WASHINGTON — An improperly aligned switch during maintenance work that had signal operation suspended led to the collision of two CSX trains in Folkston, Ga., on April 15, according to the preliminary report on the incident released today (May 8) by the National Transportation Safety Board. Three crew members were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening […]
Section: News Wire
CPKC video teases completion of first locomotive in new paint scheme
Slightly over a year after the creation of the railroad, and more than 10 months after announcing its new paint scheme, Canadian Pacific Kansas City appears to be ready to actually unveil a locomotive wearing the livery. CPKC today (May 8) released a brief teaser video showing ES44AC No. 9375 entering a paint booth and […]
Union Pacific CEO advocates seamless border operations at Mexico gateways
CHICAGO — Freight train operations across the U.S.-Mexican border should be as seamless as they are across the U.S.-Canadian border, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena told a shipper group last week. Cross-border trains entering the U.S. from Canada use Canadian crews to reach the nearest rail yard — and vice versa. “I never used to […]
Concert for Michigan Central opening to feature Detroit artists
DETROIT — “Iconic Detroit performers” will headline the opening-night concert for the revitalized Michigan Central station, the company in charge of the facility announced Tuesday, although no specific acts have been announced. The Detroit Free Press reports that the lineup is not yet set as producers continue to nail down commitments, but names “circulating in […]
News photo: Preparing for the Borealis
LAKE CITY, Minn. — Gearing up for the May 21 launch of the Chicago-St. Paul Borealis, Amtrak ran a special test train between the two cities on Tuesday, May 7, using the planned Horizon and Amfleet equipment and operating on the train’s schedule. The trip included all scheduled stops. The special is shown here in […]
Efforts advance to extend Metrolink service into Santa Barbara County
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Efforts to extend Metrolink commuter rail service into Santa Barbara County are gaining ground, the online news site Noozhawk reports. A committee of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments is set to discuss a one-year pilot program to extend service from Ventura County to Santa Barbara and Goleta, Calif., today […]
Batory nomination to Amtrak board of directors potentially changes its dynamic: Analysis
WASHINGTON — President Biden’s nomination last week of experienced railroad chief executive Ron Batory to Amtrak’s board of directors checked a number of boxes. But his main contribution will likely be the perspective he gained during a stint as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration that provided a ringside seat to Amtrak management’s business practices […]
Summer rail art exhibition slated for New York City gallery
NEW YORK – Twenty-two railroad paintings from the Peter and Christine Mosse collection will be displayed at a New York City art gallery this summer in a collaboration with the Center for Railroad Photography & Art. The “Art of Trains” exhibition will be held from July 11 to Aug. 23 at the Hirschl & Adler […]
New Jersey doctor sentenced to more than two years in prison in Amtrak health-care fraud case
NEWARK, N.J. — A New Jersey doctor has been sentenced to 26 months in prison for his role in a health-care fraud targeting Amtrak, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. Muhammad Mirza, 51, of Cedar Grove, N.J., had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The sentence was imposed by […]
Transtar’s East Ohio Valley Railway to grow
PITTSBURGH — East Ohio Valley Railway, one of the seven railroads of Transtar LLC, will more than double its operating mileage through a long-term lease of rail lines in the Powhatan Point, Ohio, area, Transtar has announced. The East Ohio Valley, currently 12.2 miles, will add a total of 18 miles through lease from Norfolk […]
California locomotive emission rules threaten BNSF’s proposed Barstow terminal
CHICAGO — BNSF Railway would have to reconsider its plans to build the $1.5 billion Barstow International Gateway if California’s zero-emissions locomotive mandate is allowed to move forward, CEO Katie Farmer says. The California Air Resources Board’s in-use locomotive rule went into effect on Jan. 1. It bans the operation of any locomotive that is […]
Shippers express disappointment with STB reciprocal switching rule
DUNKIRK, Md. – The Surface Transportation Board’s reciprocal switching rule for inadequate rail service is a “missed opportunity,” the National Industrial Transportation League says. The final rule, adopted last week, is designed to incentivize Class I railroads to maintain service levels or face the possibility that a sole-served shipper in a terminal area will seek […]