WASHINGTON — In an effort to avert a potential national rail strike, U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh was part of a Wednesday session at the National Mediation Board involving the organization representing railroads in national contract negotiations, as well as eight unions that have not yet reached tentative contract agreements, Politico reports. Negotiators from the […]
Section: News Wire
Kentucky Steam acquires tubes, flues for No. 2716 restoration from Indiana museum
IRVINE, Ky. — The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. will purchase a full set of boiler tubes and flues from the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Ind., for Kentucky Steam’s restoration of C&O 2-8-4 No. 2716. The collaboration, made possible through funds from the John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust, will make use of […]
Catenary work halted on Montreal light rail project following runaway-equipment incident (updated)
MONTREAL — Catenary work on the Réseau express metropolitain light rail project has been temporarily halted while authorities investigate a Monday incident involving a runaway piece of equipment involved in track construction. The CBC reports a resident of a building overlooking Montreal’s Champlain Bridge captured video footage of the yellow maintenance vehicle rolling uncontrolled into […]
New York ends transportation mask requirement
NEW YORK — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has lifted the state’s mask requirement in a number of locations where masks were previously required, including public transportation, where it was one of the few such requirements remaining in the country. Hochul announced the change in a Wednesday update on COVID-19 cases in the state. Masks […]
News photos: Guelph Junction Railway lands new customer
The city-owned Guelph Junction Railway has added a new customer, Flash Freight Systems, constructing a siding on the city’s north end near Woodlawn Avenue and Edinburgh Road. Flash Freight, headquartered 8 miles north of Guelph in Ariss, Ontario, will be using the siding to transload cement, potato flakes, peas, and lumber. The siding was constructed […]
U.S. rail traffic up slightly in August, ending five months of declines
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic in August inched above the level for the same month in 2021, the first time volume has been in positive territory since February, when statistics were skewed by weather problems the previous year. August totals saw carloads up 2.3% and intermodal units down 1.2% for a total increase of 0.4%, […]
Buses to replace trains on Metro-North’s Port Jervis Line beginning Sept. 11
NEW YORK — Buses will substitute for commuter trains on the Metro-North Port Jervis line beginning Sunday, Sept. 11, at 4 a.m., allowing trackwork including replacement of 10,000 crossties and three switches, as well as track welding work. The bus substitutions will continue for more than two months, through Nov. 13. Buses will operate to […]
House subcommittees schedule joint hearing on rail service and agriculture
WASHINGTON — Subcommittees of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Agriculture will hold a joint hearing, “Rail Service Challenges and the Impact on Agriculture,” on Sept. 15. The hearing will be held by the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials and the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture. […]
CSX, NS, and UP executives tout gradual service improvements as crew hiring continues
The chief executives of CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific say their railroads are on the mend as more newly hired conductors enter active duty, operations are slowly improving, and freight demand remains strong. All three railroads are trying to hire conductors as quickly as possible to help ease crew shortages that have gummed […]
Sierra Northern provides look at design for hydrogen switcher
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sierra Northern Railway has unveiled the design for the hydrogen-powered switcher it is developing through California funding awarded in 2021. The $4 million project will replace an older Tier 0 diesel with a zero-emission locomotive integrating a hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen storage, and advanced battery and system-control technologies. Sierra Northern President […]
CP reaches agreement with another Iowa town on funding to address merger impacts
LeCLAIRE, Iowa — Another eastern Iowa community has approved an agreement with Canadian Pacific over the railroad’s planned merger with Kansas City Southern, while a city which rejected an earlier offer is now on record opposing the merger. KWQC-TV reports that LeClaire, Iowa, will receive $750,000 to address impacts of the merger under an agreement […]
Waste shippers complain about CSX service in the Northeast
WASHINGTON — Waste shippers have complained to federal regulators regarding deteriorating service on CSX Transportation in the Northeast. The National Waste & Recycling Association, a trade group representing 70% of the private sector’s waste and recycling market, told the Surface Transportation Board that its members prefer to reach commercial solutions with their rail carriers. “However, […]