BOCA RATON, Fla. — When it comes to capital plans, Norfolk Southern is holding steady. The railroad is at a “steady state” in basics such as rail and tie replacement, Ed Boyle, vice president of engineering, said Thursday at the annual NRC Conference, meaning its goals for 2023 are similar to its achievements in 2022. […]
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Ties are a big topic at the annual NRC Conference — just about every railroad mentions how many ties it will replace in the coming year —so it makes sense that Shane Keller, Union Pacific’s vice president of engineering, wanted to highlight UP’s effort to improve the tie-replacement process. Keller was […]
WASHINGTON — Some Montana Rail Link engineers have raised concerns about a loss or reduction of a range of benefits if regulators approve the early termination of the regional’s lease with BNSF Railway. BNSF has reached agreements with all nine unions that represent MRL employees as part of its plan to resume control of the […]
WASHINGTON – Railroads have filed suit against the Surface Transportation Board’s new rules that are designed to streamline the settlement of rate disputes with shippers. Last month the STB established two new rate reasonableness procedures, including a voluntary arbitration program and a new process called Final Offer Rate Review. Shippers applauded the move, while the […]
WASHINGTON – U.S. rail traffic was down 4.8% in December, capping off a year in which volume fell 2.8% amid broad service problems on the big four U.S. railroads. Total U.S. carload traffic for 2022 was 11,976,283 carloads, down 0.3%, or 34,001 carloads compared to 2021, according to the Association of American Railroads. U.S. railroads […]
Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific were the only major Class I railroads to show volume growth in 2022. UP took the crown among the top six systems, with its overall traffic up 2%. The increase was driven by a 5% gain in carload traffic, including a 9% jump in coal volume. UP’s intermodal traffic was […]
WASHINGTON — A DC Metrorail operator was arrested on suspicion of operating a train while intoxicated in a Dec. 23 incident, the news site Greater Greater Washington reports, citing a Metro Transit Police department document. Arrest came after the Blue Line train missed a stop at Van Dorn Street, then halted between stations for some […]
BOSTON — Days before the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority removed some of its newest rapid transit cars from service for the latest in a series of mechanical issues, the agency claimed in a letter that the manufacturer of those cars “has completely abandoned its core responsibilities and commitment to lead, monitor, and support quality management,” […]
Cody explains the double barrel hopper train with input from Trains Magazine columnist Bill Stephens. Are you looking to learn more about your model railroad, or do you have questions about full-size trains? Send us an email at: AskTrains@trains.com ………………………………… Ask Trains is a regular video feature of Trains.com for magazine subscribers and Trains.com members, where […]
OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific, citing ongoing harsh winter weather, is continuing an embargo it placed last week on all traffic to and from Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. “A powerful storm system will swing through the Central U.S. early this week, bringing heavy snow, freezing rain and ice to Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. […]
MONTREAL — Canadian National announced Tuesday that the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference has ratified a new contract agreement covering approximately 160 CN rail traffic controllers in Canada. The agreement, ratified on Dec. 23, is effective through Dec. 31, 2025 and includes wage increases of 3% in 2023, 3% in 2024, and 2.5% in 2025, as […]
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Schneider says it has successfully shifted its intermodal traffic in the west from BNSF Railway to Union Pacific. Schneider began transferring some business to UP last year in anticipation of the full move on Jan. 1. “Schneider’s intermodal operations on Union Pacific transitioned seamlessly as the companies collaborated closely over the […]
