REGINA, Saskatchewan — Grain and pulse crop processor AGT Food & Ingredients has sold its MobilGrain short lines and its rail and port terminal operations to an infrastructure fund. The sale to GCM Grosvenor, announced Wednesday (Nov. 20), includes MobilGrain’s two Saskatechewan short lines, Last Mountain Rail and Big Sky Rail, both of which connect […]
Construction begins on Manly Junction Railroad Museum
MANLY, Iowa — Construction has begun on the new Manly Junction Railroad Museum just north of the community of Manly. The $7 million museum, the brainchild of Iowa Northern Railway Chairman Dan Sabin, is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2025. The museum is designed to look like a railroad station and also […]
New Year’s Eve train rides you’ll remember (2024)
New Year’s Eve train rides Themed train rides are a fun, slightly different way of experiencing train travel. There are endless opportunities for railroads to host events that are multigenerational, and thus, keep them growing in popularity. From holiday decor to murder mysteries to food-oriented trains, themed excursions offer a unique way for friends to […]
Boilermakers union ratifies deal with BNSF
FORT WORTH, Texas — Members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers have ratified a new five-year contract with BNSF Railway, the union and railroad have announced. The agreement includes average wage increases of 3.5% as well as improvements to health care and vacation time. It was one of two tentative deals announced by BNSF in […]
Engineer injured, equipment sustains significant damage after Cascades train hits tree
SILVANA, Wash. — The engineer was taken to a hospital and one of the two remaining Talgo trainsets in Amtrak Cascades service sustained significant damage Tuesday night, Nov. 19, when it hit a downed tree during a heavy storm in the Pacific Northwest. KGW-TV reports the accident occurred about 7:50 p.m. in Silvana, about 45 […]
Cando Rail acquires terminal in Northwest Territories
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Cando Rail & Terminals has acquired the rail terminal operations of AWP Industries, a storage and transload facility in Enterprise, Northwest Territories, the northernmost point on the North American rail network. Cando says the facility is recently built and describes it as a “critical gateway” for the transport of bulk products to […]
Weekly U.S. rail traffic still ahead of 2023 levels
WASHINGTON — A drop in carload traffic was more than offset by strong intermodal numbers, allowing U.S. rail traffic to remain above 2023 volume for the week ending Nov. 16. According to statistics from the Association of American Railroads, total traffic for the week was 516,886 carloads and intermodal units, a 3.2% gain from the […]
SEPTA, unions reach tentative deal, avoiding strike
PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has reached a tentative 1-year agreement with two unions representing train and bus operators, averting a potential strike. Transport Workers Union Local 234, which represents workers in Philadelphia, said in a notice to members that workers will receive a 5% raise effective Dec. 8, and a 5% pension […]
CSX unveils final heritage locomotive
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The 21st – and final – heritage locomotive in the CSX fleet is ES44AH No. 1981, a tribute to New England regional Pan Am Railways. CEO Joe Hinrichs unveiled the locomotive Tuesday, Nov. 19, in a post on LinkedIn, as has been customary. “Here is the 21st CSX Heritage Locomotive — Pan […]
In order to grow, railroads must collaborate with customers, CN CEO says
NEW YORK — Canadian National CEO Tracy Robinson says she understands the skepticism surrounding key questions about the industry: Can railroads grow? Can they maintain service levels as freight volume ebbs and flows? Can they be resilient in a fast-changing world? And can they attract the talent necessary to tackle the challenges of the future? […]
Former Union Pacific media representative Mark W. Davis dies
OMAHA, Neb. — Former Union Pacific spokesman Mark W. Davis, 69, died Oct. 28 following a brief bout with cancer. Davis’s 34 year-career with Union Pacific is remembered as one of steady calm no matter what the adversity. Known mostly for being the media contact for the eastern part of the railroad, he could also […]
Amtrak, NJ Transit update efforts to address Northeast Corridor disruptions
NEWARK, N.J. — Amtrak and NJ Transit have issued an update on efforts to address service disruptions on the Northeast Corridor that led them to formulate a joint action plan earlier this year. The 12-page presentation details inspection and improvement efforts for Amtrak’s NEC infrastructure and rolling stock for both operators between July 6 and […]