Metrorail testing plan approved, but reduced service will continue through November

WMATA (DC Metro) logo

WASHINGTON — The independent Washington Metrorail Safety Commission has approved a plan for testing and returning DC Metrorail’s newest railcars to service, but the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will still face reduced levels of service through at least the remainder of November. The Washington Post reports the safety commission’s approval means Metro will begin […]

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Testing plan submitted for sidelined Metrorail cars

WMATA (DC Metro) logo

WASHINGTON — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has submitted a testing plan for returning its 7000-series Metrorail cars to operation to address its current equipment shortage. The Washington Post reports the plan submitted to the independent Washington Metrorail Safety Commission would call for checking the cars every eight days for a wheel defect that […]

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CSX, NS say Gulf Coast passenger service would ‘devastate’ freight operations (updated)

CSX logo

WASHINGTON — CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern say addition of Amtrak trains along the Gulf Coast would cause a “systematic failure” in their ability to provide freight service, based on traffic modeling, and would “devastate first-mile last-mile service to freight customers in the region,” according to a filing with the Surface Transportation Board. But while […]

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CN to purchase Wabtec battery-electric locomotive

Red and gray locomotive

MONTREAL — Canadian National will be the first North American buyer of Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive, for its Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad. The railroad calls the locomotive’s technology key to transitioning to a lower-carbon future, and says Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection is providing financial support under the Marine and Rail Freight Movers Grant […]

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Amtrak service to Canadian cities remains on hold

People waiting in line inside passenger station

WASHINGTON, D.C. — While Greyhound announced last week that it will resume cross-border intercity bus service between U.S. and Canadian destinations Nov. 8, no firm date has been finalized for restoring Amtrak trains serving Vancouver, B.C., Toronto, and Montreal. U.S. citizens have been able to visit Canada since Aug. 9, but Canadians won’t be able […]

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Intermodal issues continue for railroads in October

Table showing weekly rail traffic by commodity with intermodal volume

WASHINGTON — Intermodal issues continued to weigh on U.S. rail volume in October, as a 7.9% drop in intermodal traffic led to an overall decline of 2.8%, according to the latest figures from the Association of American Railroads. The overall drop came despite a 3.8% increase in carload volume. “For railroads, the supply chain challenges […]

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CN, Progress Rail to work together on renewable fuels testing

Canadian National logo

MONTREAL — Canadian National and Progress Rail are joining with a renewable fuels company to test biodiesel and renewable diesel fuels in locomotives. The companies have announced they will work with Renewable Energy Group to better understand the long-term impacts of renewable fuels on locomotives, especially in cold weather, and determine any modifications necessary to […]

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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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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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