STB allows Minnesota shipper’s complaint against Union Pacific to proceed

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will allow a Minnesota company to proceed with its complaint against Union Pacific that alleges service reductions by the railroad violate UP’s common carrier obligation and constitute unreasonable practices. In a decision issued Tuesday, the board granted a request by Sanimax USA to partially revoke commodity exemptions and allow […]

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Train 447

Three diesel locomotives in yard

Train 477 Train 477 out of Chicago holds the westward main track at Butler, Chicago & North Western’s principal Milwaukee-area yard and site of the Wisconsin Division headquarters, in spring 1984. Chris Burger photo […]

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STB issues proposed schedule for CP-KCS merger proceeding

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has laid out a 245-day schedule for submission of evidence and arguments on the merger application for Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern under a proposal released Tuesday afternoon — envisioning a longer process than the railroads had hoped for. The 245-day plan would proceed from last Friday, Oct. […]

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CP and KCS project dramatic rise in daily train counts

Map of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern systems with details from merger document

WASHINGTON – Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern say their proposed merger will generate significant traffic growth, with daily train counts on the combined system’s north-south spine projected to more than double within three years. The traffic details were among those included in the railways’ 4,342-page, 1-gigabyte merger application filed with U.S. regulators late Friday. […]

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Dad was a closet railfan

Black-and-white photo of front end of steam locomotive emerging from enginehouse doorway

My father was a closet railfan. He didn’t hang around the tracks or take pictures of trains. On the other hand, he was always more than happy to take us kids to almost any railroad yard or station if we asked. And he never told us to stay away from the tracks, perhaps swayed by […]

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Latest blockade of KCS de Mexico route ends

Kansas City Southern de Mexico logo

CALTZONTZIN, Mexico — The latest blockade of Kansas City Southern de Mexico tracks by a Mexican teachers’ union has ended after 91 days, Mexico Daily News reports. National Guard troops cleared the tracks in the state of Michoacán on Sunday afternoon, and KCSM trains were expected to begin running the same day. An industry association […]

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FRA letter warns Norfolk Southern about conductor training, safety deficiencies

Federal Railroad Administration logo

WASHINGTON — Citing a string of recent train-service employee accidents involving injury or maiming, the Federal Railroad Administration last week again warned Norfolk Southern about deficiencies in its conductor-certification program. In an Oct. 28 letter to CEO James Squires, FRA Deputy Administrator Amit Bose wrote that “NS has had five conductors/brakemen suffer amputations and crushing […]

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CP, KCS file merger application

Logos for Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern

WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern have filed their merger application with the Surface Transportation Board, meeting the companies’ goal of delivering the document to regulators before the end of October. In a press release sent Friday at 10:40 p.m. EDT, the companies said the application to create new combined company Canadian Pacific […]

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Ohio blocked-crossing bill would levy fines starting at $5,000

Seal of the state of Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio state legislator has introduced legislation that would fine railroads $5,000 or more for blocking grade crossings for more than 5 minutes “to the hindrance of traffic.” The Butler County Journal-News reports state Rep. Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township, Ohio) said House Bill 361 is designed “to get the railroads’ attention,” with […]

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U.S. DOT, California combine to address supply-chain issues

Two trains meet along river while another crosses water on bridge

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Transportation and state of California will work together on a program to address supply-chain issues through infrastructure projects under an agreement announced last week. The Emerging Projects Agreement aims to facilitate projects and financing for transportation projects to improve the movement of imports and exports and “bring supply […]

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Union Pacific train derails near Des Moines, Iowa

Union Pacific logo with Building America slogan

CARLISLE, Iowa — Cleanup continued through the weekend after one locomotive and about 20 cars of a Union Pacific train derailed Friday night near the town of Carlisle, just southeast of Des Moines. KCCI-TV reports the accident, which temporarily closed the adjacent State Route 5, initially launched a hazmat response from local fire departments, but […]

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