FORT WORTH, Texas — A judge has granted BNSF Railway a temporary restraining order, blocking a threatened strike by two of its unions over new work rules. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports U.S. District Court Judge Mark Pittman said that his ruling does not address whether the dispute between BNSF and the unions — the […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
Watco sets startup dates for former CN lines in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario
Watco short line railroads will begin operating former Canadian National branches in the Badger State, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Ontario in the next week. On Jan. 29, Watco will begin operations on the 328.5-mile Fox Valley & Lake Superior in Wisconsin, as well as the 142.6 miles of trackage on the Upper Peninsula […]
Utilities look to stockpile more coal in 2022 even as coal-fired plant retirements loom: Analysis
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Railroads are likely to haul more coal to American power plants this year even as coal’s share of electric generating capacity declines. Utilities that use coal are eager to replenish inventories after high natural gas prices and supply chain issues severely depleted their supply in 2021. In a recent short-term outlook, the […]
Action at Aurora
At the Burlington Route’s station in Aurora, Ill., on a February 1946 day, Pacific 2850 pulls away from a string of suburban cars as two trains stand on other tracks. In the middle is a 22-car empty troop train waiting for a locomotive to take it west, while at left is the eastbound North Coast […]
Railroads say they welcome unions’ request for mediation in national negotiations
The group representing railroads in bargaining with rail labor unions says it welcomes the move to mediation in the two-year-old negotiations, a move the group representing unions reflects the fact railroads “are not bargaining in good faith.” The National Railway Labor Conference, which represents its member railroads in national labor matters, says in a Monday […]
Seeking the pricing-capacity ‘sweet spot’ on two Florida trains: Analysis
ORLANDO, Fla. — Travelers planning to take Amtrak between Washington, D.C., and Florida now have two choices: The Miami-New York Silver Star, which also serves Tampa and Orlando, and Auto Train, operating from Sanford, Fla. (near Orlando), and Lorton, Va., just south of the Nation’s Capital. A third choice, the Miami-New York Silver Meteor, has been […]
Additional CTrail trains, buses to offset some Amtrak service cuts
NEWINGTON, Conn. — Connecticut will add additional CTrail trains on the Hartford line as of today (Monday, Jan. 24) to offset the loss of service resulting from Amtrak cuts, while other Amtrak trains will be replaced by bus service, the state Department of Transportation announced. Amtrak announced cuts to its Springfield Shuttle and other service […]
San Diego transit district votes to proceed with Del Mar safety fencing
DEL MAR, Calif. — After a lengthy but unsuccessful effort to negotiate an agreement, the San Diego’s North County Transit District has voted to proceed with plans to install a safety fence along its tracks on the coastal Del Mar Bluffs. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the district board voted 7-0 on Jan. 20 to […]
Chemical shippers critical of rail service and delays
WASHINGTON — Chemical shippers give railroads low marks for their service, with the majority experiencing moderate to severe delays, reduced local service, and missed switches. That was the result of an American Chemistry Council member survey about their shippers’ experience with railroads and other modes in the third quarter of 2021. The trade association wrote […]
Union Pacific CEO signals interest in autonomous intermodal cars
CULVER CITY, Calif. — Union Pacific has expressed interest in a new autonomous battery-electric intermodal car concept developed by a group headed by three former Space X engineers. The concept under development by Parallel Systems would see intermodal containers carried by pairs of powered battery-electric wheelsets, moving in “platoons” of cars, but capable of splitting […]
SMART signs short-term deal for freight operator
PETALUMA, Calif. — Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit has made a short-term deal for a contractor operator for freight service while it prepares to launch an in-house freight operation. The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports the SMART board of directors on Wednesday approved a $395,000, three-month contract for Summit Signal to provide interim operation to customers currently […]
BNSF files suit to block potential strike
OMAHA, Neb. — BNSF Railway is asking a federal judge to block a potential strike by two unions began polling workers about a possible strike over the railroad’s new attendance policies, the Associated Press reports. BNSF filed suit against the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and […]