Broken rail led to Indianapolis derailment, CSX says

Firefighter standing on rail bridge above derailed freight cars

INDIANAPOLIS — A broken rail led to the derailment that sent several cars off an overpass and onto an Indianpolis roadway earlier this month, CSX Transportation told the Indianapolis Star. The broken rail in the railroad’s Hawthorne Yard in southeastern Indianapolis led to a six-car derailment about 6:35 p.m. on April 6, with five cars […]

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Cumberland & Knox is new name for Maine Switching’s Rockland Branch

Red locomotive switching at industrial site

BRUNSWICK, Maine — Maine Switching Services on Monday (April 28) finalized a lease agreement with Maine’s Department of Transportation that will allow freight operations to resume on the 56.6-mile, state-owned former Maine Central branch between Brunswick and Rockland, Me. The operating entity will be known as the Cumberland & Knox Railroad (CKRR), named for the […]

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STB takes up case regarding BNSF access to new Utah short line

WASHINGTON— Federal regulators will determine whether BNSF Railway can use its trackage rights over Union Pacific to reach a new short line railroad in Utah. The Surface Transportation Board yesterday rejected Union Pacific’s request to dismiss the case regarding the Savage Tooele Railroad. Savage held a groundbreaking ceremony in November for the railroad [see “Groundbreaking […]

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News photo: Carload Express takes over Maryland & Delaware

Maroon end-cab switcher with hopper cars

FEDERALSBURG, Md. — Shortline company Carload Express has officially assumed control of the Maryland & Delaware Railroad, a move approved by the Surface Transportation Board earlier this year. The transaction — approved by the STB in a decision announced Jan. 2 — became official on April 23. The railroad’s rebuilt Alco RS3m locomotives have been […]

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Tornado derails BNSF train in Nebraska (updated)

BNSF Railway logo

ASHBY, Neb. — A tornado is being blamed for derailing an empty BNSF coal train on Sunday evening (April 27, 2025) near the town of Ashby, News Channel Nebraska reports. The derailment was reported about 6:27 p.m. CT, and involved the derailment of about 130 cars. The lead locomotive was not affected, and the two […]

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California Senate committee advances bill limiting train length

Freight train with yellow locomotives in mountains

SACRAMENTO — California legislation that would limit train lengths and require wayside detectors cleared its first hurdle in the state legislature last week, advancing through the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Communications. The bill, which advanced by a 12-4 vote on April 21 with one committee member not voting, was introduced in February by […]

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News Wire Recommended Reading: Pope Francis and trains

On the day of Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican City — scheduled to begin at 4 a.m. ET — the latest edition of News Wire recommended reading begins with the European website Railtech.com looking at the Pope’s connection to trains — which begins with the fact he was the son of a railway worker. Also […]

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