STB moves ahead with small shipper’s common carrier complaint against Union Pacific

WASHINGTON – The Surface Transportation Board has denied Union Pacific’s request to dismiss a common-carrier case filed by a small shipper in the Twin Cities. In a 3-2 decision issued Thursday, the STB also ordered the shipper, Sanimax, to provide evidence for damages allegedly incurred when UP unilaterally curtailed local service to three days per […]

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News photo: New York Central electric locomotives moved

Aerial photo of flatbed trucks with electric locomotive bodies and running ear

GLENMONT, N.Y. — Two historic New York Central electric locomotives, saved last year after long facing a threat of scrapping, have been moved from their site on an Island in the Hudson River after more than three decades, the Danbury Railway Museum has announced. The museum released a photo today of the locomotives on flatbed […]

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CPKC sued under Illinois genetic privacy act

Crude oil train pulling a long line of cars

CHICAGO — CPKC is the target of a class action lawsuit under Illinois’ Genetic Information Privacy Act for asking job applicants about their family medical histories, the legal news site Cook County Record reports. The suit, filed last month in Cook County Circuit Court, says the state law bars employers from seeking genetic information, and […]

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Republicans delay House vote on transportation spending bill

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives has delayed its planned vote on an appropriations bill for the Department of Transportation amid Republic concerns the bill would not pass, the website The Hill reports. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said during Thursday’s session that the House would try next week to pass H.R. 4820, to […]

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California State Railroad Museum to restore ‘Death Valley Scotty’ locomotive to operating condition

Steam locomotive in shop building

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California State Railroad Museum and its support group, the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, have launched an effort to restore Santa Fe steam locomotive No. 1010, a 2-6-2 built by Baldwin in 1901, for use on the museum’s Sacramento Southern excursion railroad. The project — the largest steam restoration project undertaken […]

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British government backtracks on ticket-counter closures

Ticket office at train station in England

LONDON — Plans to close almost every ticket counter at English railway stations have been dropped after public consultation rejected the proposals. In an unusual success for citizen participation, over 750,000 people responded to the public consultation — a record for any public consultation in England, not just one related to the rail industry. About […]

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Second train between Twin Cities and Chicago slated to begin in 2024

Passenger train with two locomotives on straight section of track

ST. PAUL, Minn. — In a social media post Wednesday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced the long-awaited second passenger train between St. Paul and Chicago will begin service in 2024. MnDOT is also asking potential passengers to take a survey about amenities they would like to see aboard the train. The Wisconsin Department of […]

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Authorities investigating attempt to derail train in British Columbia

Emblem of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

HOPE, British Columbia — Police are investigating what they say was an attempt to derail a train in British Columbia’s Fraser Canyon and are seeking public assistance. The Hope and Boston Bar offices of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police say that on Oct. 22 at 3:18 a.m., an individual placed a vice clamp on the […]

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CSX derailment in suburban Detroit leads to school closures

CSX logo

ROMULUS, Mich. — Fourteen cars of a CSX Transportation freight train derailed in the Detroit suburb of Romulus today (Thursday, Nov. 2), leading to the closure of two schools “out of an abudance of caution,” the city’s mayor said. No injuries were reported and no leaks or spills resulted from the derailment about 10 a.m., […]

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National Railroad Museum to receive $7 million for expansion project

Architect's drawing of a new railroad museum exhibit building.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The National Railroad Museum in Green Bay will receive $7 million in funding for expansion of its facilities, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced today (Thursday, Nov. 2.) The museum expansion is one of five projects, totaling $36.6 million, selected for funding under the American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 legislation intended to […]

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Amtrak board sets public meeting for Dec. 1 in Richmond, Va.

Man gesturing while speaking at podium

WASHINGTON — Richmond, Va.’s, newly-rehabilitated Main Street Station will host Amtrak’s once-yearly public Board of Directors meeting on Friday, Dec. 1. Unlike last year’s annual meeting at St. Louis Union Station, this year’s gathering will be preceded by presentations from Virginia and North Carolina passenger rail operating agencies, as well as Amtrak officials. The meeting […]

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Union Pacific plans major Big Boy tour in 2024

Big Boy steam locomotive rounds curve on a sunny day.

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific will send Big Boy No. 4014 on a “Four Corners” tour of its system in 2024, the railroad announced today, including stops in Oregon, California, Texas, and Illinois. “As we move forward at Union Pacific, we remember where we came from; the Big Boy represents the history of Union Pacific […]

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