WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department is opposed to allowing Canadian National to place Kansas City Southern in a voting trust as part of the process for the proposed merger of the two railroads, saying the deal “raises sufficient competition concerns on first blush” to prohibit the procedure. Canadian Pacific, which has had its earlier […]
Type of Train: Freight
Analysis: Union Pacific pivots into growth mode
Union Pacific, which has long put profitability ahead of volume growth, has turned over a new leaf. UP now says it is focused on gaining traffic – and that it will grow faster than the rate of industrial production over the next three years by diverting freight from highway to rail. UP’s emphasis on […]
What’s the timeline for a Canadian National merger with Kansas City Southern?
If Canadian Pacific does not top Canadian National’s $33.6 billion offer for Kansas City Southern in the next five days, a CN-KCS merger would proceed toward the approval process. First, KCS shareholders must approve the deal announced yesterday, which would give them $200 per share in cash, along with 1.129 shares of CN common stock, […]
Digest: Amtrak, ATF offer $10,000 reward in Beech Grove fire case
$10,000 reward offered in investigation of Amtrak shop fire Amtrak and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and successful prosecution of the person or persons responsible for the May 2 fire at Amtrak’s Beech Grove (Ind.) Heavy Maintenance Facility, WXIN-TV […]
Digest: Officials in Colorado county say they oppose passenger rail district
El Paso, Colo., county board voices opposition to passenger rail district Officials in Colorado’s El Paso County, which includes Colorado Springs, have indicated their opposition to a proposed Front Range Rail Passenger District, expressing concern that taxes raised by the district could be better used to fix local roads or could be spent elsewhere in […]
Digest: Customs agency announces $46 million upgrade for rail inspections at border
Customs and Border Protection to introduce new rail cargo scanners at 12 key border crossings The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency has announced a $46 million program to install new technology to inspect rail cargo at a dozen sites around the U.S. The new high energy scanners will us linear accelerators to generate X-rays […]
U.S. rail traffic remains well above 2020 levels
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail freight traffic continues to far outpace 2020 levels, when traffic was depressed by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and remains stable by week-to-week measures in 2021. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads for the week ending May 8 show U.S. railroads moved 236,019 carloads, a 27.6% increase over […]
Digest: CSX acquires chemical trucking firm Quality Carriers
CSX acquires Quality Carriers, North America’s largest bulk chemical trucking firm CSX Corp. will acquire Quality Carriers, North America’s largest truck transporter of bulk liquid chemicals, in a deal announced Wednesday morning. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Quality Carriers operates a truck fleet with about 2,500 drivers and has a network of more […]
Digest: Congressman introduces bill to boost passenger rail commissions
Legislator’s bill would support multi-state passenger rail efforts U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) has introduced legislation to create multi-state passenger rail commissions to improve regional coordination for passenger rail service. The Intercity Rail Commission Act would encourage the formation of up to 10 reginal passenger commissions by providing up to $500,000 in matching funds to […]
Niagara Junction
Niagara Junction Although it was built by the Niagara Falls Power Co. in the 1890’s, 11-mile switching road Niagara Junction used steam locomotives at first. Electrification, with 660-volt D.C. catenary and steeplecabs, came in 1913. New General Electric motors arrived in 1952 (that’s one at right, in October ’67), by which time the road was […]
Digest: NJ Transit has plan to test battery-electric equipment, but needs funding
NJ Transit awaits funding for plans to test battery-electric commuter equipment NJ Transit wants to test battery-electric rail equipment on its North Jersey Coast Line — if it can find the funding, NJ.com reports. The program would be similar to that announced last month by the Long Island Rail Road [see “Long Island Rail Road […]
Chicago suburb claims CN-KCS combination would create traffic nightmare (updated)
WASHINGTON — The Chicago suburb of Barrington, Ill. — which battled Canadian National’s acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern in 2009 and has protested increased rail traffic ever since — has warned federal regulators that CN’s proposed merger with Kansas City Southern would create “a traffic congestion nightmare for the people of the greater […]