Metra plans significant hiring push in January

Electric commuter train arrives at station

CHICAGO — Commuter rail agency Metra says it is planning a “major hiring effort” in January in anticipation of schedule changes during the first quarter of 2022 as more workers return to downtown offices. Jobs to be posted will fill a variety of positions that have been left open during reduced pandemic operations, as well […]

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News Wire Top 10, No. 3: A snarled supply chain

Yellow locomotives moving double-stack cars with container crains in background

Pandemic-related economic upheaval tangled the global supply chain in 2021, leading to unprecedented congestion at ports and intermodal terminals. At the onset of the pandemic, imports were reduced to a trickle because Chinese factories shut down. American consumers shifted their spending from experiences to goods, which increased demand and depleted retail inventories to historically low […]

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Canadian Pacific extends contract with retailer Canadian Tire

Canadian Pacific Railway beaver logo

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific and Canadian Tire Corp Ltd. have signed a multi-year agreement for the railroad to continue moving the retailer’s goods in Canada. As part of the agreement, and to support Canadian Tires’ desire for efficient transportation and to reduce carbon emissions, CP will begin serving Ashcroft Terminal in Ashcroft, British Columbia. This […]

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STB sets details for hearing on reciprocal switching

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has released details on its previously announced hearing on proposed reciprocal switching regulations, to be held March 15-16. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. each day at the board’s headquarters in Washington, and will be streamed online on the board website. The board will announce no later than […]

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Two Mississippi ports receive federal funds for rail projects

Two dark blue locomotives with freight cars

WASHINGTON — Two ports in Mississippi have received more than $8 million in U.S. Department of Transportation grants for rail projects, the state’s congressional delegation has announced. Port Bienville, near Bay St. Louis in Hancock County, and the City of Aberdeen Port in Monroe County, have received funding under the Port Infrastructure Development Program, U.S. […]

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COVID surge leads to New York subway cuts

Logo of Metropolitan Transportation Authority

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s New York City Transit has reduced subway service this week as staffing feels the effect of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. In a series of Twitter messages on Sunday, NYC Transit said subway trains would run less frequently Monday through Thursday, as the system reallocates train crews where they […]

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News Wire Top 10, No. 6: Battery-electric and hydrogen locomotives

Red and black locomotive with full-width carbody to accomodate batteries

The rail industry has long touted its energy efficiency compared to other modes of transport, as well as the parallel environmental benefits. But with railroads and their customers both placing more focus on combating climate change, an increasing number of projects are under way to develop alternatives to diesel-electric locomotives. Making the most progress to […]

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GIO Rail prepares to start service on CN Cayuga Subdivision

Man standing in front of gray locomotive

ST. THOMAS, Ontario — One week after the GIO Railway Corp. ran the final train on one Ontario short line, it debuted on another route. On Christmas Eve, Canadian National’s Cayuga Subdivision saw its first train since April 30, 2020, when Ontario Southland discontinued operation on the 30-mile line between St. Thomas and Courtland, Ontario. […]

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News Wire Top 10, No. 7: Railroad crew shortages

Man in orange vest climbing onto black locomotive

At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Class I railroads furloughed train crews as volume sank at its fastest rate ever. When volume rebounded, crew members were not called back to work at the same rate as traffic returned because railroads were moving their tonnage on fewer but longer trains. Then three things happened […]

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