Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City are now shut down in Canada after locking out Teamsters Canada Rail Conference operating crews beginning at 12:01 a.m. today (Aug. 22) — the first time both railroads have been hit by a work stoppage at the same time. A lockout of CPKC rail traffic controllers began […]
Section: News Wire
New Portland, Maine, Downeaster station site selected; public input sought
PORTLAND, Maine — Following a pair of community outreach sessions that began last April, the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority has settled on a site for a relocated Portland station that would eliminate the time-consuming backup move for Downeaster service that dates to its launch in December 2001. The agency is soliciting further public […]
U.S. weekly rail traffic jumps
WASHINGTON — Perhaps reflecting the prospects of a Canadian labor stoppage, weekly U.S. rail traffic experienced a significant boost in the seven days ending Aug. 17, 2024. U.S. volume for the week, as reported by the Association of American Railroads, included 516,819 carloads and intermodal units, an 8% gain over the same week in 2023. […]
CN calls for government intervention as rail shutdown approaches
MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway called for government intervention this evening as Canada moved closer to a shutdown of its two Class I railroads, but earlier today [Aug. 21] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau simply called on the two sides to reach a deal. CN plans to lock out members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference […]
CSX, well before a deadline, reaches deal with three its unions
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation has reached contract agreements with three of its unions, four months before their existing contracts faced a key date under the Federal Railway Act. A company spokesman called the move “unprecedented,” and said the workers covered by the new contracts represent about 25% of CSX’ unionized workforce. The deals were […]
Business as usual for CN, CPKC shortline partners as labor strike looms
CHICAGO — Short line and regional railroads interchanging with Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City say it’s business as usual — for now — despite the growing threat of a railroad strike and lockout later this week between the Canadian railroads and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference. Michael Martinez, the director of business development […]
Canadian commuter rail operations prepare for work stoppage
The potential strike by CPKC rail traffic controllers — set to begin Thursday morning — will scramble commuting in Canada’s three largest cities. Commuter rail operations in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal all rely on CPKC dispatching to varying degrees, and those operations will cease during a strike by controllers. Hardest hit will be Montreal, where […]
Federal court shoots down STB’s streamlined rate dispute resolution process
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court today tossed out the Surface Transportation Board’s streamlined process for resolving rate disputes between shippers and railroads, saying the 2022 Final Offer Rate Review rule exceeded the board’s authority. Union Pacific and the Association of American Railroads had challenged the Final Offer Rate Review process. The U.S. Court of […]
STB to end discovery portion of Sunset Limited on-time performance probe
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will wrap up the discovery portion of its investigation into the on-time performance of Amtrak’s Sunset Limited on Friday and has set a schedule for the remainder of the proceeding. In a decision issued yesterday, the STB also ordered Amtrak to provide an opening statement that addresses several key […]
Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 3751 set for LA appearance in September
LOS ANGELES — Santa Fe steam locomotive No. 3751 will make 2024 public debut this September at the Rail Safety: Los Angeles event, the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society has announced. The free, two-day event will be the largest rail safety event hosted in downtown Los Angeles in more than a decade. Taking place at […]
Canada’s labor minister to meet with CN, CPKC, union
OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada’s Minister of Labor, Steve MacKinnon, will meet with representatives of Canadian National, CPKC, and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference Tuesday and Wednesday in an effort to avoid the work stoppage set to begin at 12:01 a.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 22. The CBC reports MacKinnon will be in Montreal, headquarters of […]
Metro-North’s Waterbury Branch remains closed by flood damage
WATERBURY, Conn. — Service on Metro-North Railroad’s Waterbury Branch remains suspended following significant flood damage to the route on Sunday, Aug. 18, while Danbury Branch service was restored in time for the evening rush today (Monday, Aug. 19), the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reports. Waterbury Branch damage includes a significant mudslide between the Seymour and Ansonia […]