ORLANDO, Fla. — A lot of companies could take lessons on promotions from the people at Brightline. Last month, the company built a promotion around a poll showing that 59% of Floridians would prefer to find an alligator in their pool than get stuck in traffic on a family trip. In response, it offered 40% […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
Officials sign off on $6.88 billion grant for Gateway Tunnel
NEW YORK — Officials signed off on a $6.88 billion federal grant Monday for the Northeast Corridor’s Gateway Tunnel project — the largest single federal grant ever for a transit infrastructure project, and part of $11 billion in federal money for the $16 billion project to build two new bores under the Hudson River between […]
Changes ahead for Britain’s railways after new government elected (updated)
LONDON — The British election last week resulted in a landslide win for the previous opposition Labour Party, which won 411 seats, with the former Conservative government reduced to 121 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons. The new government has pledged to make some big changes to Britain’s railways, although in some ways the […]
Operations resume at site of CPKC derailment
BORDULAC, N.D. — All railcars containing hazardous material have been removed from the site of Friday’s derailment of a CPKC train near Bordulac, and operations on the railroad’s Carrington Subdivision have resumed, according to a company spokesman. The cars were safely removed on Sunday, spokesman Patrick Waldron said in an email reported by the Jamestown […]
Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner derails; no injuries reported (updated)
WASHINGTON, Mo. — No injuries were reported when Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner derailed this evening (Monday, July 8), KSDK-TV reports. All cars remained upright. Amtrak said in a statement that the train hit a tree on the tracks at about 4:55 p.m. CT, derailing the locomotive’s rear axle. There were 124 passengers and five crew […]
Durango & Silverton adds additional Highline Express trips
DURANGO — The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has added Wednesday departures to its evening Highline Express train beginning this week, adding four more trips to the new 3½-hour steam excursion introduced on July 1. The new offering, currently planned only for July, now will operate Mondays through Wednesdays, departing Durango at 4:30 p.m. […]
Railroads button down operations in Houston due to Hurricane Beryl
Union Pacific and BNSF Railway shut down their operations in the Houston area Sunday in preparation for Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall today (Monday, July 8) as a Category 1 storm. Beryl, which was downgraded to a tropical storm this morning, came ashore at Matagorda, Texas, about 90 miles southwest of Houston. Beryl is expected […]
First hearing on future of Chicago transit set for Tuesday
CHICAGO — A series of hearings to consider the future of public transit in the Chicago area — including a proposal to merge the four boards overseeing three transit systems and the umbrella agency overseeing them — is set to begin Tuesday in Chicago. The six hearings of the Illinois Senate Transportation Committee have been […]
Mail catch on the fly
Great Northern mail clerk Ben Russell grabs the pouch from the catcher after making the catch at Bethel, Minn., while working the Duluth & St. Paul Railway Post Office in fall 1968. This was one of the few RPOs to survive the big cutbacks of 1967. Don Hofsommer photo […]
Fifteen cars of UP coal train derail in Nebraska
GIBBON, Neb. — Approximately 15 cars of a Union Pacific coal train derailed today (Sunday, July 7) in Gibbon, KGFW Radio reports. No injuries were reported. The incident was reported to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office about 2:24 a.m., according to KVRN Radio, and occurred at the intersection of U.S. Route 30 and Pawnee Road […]
Fire mostly out at CPKC derailment in North Dakota
BORDULAC, N.D. — The fire at the site of a CPKC derailment in North Dakota has mostly been extinguished, with cleanup and infrastructure repair work continuing today (Sunday, July 7). KFGO Radio reports first responders remain on scene as the fire occasionally flairs up as the derailed railcars are moved. The process is now underway […]
Amtrak service between New York, Boston restored
NEW YORK — Amtrak service on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and New York City was restored as of about 9 p.m. Saturday night, the passenger operator announced late Saturday evening. The company says the preliminary cause is a lightning strike that disrupted power. Normal operations are planned for today except for three early trains […]