Norfolk & Western No. 611 to celebrate 75th birthday

Head-end photo of steam locomotive

ROANOKE, Va. — Norfolk & Western No. 611 will be turning 75 this month, and Roanoke’s Virginia Museum of Transportation is gearing up for a celebration: May 30, 4-8 p.m.; and May 31, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The J-class 4-8-4 was built in May 1950 by N&W at Roanoke’s East End Shops. “This milestone not only […]

Read More…

Railroads expecting Chinese import traffic to bounce back

Two container ships at port

NEW YORK — Union Pacific, Canadian National, and CPKC executives are expecting a quick rebound in Chinese exports to the U.S. thanks to the temporary tariff reductions announced this week. U.S. importers had largely paused their orders from China after the Trump administration raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145% last month. This created a […]

Read More…

CN sets 2025 capital spending plan

MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway plans to spend Ca$3.4 billion ($2.43 billion U.S.) under its capital spending plan for 2025, including Ca$2.9 billion ($2.07 billion) for maintenance and infrastructure improvements. “At CN, we believe investing in our network is investing in the future of North American supply chains,” CEO Tracy Robinson said in a press […]

Read More…

Western Maryland Scenic’s Georges Creek Division Railroad impacted by flooding (updated)

Washed out track nexzt to flooded creek

WESTERNPORT, Md. — The Georges Creek Division Railroad took a devastating hit by Tuesday’s severe flooding to the western Maryland area. The short line, which ceased operations in 2019, was recently leased to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad for passenger and potential freight opportunities [See “Western Maryland Scenic to expand through lease…,” Trains News Wire, […]

Read More…

U.S. weekly rail traffic continues to run ahead of 2024 levels

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

WASHINGTON — With carload and intermodal traffic both up, weekly U.S. rail traffic remains head of 2024 levels, according to the Association of American Railroads. Statistics for the week ending May 10, 2025, show overall U.S. volume 495,552 carloads and intermodal units, a 5.7% increase over the same week a year earlier. That includes 222,238 […]

Read More…

Flooding knocks out key CSX routes in the Cumberland, Md., area

CSX logo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Severe flooding that hit the Cumberland, Md., area on Tuesday has shut down key CSX routes, the railroad said in a customer service alert today. Among the routes affected: The former Baltimore & Ohio main line linking Baltimore and Pittsburgh, which has taken on increased importance as a detour route for traffic […]

Read More…

Bill seeks to tighten prohibition on federal funding for transit equipment from China

Subway train at station

WASHINGTON — Legislation announced in Congress this week would bar federal funding for Chinese-built railcars and buses, tightening an existing prohibition. Six senators — three Republicans and three Democrats — announced the “Safebuarding Transit Operations to Prohibit China, or STOP China, Act. It would prohibit the use of Department of Transportation funding for the purchase […]

Read More…

Coalition of states sues over federal threat to withhold transportation funds over immigration actions

Train operating in the median of Interstate 90

WASHINGTON — A coalition of 20 state attorneys general has filed two federal lawsuits over a threat to withhold transportation and disaster relief funds unless the states agree to comply with the Trump administration’s immigration policies. One lawsuit names Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, while the other targets the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department […]

Read More…