […]
Canadian National train derails in British Columbia
ANZAC, British Columbia — Thirteen cars of a Canadian National train derailed Saturday in a remote area in east central British Columbia, the Prince George Citizen reports. No injuries were reported. A railroad representative said there were no leaks of hazardous materials or fires and no danger to public safety. The cause is under investigation. […]
Groups seek to buy Saluda Grade for conversion to rail trail
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Three non-profit groups say they have made an offer to Norfolk Southern buy the right-of-way of the inactive Saluda Grade — when active, the steepest main line in America, averaging a 4.7% incline with a brief stretch of 5.1% grade — with plans to turn it into a 31-mile rail trail. The […]
Norfolk Southern to increase pay for conductor trainees
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern is increasing conductor trainee pay to $25 per hour, with a minimum of $200 in earnings per shift, the railroad has announced. Trainees will also be eligible for an on-the-job training incentive of $300 per biweekly pay period, provided they make themselves available to work. “We are committed to ensuring our […]
CSX earnings improve despite crew shortages, operational challenges
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation’s second-quarter earnings improved despite ongoing crew shortages that have snarled operations and forced the railroad to turn away traffic. At the current pace of hiring and training new conductors, CSX expects to hit the magic number of 7,000 active train and engine crews by the end of September, which will […]
Adirondack’s uncertain return attracts bipartisan lawmaker attention
WESTPORT, N.Y. — The New York-Montreal Adirondack is now the only Amtrak service that has not resumed operation following the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, and Amtrak and the state of New York will not predict when it might return. The delay — which contrasts with Vermont’s preparations to extend the Ethan […]