Friends of Cumbres & Toltec names new executive director

Logo of the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the organization that serves as the heritage rail line’s museum arm, has hired Rick Marsden as its new executive director. The Friends board announced the move Jan. 24. The hiring is effective Feb. 13. Marsden will replace Tim Tennant, retiring after 20 years […]

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OmniTRAX names Garin as board chairman

Logo of short line company OmniTrax

DENVER — Rail and real estate company OmniTRAX has named David Garin as its board chairman and elected OmniTRAX CEO Dean Piacente to its board, the company announced today. Garin joined the OmniTRAX board in 2019 after 35 years with Class I railroads. That includes 19 years at BNSF Railway, where he oversaw sales and […]

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North Texas agency provides funding for Heartland Flyer shortfall

Short passenger train at station platform

ARLINGTON, Texas — A North Texas governmental agency will provide $100,000 to address a funding shortfall for the Fort Worth-Oklahoma City Heartland Flyer. The news site Fort Worth Report says the Regional Transportation Council, a 45-member organization that it part of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, has allocated the money from regional toll […]

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MBTA completes commuter rail Automatic Train Control installation

Map of MBTA commuter rail lines serving North Station

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has completed implementation of Automatic Train Control on its commuter rail lines, the agency has announced. The ATC project involves a federally mandated signal upgrade required as part of positive train control. “Our state transportation system must be safe for all users, and completing MBTA Automatic Train Control […]

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Rail shipments for an oyster cannery

Color photo of N scale freight car painted blue with silver and gray details.

Q: I was wondering if you could provide me with information on what kind of loads an oyster cannery sends and receives? — Markus Russ A: I cast the net wide (pun fully intended) to help answer your question. I started internally. Trains magazine Associate Editor Bob Lettenberger wrote “Five mind-blowing facts — Stilwell Oyster […]

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Duffy confirmed as transportation secretary

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WASHINGTON — Sean Duffy was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Transportation today (Jan. 28, 2025) by a 77-22 vote of the Senate. The nomination of Duffy, a former House member from Wisconsin and recently a Fox News and Fox Business host, had been advanced last week by a 28-0 vote of the Commerce, Science and […]

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CPKC to serve new cold storage facility at Port Saint John

Container train on bridge

CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s intermodal reefer container business got a boost today with the announcement that partner Americold Realty Trust will build a cold storage facility at the Port of Saint John, New Brunswick. “Developing a state-of-the-art facility in Port Saint John marks an exciting step forward for Americold as the company […]

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STB seeks nominations for passenger advisory committee vacancy

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Safety Board is seeking candidates to fill a vacancy on its Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, the board has announced. The vacancy is for a representative from a state that provides funding from intercity passenger rail. Application deadline is Feb. 27. The vacancy is to replace Roger Millar, secretary of the […]

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