NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. — BNSF Railway is planning to use controlled blasting for the demolition of the bridge over the Big Sioux River that collapsed in flooding in June, KTLV-TV reports. The railroad has obtained the necessary local permits to conduct the blasting, but still needs a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
BNSF completes Belen, N.M., area capacity and fueling project
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has completed its multiyear project to add track and fueling capacity on the approach to its yard in Belen, N.M., where trains stop to change crews, undergo inspection, and have their locomotives’ fuel tanks topped off. “Belen, New Mexico, is really the heartbeat of our Southern Transcon, accounting for […]
Amtrak on-time performance woes mirror host railroad freight service, shippers say
Rail shipper groups say the poor on-time performance of all 15 Amtrak long-distance trains — which prompted the Justice Department to file a lawsuit last week against Norfolk Southern for its handling of the Crescent — is merely a reflection of Class I railroad freight operations. “This is a symptom of freight rail network capacity […]
What’s next for Amtrak Gulf Coast service: Analysis
MOBILE, Ala. — The Super Bowl will be played in New Orleans at Caesars Superdome on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. Mardi Gras’ Fat Tuesday celebration, perhaps the biggest event in both Mobile and the Crescent City, happens to be late next year: March 4. The race is now on to begin Amtrak Gulf Coast service […]
Mobile, Ala., council votes to approve Amtrak funding, station lease
MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile, Ala., city council today (Aug. 6) approved a long-sought funding agreement to support Amtrak Gulf Coast service, as well as a lease for use of city land for Amtrak’s stop in Mobile. Those agreements, as well as approval of a deal with the Alabama Port Authority regarding funding, passed by […]
‘Through running’ concept not enough to address Penn Station growth, officials say
NEW YORK — Reorganization of commuter rail service with through running — in which Penn Station would no longer be a terminus for NJ Transit and MTA commuter operations, but see trains serve both commuter networks — would not be enough to address future needs transit needs at the station, officials told a Monday forum […]
CN, CPKC to resume negotiations with Teamsters Canada
GATINEAU, Quebec — With the threat of a national strike looming, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference will resume negotiations on Wednesday, Aug. 8, with the assistance of federal mediators, Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon said today. MacKinnon and Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez today met with CN, CPKC, and Teamsters […]
Norfolk Southern, CSX monitor east’s first tropical storm (updated)
LAKE CITY, Fla. — Eastern railroads have marked the beginning of another hurricane season, as Hurricane Debby hit the made landfall between Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Fla., today (Monday, Aug. 5) and subsequently was downgraded to a strong tropical storm. The storm brought 70-mph winds and heavy rains across Pinsley Railroad Corp.’s Florida Gulf & Atlantic […]
Union Pacific coal train derails in Iowa
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — Thirty-eight cars of a Union Pacific coal train derailed about 2 miles east of Marshalltown on Sunday evening, Aug. 4, KCCI-TV reports. The derailment occurred about 5:30 p.m. No injuries were reported. Marshalltown is about 148 miles west of Clinton, Iowa, on UP’s Clinton Subdivision. It is about 70 miles west of […]
New Southern California rule would require dramatic reduction in rail yard pollution
DIAMOND Bar, Calif. — A Southern California regulatory agency on Friday adopted new rules requiring railroads to significantly reduce pollution from rail yards starting in 2027, an action that would require nitrogen oxide emissions to be reduced up to 82% by 2037. The South Coast Air Quality Management District’s new Freight Rail Yards Indirect Source […]
Runaway car on short line strikes Norfolk Southern train, causing derailment in Michigan
ADRIAN, Mich. — A runaway freight car from a short line struck a Norfolk Southern train this morning in Adrian, derailing 10 cars of the NS train, the Class I railroad told a local TV station. The incident occurred at about 8 a.m. at a crossing of the NS and the Adrian & Blissfield railroad. […]
Genesee Valley Transportation sells two Alcos to heritage railway
BATAVIA, N.Y. — Genesee Valley Transportation has sold two Alco RS3 locomotives to heritage railway Saratoga Corinth & Hudson, the two operations announced today (Aug. 2). Locomotives No. 4103 and 4118, which wore the same numbers with the Delaware & Hudson, were purchased from the Octoraro Railroad and rebuilt at Genesee Valley’s South Scranton Shop. […]