Activist investor wins backing of union representing Norfolk Southern maintenance of way employees (updated)

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 […]

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BNSF found liable in Montana asbestos deaths

BNSF Railway logo

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 […]

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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 […]

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Racine council calls for contract to study Milwaukee-Kenosha commuter service

Map showing rail line and stations between Kenosha, Wis., and Milwaukee

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 […]

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Completion of Maya Train pushed back to September

Passenger train on bridge

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 […]

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U.S. weekly rail traffic narrowly ahead of 2023 levels

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type, plus overall intermodal volume.

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 […]

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Montreal’s REM faces new delays

Yellow construction equipment inside railroad tunnel

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 […]

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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 […]

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FRA issues safety bulletin following death of maintenance-of-way worker

Logo for Federal Railroad Administration

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 […]

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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 […]

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