Metra launches Saturday excursions on Heritage Corridor

Commuter train rounds curve with buildings in background

CHICAGO — Beginning this weekend, Metra will offer special weekend excursions on its Heritage Corridor line for five Saturdays, designed to give passengers the opportunity to explore bike and hiking paths, festivals, restaurants, breweries, and other features of communities along the route. The “Rails, Trails and Ales” excursions will provide two round trips each Saturday […]

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Metro-North Hudson Line service to return to pre-Ida levels

Heavy machinery unearthing mud-covered rail lines

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has announced service on the Metro-North Hudson Line will be increased on Monday, Sept. 20, reflecting continuing work to repair damage sustained Sept. 1 from heavy rains brought by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The schedule will represent weekday service at 82% of pre-pandemic levels, with weekend service […]

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Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern outline merger timetable

Map of the combined Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern system

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Canadian Pacific CEO Keith Creel and Kansas City Southern CEO Pat Ottensmeyer expressed excitement today about finally being able to combine their two railways into the first system to connect Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Their merger deal, officially announced on Wednesday after Canadian National dropped its pursuit of KCS, came […]

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German rail drivers agree to new contract

Deutsche Bahn logo

BERLIN — German rail operator Deutsche Bahn and the union representing train drivers have agreed on a new contract, ending a dispute that saw the nation hit by three rail strikes in less than a month. Broadcaster DW reports the deal with the GDL union was announced by the premiers of the German states of […]

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GO Transit to launch service to London, Ontario

Map showing new GO Transit route between Toronto and London, Ontario

TORONTO — GO Transit will launch new service between Toronto and London, Ontario, as of Oct. 18, a pilot program that will extend the commuter operator’s reach about 120 miles from Toronto Union Station. The new service will extend existing Kitchener Line service with new stops in St. Marys and Stratford, as well as London, […]

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U.S. rail traffic continues to show intermodal decrease

Weekly table showing U.S. rail traffic by category

WASHINGTON — Lagging intermodal traffic again dropped weekly U.S. rail traffic figures below 2020 levels, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Figures for the week ending Sept. 11 saw U.S. railroads move a total of 468,610 carloads and intermodal units, a 1.3% decrease from the corresponding week in 2020. It […]

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Metra boosts CEO’s compensation

CEO Jim Derwinski

CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors on Wednesday gave CEO/Executive Director James Derwinski a 10% annual salary raise along with additional compensation, arguing that it must “stay competitive” with the rest of the rail industry. Metra Chair Romayne Brown lauded Derwinski as a “strong leader and innovator,” and several other board members echoed that sentiment. […]

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Audit finds safety issues with DC Metrorail maintenance procedures

WMATA logo

WASHINGTON — An audit of the DC Metrorail system’s maintenance practices has found those who perform railcar repairs and inspections do not keep organized records or follow safety procedures, according to the independent agency charged with monitoring DC Metro safety. The Washington Post reports the 44-page document from the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission identified 12 […]

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Metrolink to test earthquake warning system

Metrolink_Riverside_Lassen

LOS ANGELES — Commuter rail operator Metrolink is joining the California Department of Transportation and U.S. Geological Survey for a pilot warning system that could slow and stop trains in the event of an earthquake. The Earthquake Early Warning System will be deployed between Perris and Riverside on Metrolink’s 91/Perris Valley Line. It will use […]

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Intermodal congestion will persist for months, experts say

Containers on railcars in foreground with many stacked containers behind

LONG BEACH, Calif. — It will take at least six months to alleviate monumental intermodal congestion that stretches from Asian ports, across the Pacific to U.S. ports, and on to railroads and their inland terminals. “The intermodal industry is under unprecedented strain … worse than anything I’ve seen in 41 years that I’ve been in […]

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FRA issues advisory on PTC design issue

Federal Railroad Administration logo

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory after identifying a design issue with positive train control that makes it possible for a crew member to circumvent PTC enforcement. The advisory, published earlier this month in the Federal Register, says the interface design issue allows crews to manually operate the cut-out valve […]

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