Amtrak plans to add three short-haul routes in Pennsylvania and double both Keystone Service and Pennsylvanian train frequencies, Amtrak President Stephen Gardner told Gov. Tom Wolf and other public officials in a recent online roundtable talk about the company’s ConnectsUS 15-year regional corridor vision. The three routes are: New York City-Scranton, Pa., 136 miles via […]
Railroad: Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern awarding $400,000 in grants to food banks
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern is awarding $400,000 in grants to aid 31 food banks in 22 states served by the railroad. A list of organizations receiving funding is available in this press release. “Food insecurity impacts every community in our country and disproportionately children and senior citizens. … and while a recovery is underway, many […]
Norfolk Southern reports flooding issues in Northeast
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern is experiencing storm-related disruptions to freight service in the Northeast even as it and other railroads continue to recover from the effects of Hurricane Ida in New Orleans. In a service alert, the railroad said several NS facilities and lines are experiencing flooding and in some cases are inaccessible because […]
Analysis: Merger hopes dashed, CN now faces fierce backlash
There is no joy in Mudville – er, Montreal – today because the mighty CN has struck out. Canadian National suffered a stinging defeat on Tuesday when U.S. federal regulators effectively killed its proposed merger with Kansas City Southern. CN won’t get to create the first railway connecting Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. And it […]
Analysis: With CN-KCS decision, regulators shut the door to future mergers
The Surface Transportation Board took 33 pages to explain why it rejected Canadian National’s request to put Kansas City Southern into a voting trust while their proposed merger would be placed under the regulatory microscope. Buried on Page 31 of the board’s decision is a 105-word passage that – aside from a potential Canadian Pacific-KCS […]
Railroads, shut down near New Orleans, still seeking full assessment of hurricane damage
NEW ORLEANS — Rail service to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast remains disrupted following Sunday’s arrival of Hurricane Ida, with Kansas City Southern, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, and Kansas City Southern all reporting continuing shutdowns following the storm that has left much of Louisiana and parts of Mississippi without power. Kansas City Southern said […]
Last segment of Atlanta Beltline project faces rail obstacles
ATLANTA — Planning work is beginning on the final segment of Atlanta’s Beltline project, which is using inactive rail rights-of-way for most of its 22-mile route. But, as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, no such route exists for its 4.4-mile northwestern segment, while an active railroad yard is one of the major barriers to be faced. […]
Norfolk Southern service slowed by two derailments
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern has issued customer advisories informing shippers of delays because of two derailments on its system. On Wednesday, the railroad reported a derailment near Meridian, Miss., would lead to delays of at least 24 hours on several routes, including its Meridian Speedway interchange with Kansas City Southern, Union Pacific interchange traffic, […]
Analysis: Louis Newton left his mark on Norfolk & Western and NS
Not many people get the opportunity to shape the history of a railroad and leave their fingerprints on its system map. But retired Norfolk Southern transportation planner Louis M. Newton, who died Friday at the age of 94, was among this elite group. Newton put his stamp on Norfolk & Western with a move that […]
News photo: Norfolk Southern derailment in Georgia
OCONEE, Ga. — An estimated 32 cars of a westbound Norfolk Southern freight train derailed early Monday morning in downtown Oconee, blocking a main street until further notice. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reports the derailment occurred about 1 a.m., blocking Central Drive in Oconee, a community of 280 about 60 miles southwest of Augusta, […]
Norfolk Southern to reopen Pennsylvania intermodal terminal
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern will reopen an intermodal facility in Greencastle, Pa., to increase terminal capacity and address the supply-chain congestion that is leading to container delays across the U.S. rail system, the railroad has announced. The Franklin County Regional Intermodal Facility, about 65 miles southwest of Harrisburg and 11 miles north of Hagerstown, […]
Norfolk Southern ESG report highlights environmental, social efforts
NORFOLK, Va. — The company’s first issuance of green bonds and plans to address greenhouse gas emissions highlight Norfolk Southern’s Environmental, Social, and Governance Report, the new name for its 14th annual corporate responsibility report. “From environmental stewardship to the safety and development of our entire team, we are in the business of a better […]