CHICAGO — GATX Corp. is growing its locomotive lease fleet by 30% with the recent purchase of 156 locomotives from Progress Rail. “The acquired fleet is predominantly four-axle 1,500- and 2,000-hp locomotives such as GP38-2s and MP15s, which are core to GATX’s operating lease business. A limited number of high-horsepower six-axle locomotives, including nine SD70ACes, […]
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has reached a tentative agreement with its final general committee SMART-TD union that represents conductors. SMART-TD (the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division) is the largest labor union on NS, and two of its three general committees on the railroad had already backed tentative contract deals. […]
DARIEN, Conn. — Arielle Giordano has joined Genesee & Wyoming Inc. as the vice president of government and industry affairs for its U.S. operations, the company announced Tuesday, Sept. 3. Giordano most recently was assistant vice president of U.S. government affairs for CPKC, addressing government relations at the federal, state, and local levels. She held […]
CHICAGO — Amtrak’s Empire Builder departing Seattle on Aug. 30 got off to an on-time start, but was spotted over Labor Day weekend exiting Rugby, N.D., 13 hours, 29 minutes late at 1:18 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1 instead of 11:49 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31. It would lose more time because a borrowed BNSF […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada’s transport minister has asked for an independent report on the VIA Rail Canada incident involving a significantly delayed Montreal-Quebec City train on Saturday, Aug. 31, the minister’s press secretary said Tuesday. The Canadian Press reports that Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez has also asked the passenger operator to improve employee training and […]
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte City Council has voted to purchase 22 miles of a Norfolk Southern rail line for a long-discussed commuter rail project, and to seek a 1-cent sales tax increase to pay for a transportation plan including the Red Line project. In a vote this evening (Tuesday, Sept. 3), the council voted […]
KINGSPORT, Tenn. — It’s official: The CSX Santa Train will make its 82nd run on Saturday, Nov. 23. Following its traditional path taken through Appalachia since 1943, the train will embark on a 110-mile journey from Shelbiana, Ky., to Kingsport, Tenn., spreading an abundance of holiday cheer while delivering more than 15 tons of toys, […]
WASHINGTON — The 13-mile San Luis Central Railroad will be acquired by the owner of connecting short line Colorado Pacific Rio Grande Railroad, according to regulatory filings. Colorado Pacific San Luis Railroad LLC (CXSL), a non-carrier, has filed a notice of exemption to acquire and operate the San Luis Central from milepost 2.0 at Sugar […]
The general chairmen representing the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen on Norfolk Southern have criticized tentative contract agreements that the railroad has reached with nine unions — and say they’ll never support a similar deal for engineers. The SMART-TD union that represents conductors was among the unions to reach tentative contract deals with NS. […]
Photographer Kyle Yunker “Getting the shot” is a new series of Trains.com articles highlighting the travels of individuals who go above and beyond to capture great railroad images, like hiking several miles for the perfect photo, or driving hours out of the way in search of something special. These articles describe those stories directly […]
With their Powder River Basin coal volumes down by more than 22% this year — and 58% below the peak of 2008 — is it time for BNSF Railway and Union Pacific to consider rationalizing capacity on their primary coal-hauling routes? Not yet, the railroads say. In the heart of the Wyoming coal fields, BNSF […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada’s transport minister said this weekend that he plans to meet with VIA Rail Canada officials after a passengers on a train bound for Quebec City were stranded for more than 10 hours, with one alleging “aggressive” behavior by a train crew member when passengers complained. The Canadian Press reports Transport Minister […]
