What’s next for Amtrak Gulf Coast service: Analysis

Passenger train on curve

MOBILE, Ala. — The Super Bowl will be played in New Orleans at Caesars Superdome on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. Mardi Gras’ Fat Tuesday celebration, perhaps the biggest event in both Mobile and the Crescent City, happens to be late next year: March 4. The race is now on to begin Amtrak Gulf Coast service […]

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Carload Considerations: It’s okay to lower freight rates

Norfolk Southern train crossing bridge

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Railroads’ success is often defined by service metrics like car dwell, velocity, or the operating ratio. These measurements are snapshots documenting how long railcars idle or how quickly trains move between points. Better velocity means more profitability. These subjects have been a growing part of the conversation since Precision Scheduled Railroading was […]

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Groups sign contract to purchase Saluda Grade

Map of former rail line in North and South Carolina

CAMPOBELLO, S.C. — The organizations seeking to turn the Saluda Grade, once the steepest rail main line in the U.S., into a 31-mile trail, has signed a contract with Norfolk Southern to purchase the right-of-way. The Greenville Journal reports the Saluda Grade Trail Conservancy announced it signed the contract on Monday, Aug. 5. Terms of […]

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Whitewater Valley Railroad debuts restored Lima switcher

Black end-cab switcher with yellow stripes and lettering

CONNERSVILLE, Ind. — The Whitewater Valley Railroad, a museum and heritage railway in Connersville, has debuted restored 1949 Lima-Hamilton LS1000 switcher in excursion service. The locomotive spent its career at Armco Steel Corp.’s Middletown and Miami Works before being donated to the museum by Armco in 1987. It operated at the Whitewater Valley until 1989, […]

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Norfolk Southern names chief technology officer

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has named Anil Bhatt to lead its technology endeavors. Bhatt will become executive vice president and chief information and digital officer, reporting to CEO Alan Shaw, when he joins the railroad on Aug. 19, NS announced today. “Anil has a successful track record and reputation for working across teams to deploy […]

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NS and train dispatchers’ union agree to join FRA’s close call reporting program

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern and the American Train Dispatchers Association today agreed to join the Federal Railroad Administration’s Confidential Close Call Reporting System. Under the one-year C3RS pilot, NS dispatches can report safety concerns with the certainty that such reports will not result in discipline. Submitted safety concerns are made anonymous by NASA and provided […]

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New Tracks Modeling announces scholarship winners

new tracks modeling logo

New Tracks Modeling has announced three scholarship winners of their New Track Modeling Mentoring Scholarship for 2024. Ethan Prasad Bernstein, who just completed his junior year and is pursuing a bachelor of science degree in engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Ethan is the recipient of the scholarship sponsored by the Pacific Coast Region of the […]

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Indiana Rail Road names Gioe as CEO

Man in light blue coat and tie

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Rail Road has named Joseph Gioe as its new president and CEO, replacing Dewayne Swindall, who left the company in May after three years. Gioe will begin the new position on Aug. 12. Gioe most recently was vice president of transportation at Norfolk Southern. Prior to joining NS in 2022, he […]

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