Final environmental statement released for Uinta Basin project

Map showing proposed rail route in Utah

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis has released its final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Uinta Basin Railway, and selected the Whitmore Park Alternative as the environmentally preferred route for the approximately 85-mile rail line to serve a remote portion of northeastern Utah. The 637-page environmental document, accompanied by more […]

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North American Rail Shippers meeting now will hear from five Class I CEOs

North American Rail Shippers logo

CHICAGO – The North American Rail Shippers association annual meeting, scheduled for Sept. 7-9 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, now will feature presentations from five Class I railroad chief executives and the president of Genesee & Wyoming’s North American operations. CSX Transportation CEO Jim Foote has been added to the agenda, along with G&W’s Michael Miller. […]

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BNSF Railway details international intermodal congestion issues

Aerial view of intermodal facility

WASHINGTON — On a typical day, BNSF Railway has about 30 international stack trains staged along its main lines, waiting for space to open up at intermodal terminals in Chicago, Memphis, and Alliance, Texas. The terminals are clogged due to an unprecedented combination of record volume and shippers and receivers being slow to pick up […]

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U.S. rail traffic still up in July, but margin decreases

Weekly table showing U.S. rail traffic by commodity

WASHINGTON — Overall U.S. rail traffic for July was up 3.8% over July 2020, according to statistics released by the Association of American Railroads. The numbers include 904,670 carloads, an increase of 55,969, or 6.6%, over July 2020, and 1,066,169 containers and trailers, an increase of 15,450 units, or 1.5%. While the figures showed an […]

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Transport Canada approves new switching rules

Transport Canada logo

OTTAWA, Ontario — Transport Canada has approved new rules to address uncontrolled movement of railway equipment during switching. The approved rules, announced July 30, determine when air brakes must be used during switching, to ensure a consistent approach across the rail system; measure to secure stationary equipment during switching operations; and speed restrictions when switching […]

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Union Pacific reopens Dry Canyon Bridge (updated)

Train crossing bridge next to construction equipment

WEED, Calif. — Union Pacific has reopened the Dry Canyon Bridge a month ahead of its original estimate, allowing the railroad to resume operations on its I-5 Corridor line between California and the Pacific Northwest. The railroad initially estimated the bridge would not be completed until Sept. 1, but last week said it could be […]

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‘California Zephyr’ route closed by Colorado mudslides

Man unloads luggage from Superliner car

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — Massive mudslides have washed out Union Pacific’s former Denver & Rio Grande Western route through Glenwood Canyon, east of Glenwood Springs, while also blocking part of adjacent Interstate 70. The slides not only have disrupted Amtrak’s California Zephyrs, which normally pass in the area between crew change points in Denver and […]

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Santa Clara VTA to resume bus service on light rail route

Map showing route of temporary bus service

SAN JOSE, Calif. — With a date still to be determined for the restoration of light rail service, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is resuming alternative bus service along the light rail line as of today (Monday, Aug. 2). In a press release, the VTA said buses will operate at 30-minute intervals weekdays from […]

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