PARADISE, Pa. — The nation’s oldest short line, the 4½-mile-long Strasburg Rail Road in southeast Pennsylvania, last week opened a $3.3 million, six-track yard to handle its growing freight business. Situated at Leaman Place Junction along Amtrak’s double-track electrified Keystone Corridor, the 7-acre site and interchange lies just off U.S. 30, the Lincoln Highway. Freight […]
Section: News Wire
East Palestine plans town hall meeting on derailment
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The Village of East Palestine will hold an informational town hall meeting on Wednesday regarding followup to the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment, Mayor Trent Conaway has announced. The 7 p.m. meeting at the East Palestine High School Auditorium will be an opportunity for residents and those in the surrounded area […]
Altoona museum adds PRR baggage car to K4s restoration project
ALTOONA, Pa. — The Railroaders Memorial Museum has acquired a former Pennsylvania Railroad baggage car for use in a planned exhibit train to accompany K4s No. 1361, currently undergoing restoration. In a post on its Facebook page, the museum reports the car — a model B60b baggage car built in the 1920s — was donated […]
Silvis update: UP passenger cars being repaired
SILVIS, Ill. – Railroading Heritage of Midwest America reports it is making significant progress on repairs to former Union Pacific passenger rolling stock at its Silvis, Ill., shop complex. In an email to donors, RRHMA President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Sandberg said in the coming weeks former Southern Pacific business car Stanford will be sandblasted […]
Judge rules Denver’s RTD does not have to pay more than $100 million in fight over grade-crossing malfunctions
DENVER — The Regional Transportation District does not have to pay builders of its commuter rail lines more than $100 million to cover costs related to grade-crossing problems, a Denver judge ruled Friday, while also turning down an RTD countersuit and effort to cancel its contract with those builders. The construction consortium, Denver Transit Partners, […]
Proposal seeks to launch commuter rail service north of Sacramento, Calif.
CHICO, Calif. — A new plan proposes to extend commuter rail service in California’s central valley north of Sacramento, providing up to four round trips a day as far north as Chico, about 90 miles north of the state capital. The North Valley Rail proposal from the Butte County Association of Governments proposes offering commuter […]
Columbia Rail to take over operations at Richland, Wash., port
RICHLAND, Wash. — The Port of Benton has hired Washington short line operator Columbia Rail to operate the 16-mile railroad at the industrial facilities on land that once hosted the Manhattan Project nuclear weapon program. The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business reports that the port commission has approved a 24-month agreement under which Columbia Rail […]
Woman injured in case cited by TSB has suit pending
KITCHENER, Ontario — The woman injured in a 2019 grade crossing accident, cited last week by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada as a sign of issues with Ontario oversight of rail safety, filed a lawsuit last year seeking more than C$3 million as a result of the incident, the CBC reports. Jenna Armstrong and […]
Toronto’s UP Express resumes operation
TORONTO — Union Pearson Express rail service resumed this morning (Sunday, Feb. 12) with 30-minute frequencies after all operation were cancelled Saturday, according to the UP Express website. The trains between Union Station in downtown Toronto and the city’s Pearson Airport, which normally operate on 15-minute headways, have been operating on reduced frequencies since cracks […]
Toronto airport rail service halted after brake issues found throughout equipment fleet (updated)
TORONTO — Toronto’s Union Pearson Express rail service, which operates between downtown and the city’s airport, has been replaced by bus service as of Saturday, a day after CTV News reported 14 of 18 cars in the service’s equipment fleet had been sidelined by cracks in their brake discs. As of Saturday evening, a notice […]
CSX reaches agreement with two more unions to provide paid sick leave
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation announced today (Friday, Feb. 10) that it has reached agreement with two more unions to provide four days of paid sick leave. The agreements are with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers, which represent the company’s utility workers. They follow […]
EBT No. 16 limbers up for Winter Spectacular
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – East Broad Top’s 1916 Baldwin 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotive, under restoration for nearly three years, stretched its legs Thursday (Feb. 9) in preparation for the narrow gauge railroad’s annual Winter Spectacular railfan weekend. Expanded to a two-day event this year, it is scheduled for Feb. 18-19. The 81-ton engine has created […]