WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic figures remain below 2021 levels, although the degree of decline continues to vary significantly from week to week. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads, for the week ending May 14, show overall traffic down 5.4% compared to the corresponding week a year earlier. This follows a 3.5% decline […]
Genesee & Wyoming christens new Gulf of Mexico rail ferry
MOBILE, Ala. — With the sound of shattering glass and a big splash of champagne, Genesee & Wyoming short line CG Railway on Wednesday christened one of its new rail ferries that can haul up to 135 freight cars across the Gulf of Mexico. Virginia Reeves, a 34-year G&W employee who works in corporate communications, […]
Trains, July 2022
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Canadian National launches new focus on operations
BOSTON — Canadian National is taking a back-to-basics approach under new CEO Tracy Robinson. The first order of business is to improve the railway’s velocity, which since last fall has generally been running below 2020 and 2021 levels when measured by the average number of miles cars travel per day. “As we bring the schedule […]
Durango & Silverton suspends operations because of fire danger (updated)
DURANGO, Colo. — The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge temporarily suspended operations this week because of fire danger just eight days into its spring season, reflecting new operating rules the railroad agreed to as part of a settlement with the federal government earlier this year. The Durango Herald reports trains stopped running as of Sunday, […]
Top DC Metro officials resign in wake of operator certification problem
WASHINGTON — The fallout from DC Metrorail’s failure to maintain retraining and certification for its train operators has claimed its two top officials, as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board accepted the resignation of outgoing General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld and Chief Operating Officer Joseph Leader. Meanwhile, the transit agency took another hit on […]
Metrolink adds chief safety officer
LOS ANGELES — Commuter rail operator Metrolink has named Frank Castellon as its chief safety, security, and compliance officer. Castellon’s background includes safety and security systems with Portland-area agency TriMet, Valley Metro in Phoenix, LA Metro, and Bombardier Transportation North America. Most recently, he was vice president of environmental, health, safety, and quality for Peak […]
Pacific Surfliners to add on-board program for small pets
ORANGE, Calif. — Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner is adding a carry-on pet program beginning May 20, expanding the locations where the passenger operator allows passengers to bring along small dogs and cats. Dogs and cats weighing up to 20 pounds may be brought aboard in a carrier which should remain under the passenger’s seat. There is […]
No long-distance routes meet FRA on-time standard in latest Amtrak stats
WASHINGTON — Sixteen of 43 Amtrak routes, none of them long-distance operations, met the 80% customer on-time performance threshold established by the Federal Railroad Administration in first-quarter 2022 statistics released Tuesday by the FRA. The latest quarterly stats are the first to use all of the metrics established by the FRA [see “FRA publishes final […]
What is the purpose of the louvres low on each side of the nose of both E and F units from Electro-Motive Division?
Cody Grivno explains what the louvres are for on both the E and F units from Electro-Motive Division in this video of Ask Trains. Do you have questions about parts on full-size trains, or would you like to know how to add those details to your model trains? Send us an email at: AskTrains@trains.com ………………………………… […]
Second RS1325 may be preserved
SANFORD, N.C. — One of just two RS1325 locomotives built by EMD, which had been in danger of being scrapped, may be saved following a Facebook post from a local railfan sounding an alert about the diesel’s status. Former Chicago & Illinois Midland No. 30 has been at North Carolina’s Atlantic & Western Railway since […]
News photos: Gettysburg & Northern GP10s on borrowed time?
GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Time may be short for the GP10 locomotives that handle traffic on the Gettysburg & Northern, a 27-mile Pioneer Lines short line connecting to CSX Transportation at Gettysburg and Norfolk Southern at Mt. Holly Springs, Pa. Photographer William Anderson reports that the railroad is currently testing a CEFX (CIT Rail) lease unit, […]