Federal grant boosts Port of Long Beach rail yard improvement project

Aerial view of rail yard at port

LONG BEACH, Calif. — The Port of Long Beach has received a $52.6 million federal grant for its ongoing project to improve its Pier B railyard, which is reconfiguring the 171-acre yard to improve cargo flow, ease road congestion, and decrease air pollution. The Long Beach Press-Telegram reports officials announced the grant on Friday, Nov. […]

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Denver RTD to install Automatic Train Stop system at site of light rail accidents

Damaged light-rail train in roadway

AURORA, Colo. — The Denver-area Regional Transportation District will install an Automatic Train Stop safety system at a sharp 90-degree curve that has been the site of two light rail derailments, one of which shut down the RTD’s R Line through Aurora for more than two months, Colorado Public Radio reports. As described in a […]

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LA’s Metrolink plans four-day shutdown in December

Commuter train passes under signal bridge

LOS ANGELES — LA-area commuter rail operator will shut down all service for a four-day period at the end of December to allow for installation of a new signal system and other work. The service suspension is set for Tuesday, Dec. 26, through Friday, Dec. 29, and will cover the entire seven-line, five-county system, including […]

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Canada launches registration requirements, database for transport of dangerous goods

Transport Canada logo

OTTAWA, Ontario — The Canadian government has launched new registration requirements for the transportation of dangerous goods, along with a new database for those who import, transport, or otherwise handle such goods. The regulations cover goods being moved by rail, road, or other means. The new regulations, which went into effect on Friday, Nov. 3, […]

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BNSF Railway’s third quarter earnings decline nearly 15% amid volume slump

Man climbing on front steps of orange locomotive

OMAHA, Neb. — BNSF Railway’s profits, revenue, and volume all declined in the third quarter, parent company Berkshire Hathaway reported on Saturday. BNSF’s pre-tax earnings fell 14.6%, to $1.6 billion, as revenue declined 12.4%, to $5.6 billion. The railway’s operating ratio increased 0.7 points to 68.4%. Overall volume declined 4.8% in the quarter, while average […]

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Lionel 2023 Volume II catalog and the treasures it holds

Lionel catalog page

Lionel’s 2023 Volume II catalog came out this summer, and several of the new locomotives, pieces of rolling stock, and accessories captured my interest. Let me share the new entries that, from the perspective of a postwar enthusiast, caught my eye. Maybe something in the latest Lionel catalog will speak to you as well. Different […]

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New York’s Second Avenue Subway extension gets federal funding boost

Three people in hard hats and hi-visibility vests in construction area

NEW YORK — Extension of New York’s Second Avenue Subway project, which will add stations in East Harlem, has received a boost from a new funding agreement signed on Saturday. The $3.4 billion grant — “the largest Capital Investment Grant in the history of the program,” according to a social media post by U.S. Sen. […]

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State of New Hampshire seeks to sell ‘Flying Yankee’ streamliner

Streamlined passenger train in snow

LINCOLN, N.H. — The state of New Hampshire is looking to sell the Flying Yankee, the 1935 articulated New England streamliner built by Budd Co. for the Boston & Maine Railroad that is virtually identical to Burlington’s Pioneer Zephyr. The Concord Monitor reports the state has issued a Request for Proposals for sale of the […]

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SMART-TD ratifies BNSF agreement on scheduling, sick time

Logo of SMART-TD union

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — SMART-TD members have ratified a tentative agreement with BNSF Railway on scheduling and sick days reached in September, the union said Friday. Approximately two-thirds of the members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division voted in favor of the agreement, which includes paid sick days and […]

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Hudson Tunnel project lands more federal funding, marks start of work

Man speaking at podium in front of large crowd outdoors, with overpass in background

NEW YORK — The much-delayed Hudson Tunnel project to build a new connection between New Jersey and New York’s Penn Station has received an additional $3.8 billion in federal funding. The additional funding brings the federal commitment to the $16.1 billion tunnel project to more than $11 billion, Bloomberg reports. It was announced Friday by […]

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