Rail project at Port of Long Beach gets federal approval

Aerial photo of port area with some land highlighted in yellow

LONG BEACH, Calif. — A major expansion of rail facilities at the Port of Long Beach has received long-awaited approval from the U.S. Maritime Administration, the port announced Monday. The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility will reduce truck traffic by allowing direct transfer of containers between trains and marine terminals. The issuance of a […]

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News Photo: Retired Coaster commuter engines moved to Anaheim

Five passenger locomotives at front of freight train

SAN DIEGO — North County Transit District’s fleet of five retired Morrison-Knudsen F40PHM-2C locomotives was shuttled from storage at Oceanside, Calif., earlier this month and delivered to Coast Rail Services at nearby Anaheim. The units’ fate has not yet been determined. Among the parties interested in acquiring one or more units are two Southern California […]

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Oil Creek & Titusville to host photo charter May 28

Maroon end-cab switcher with yellow trim

TITUSVILLE, Pa. — The Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad will host a photo charter on May 28 featuring all three of its locomotives, featuring M420W No. 3568 in its new Pennsy-inspired Oil Creek & Titusville paint scheme. Just 35 seats are available for the event, scheduled for 5 hours and also featuring Alco S2 locomotives […]

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Amtrak seeks control of Washington Union Station

People standing in line in hallway of railroad station

WASHINGTON — Amtrak is trying to gain control of Washington Union Station, the southern terminus for most of its Northeast Corridor operations, saying the move is necessary to expand and modernize the second-busiest station on the passenger operator’s network. The Washington Post reports Amtrak has moved to use eminent domain to gain control the facility, […]

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VIA Rail Canada sets restoration of most service

Passenger train with dome-observation car

MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada has announced plans to restore most service by June, ending suspensions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the previously announced return of two weekly round trips for the flagship, Toronto-Vancouver Canadian, plans announced last week will see three weekly round trips for the Montreal-Halifax Ocean, tentatively beginning June […]

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County expresses support for CN double-track project in Illinois

Cab car leads commuter train as it stops at station

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — Support is building for a Canadian National double-track project in Northern Illinois, with the Lake County Board joining Metra and three communities in endorsing the plan. The Daily Herald reports the proposal to add 2.2 miles of second track between Round Lake Beach and Grayslake, on a CN line shared with Metra’s […]

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Union Pacific to reopen Pine Bluff locomotive shop

Union Pacific logo with Building America slogan

PINE BLUFF, Ark. ­— Union Pacific is recalling furloughed workers to reopen its locomotive shop in Pine Bluff, Ark., the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports. UP spokesman Mike Jaixen told the newspaper that he did not have information on the number of workers being recalled, but noted that open positions in Pine Bluff include boilermakers, electricians, mechanics, […]

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Washington heritage railroad regains some insurance

Logo of the Chehalis Centralia Railroad and Museum

CHEHALIS, Wash. — After being shut down for more than a month when insurers declined to renew its policy, the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum has acquired insurance that will allow some activity to resume. The Centralia Chronicle reports the heritage rail operation acquired premises-liability insurance as of April 8, allowing work to resume at the […]

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