Several freight rail business developments did not rank among our Top 10 stories of the year — but were still important in the grand scheme of things. They include: New Southeast-Mexico corridor CSX and Canadian Pacific Kansas City on Dec. 1 began service over the former Meridian & Bigbee short line that serves as a […]
PECOS, Texas — The Union Pacific train involved in Wednesday’s fatal derailment was going about 68 mph before beginning an emergency brake application, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement today (Friday, Dec. 20). Maximum speed on most of UP’s Toyah Subdivision, including in Pecos, is 70 mph. Two Union Pacific crew members […]
MOLINE, Ill. — An exceptionally long-running effort to launch Amtrak service to the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa may be extended even longer, if some federal lawmakers have their way. Three members of Illinois’ congressional delegation — U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, and U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen — have written Transportation Secretary […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a new final rule on freight car safety standards including limitations on cars or parts from China or another “country of concern.” The rule, released Thursday, Dec. 19 and effective Jan. 21, 2025, fulfils a requirement of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The rule requires railcars […]
The North American passenger rail landscape in 2024 included a number of service debuts, some so noteworthy that they earned a spot in the year’s top stories, which will appear through Dec. 31. But the overarching theme was continued growth punctuated by intermittent operating lapses. Leading the way with new ridership achievements — thanks, in […]
KEARNY, N.J. — Amtrak has awarded contracts for another major Northeast Corridor project, the Sawtooth Bridge replacement, the company announced Thursday, Dec. 19. A Skansa, Walsh & Herzog joint venture received the contract for pre-construction activities, with future contract opportunities for the project’s full construction. A joint venture of AECOM and STV also received a […]
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has named Michael Barr as vice president investor relations and treasurer, the company announced Thursday, Dec. 19. Barr comes to NS after serving as managing director at Neuberger Berman, a $500 billion asset management firm. He has also held management roles at Shockoe Capital and Prudential Equity Group, and has worked […]
LAGOS, Nigeria — The Lagos commuter rail service using Talgo trainsets built for but never used by the state of Wisconsin has resumed operation. Operations on the 27-kilometer (16.7-mile) Red Line Mass Transit service were suspended indefinitely on Dec. 4, after mechanical issues on Dec. 2-3 [see “Nigerian commuter operation … is halted,” Trains News […]
HARRIMAN, Wyo. — Union Pacific has demolished an at least 70-year-old water tower on its Harriman Cutoff line over Sherman Hill, the news site Cowboy State Daily reports, to the dismay of locals who say they would have mounted a preservation effort if given the opportunity. On Wednesday, Dec. 17, UP spokesman Mike Jaixen told […]
PECOS, Texas — Two crew members have died after a Union Pacific train collided with a tractor-trailer truck on Wednesday (Dec. 18) and derailed, sending railcars into a trackside building. The second death, of an individual who had been transported to Odessa, Texas, in serious condition, occurred this morning, officials said during a press conference […]
WASHINGTON — Union Pacific and steelmaker Commercial Metals Co. have asked federal regulators to continue their review of a proposed 6-mile branch in the Phoenix area. The Surface Transportation Board halted the environmental review process for the Pecos Industrial Rail Access Train Extension, or PIRATE, on Aug. 31 after the discovery of what it said […]
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