Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads on Wednesday reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 15, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 479,137 carloads and intermodal units, down 8.6% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending Feb. 15 […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
Blockades lead to VIA, CN layoffs NEWSWIRE
VIA Rail Canada has laid off 1,000 workers as a result of the blockades of rail lines at locations across Canada, joining about 450 Canadian National workers laid off earlier this week. Some of the Canadian passenger carrier’s plans to partially restore service were thwarted Wednesday as new blockades appeared. The blockades are part of […]
FRA to require risk reduction program for Class I railroads, certain short lines NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration has issued a final rule, launching the Risk Reduction Program to support an increasing standard of safety for the nation’s freight railroads. “The Risk Reduction Program will improve safety in the nation’s freight rail system,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. The final […]
Trains News Wire Digest for Tuesday, Feb. 18 NEWSWIRE
The Canadian government has modified its rules for hazardous-material trains, raising some speed limits. TRAINS: David Lassen Tuesday morning rail news: — The Canadian government has modified its order slowing trains carrying hazardous materials, raising some speed limits and adding additional rules reflecting rail-line signaling, the CBC reports. The rules issued Sunday create two categories […]
Canadian rail blockades enter 12th day NEWSWIRE
Blockades of rail lines across Canada continue, with Canada’s prime minister cutting short an international trip to address the crisis, which saw new blockades develop over the weekend, and warnings of shortages and other commodities as the service disruption entered its 12th day. On Sunday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cancelled a scheduled trip to Barbados […]
CN begins ‘progressive shutdown’ in Eastern Canada (updated) NEWSWIRE
MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway is beginning “a disciplined and progressive shutdown of its operations in Eastern Canada,” the railroad announced today, as a result of ongoing blockades of its lines in Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia. The move will lead to a halt to all VIA Rail Canada operations. VIA said in a statement […]
News Wire Digest Second Section for Thursday, Feb. 13 NEWSWIRE
A jury has awarded more than $10 million to a passenger injured in the December 2017 derailment of an ‘Amtrak Cascades’ train in DuPont, Wash. Steve Carter More Thursday morning rail news: — In the latest trial stemming from the fatal December 2017 crash of an Amtrak Cascades train at DuPont, Wash., a jury has […]
US rail traffic sinks again for the week of February 8 NEWSWIRE
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 8, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 485,329 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.6% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending Feb. 8 were […]
Canadian government orders speed restrictions for trains with hazardous materials (additional update) NEWSWIRE
OTTAWA — Canada’s Transport Minister, Marc Garneau, has announced new speed restrictions for trains carrying 20 or more cars of hazardous cargo in the wake of the derailment and subsequent fire of a Canadian Pacific train earlier today (Feb. 6) in Saskatchewan. Effective at midnight on Friday, such trains will be limited to 20 mph […]
Chicago alderman calls for federal action on blocked crossings NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — A Chicago alderman told members of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials that the lives of his constituents were being disrupted because of blocked crossings. During a hearing on Wednesday about grade crossing safety, 19th Ward Alderman Matthew O’Shea told members of Congress about people being late to work and […]
Executives from at least three Class I railroads will speak at investors conferences in coming weeks NEWSWIRE
Canadian National CEO J.J. Ruest Canadian National WAUKESHA, Wis. — Executives from at least three Class I railroads will be speaking at investors conferences in the coming weeks, according to news releases from the railroads. Canadian National Canadian National’s CEO J.J. Ruest is expected to speak at the Citi 2020 Global Industrials Conference in Miami […]
AAR: US rail traffic shows signs of rebounding for the week of Feb. 1, 2020 NEWSWIRE
Association of American Railroads The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 1, 2020, as well as volumes for January 2020. U.S. railroads originated 1,165,733 carloads in January 2020, down 5.9%, or 73,110 carloads, from January 2019. U.S. railroads also originated 1,245,080 containers and trailers in January 2020, […]