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 […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
Metro-North Hudson Line service to return to pre-Ida levels
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 […]
Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern outline merger timetable
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 […]
Emergency repairs halt Surfliner, Metrolink service in south Orange County, Calif.
LOS ANGELES — Amtrak and Metrolink service has been suspended in south Orange County for emergency track work to stabilize right-of-way in the San Clemente, Calif., area. The Pacific Surfliner website says no trains will operate south of Irvine. Calif., between today and Sunday. As of Monday, Sept. 20, train service will resume on a […]
German rail drivers agree to new contract
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 […]
GO Transit to launch service to 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, […]
U.S. rail traffic continues to show intermodal decrease
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 […]
Metra boosts CEO’s compensation
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. […]
Audit finds safety issues with DC Metrorail maintenance procedures
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 […]
Metrolink to test earthquake warning system
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 […]
Intermodal congestion will persist for months, experts say
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 […]
FRA issues advisory on PTC design issue
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 […]