CLEVELAND – The union representing Norfolk Southern’s maintenance of way employees has thrown its support behind activist investor Ancora Holdings. The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters said today that a change in leadership is necessary at NS. The union is backing Ancora’s full slate of director candidates […]
Section: News Wire
BNSF found liable in Montana asbestos deaths
HELENA, Mont. — A federal jury found earlier this week that BNSF Railway contributed to the death of two people who were exposed to asbestos when mining material was shipped through the town of Libby, Mont., and awarded $4 million each in compensatory damages to the estate of the two plaintiffs, who died in 2020 […]
U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, member of Transportation Committee and rail subcommittee, dies at 65
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Ranking Member of its Railroad, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, died Wednesday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced. He was 65. NorthJersey.com reports he had been hospitalized since suffering a heart attack from diabetes complications on April […]
Grand Canyon No. 4960 concludes April operations with Earth Day excursion (updated)
WILLIAMS, Ariz. — While the busy steam season for most locomotives is beginning to build up around this time, 2-8-2 No. 4960 is already in full form on the Grand Canyon Railway. The Mikado-type recently completed three April round trips from Williams to Grand Canyon National Park. While the locomotive performed well during the public […]
Racine council calls for contract to study Milwaukee-Kenosha commuter service
RACINE, Wis. — The city of Racine is continuing efforts to revive the proposed Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail project along Union Pacific’s line through those communities, with the Racine Common Council calling for a contract to study infrastructure needs for the project. According to the construction industry publication the Daily Reporter, the council passed a resolution […]
Citing safety issue, Metrolink temporarily ends carriage of surfboards
LOS ANGELES — In a truly California announcement, LA-area commuter rail operator Metrolink says it is removing nets designed to carry surfboards from its railcars. The agency says that a recent inspection determined that the placement of those nets would make it difficult to access emergency exit windows. “As a result, we are removing the […]
Completion of Maya Train pushed back to September
CANCÚN, Mexico — Completion of Mexico’s Maya Train, originally touted as coming in February and subsequently projected for April or May, has been pushed back to September after a decision to modify plans to avoid further damage to underground caverns along the incomplete section of the 950-mile tourist rail system. The work in the 120-kilometer […]
U.S. weekly rail traffic narrowly ahead of 2023 levels
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic remained above 2023 levels for the 13th straight week, but the margin is narrowing. For the week ending April 20, total U.S. volume was 474,544 carloads and intermodal units, a 0.8% increase over the corresponding week a year earlier, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. That includes […]
Montreal’s REM faces new delays
MONTREAL — Ongoing work in the Mount Royal tunnel will further delay completion of the Réseau express métropolitain light rail project, the private developers said today (Wednesday, April 24). REM developer CDPQ Infra, the infrastructure arm of provincial pension manager Caisee de dépôt et placement du Quebec, said in an update posted today on the […]
Michigan mine to use Intramotev autonomous freight cars
ST. LOUIS – Intramotev, which retrofits freight cars with autonomous, self-propelled battery electric technology, today announced a partnership with global mining company Carmeuse Americas to deploy its TugVolt cars at a limestone mine in Cedarville, Mich. “We couldn’t have asked for a better partner to deploy our technology in Michigan than Carmeuse,” Intramotev CEO Tim […]
FRA issues safety bulletin following death of maintenance-of-way worker
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration issued a safety bulletin today in the wake of a fatal accident involving a maintenance-of-way worker who was pinned by an excavator’s bucket. “FRA is actively investigating this accident, and is issuing this bulletin to remind railroads, railroad employees, and railroad contractors of the importance of ensuring proper safety […]
Longer lengths of haul help propel CPKC’s first-quarter earnings
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s first-quarter financial results reflected the progress the railway has made in the year since the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, executives said today. “One year into our historic combination, I am proud of what our dedicated family of railroaders has accomplished as we deliver on the benefits of […]