SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — A California tourist railroad has stepped up its campaign against potential adverse abandonment of the branch line connecting it to the national rail network, calling the railbanking effort under consideration by a local agency “a fantasy” and saying it places its tourist operation under threat. Roaring Camp Railroads, which operates the […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Alabama Port Authority announces new inland intermodal facility, CSX intermodal service from Mobile
MOBILE, Ala. — The Alabama Port Authority will build an intermodal container transfer facility in Montgomery, Ala., to be served by CSX Transportation, after the authority’s board of directors approved a $2.042 million purchase of 272 acres for the new inland terminal to serve traffic from the Port of Mobile. The first phase of the […]
Effort seeks to revive Edmonton-Calgary passenger service
EDMONTON, Alberta — An effort has begun to relaunch rail service between Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, a route last served by RDCs in 1985, the Edmonton Journal reports. The Alberta Regional Rail proposal estimates it would cost about $2.2 billion to upgrade infrastructure on the 185-mile route between the cities, improving existing Canadian Pacific right-of-way, […]
Head of Montreal transit agency resigns, calls for changes in governance
MONTREAL — The head of Montreal’s transit agency, the Société de transport de Montréal, has announced his resignation effective April 4, calling for changes in the current structure of the transit system. The Montreal Gazette reports that Luc Tremblay, the STM director general, announced his resignation last week, decried problems with the authority overseeing transit […]
U.S. Department of Transportation announces availability of RAISE grant funding
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced the availability of $1.5 billion in Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants, funding available for rail and other transportation-related infrastructure projects. The grant availability, detailed in a Notice of Funding Opportunity announced Friday, represents an increase of approximately $500 million over funds available in […]
Amtrak, transit restore most service after storm; some changes continue
Amtrak has extended some of its service cancellations and modifications in the Northeast into today (Sunday, Jan. 30) in the wake of Saturday’s major winter storm. Most trains are running, as are most of the region’s rail transit systems. Cancelled today, according to an advisory on the Amtrak website, are Northeast Regional trains 150, 160, […]
Northeast transit operators prepare for winter storm
Transit agencies in the Northeast have begun adjusting service plans for Saturday in expectation of a major snowstorm forecast to hit the area. As of midafternoon Friday, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is mostly planning normal Saturday operations. Exceptions include the Mattapan Trolley, which will be replaced by shuttle buses; the Green Line’s D Branch, […]
STB denies request for extension of schedule for reciprocal switching proposal
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has denied the Association of American Railroads’ request to extend the schedule for consideration of its proposed reciprocal switching regulations, meaning a hearing on the subject remains set for March 15. The AAR had asked for a 75-day continuance of the schedule, or, as an alternative, moving the deadline […]
Amtrak cuts Northeast service in advance of winter storm
WASHINGTON — With a major winter storm predicted, Amtrak has cancelled all service on Saturday, Jan. 29, between New York and Boston, as well as all New Haven-Springfield, Mass., shuttles and the Vermonter. Forecasts call for up to 2 feet of snowfall for the Boston area and lesser but uncertain amounts further south through Rhode […]
Union says BNSF move toward new attendance policy violates Railway Labor Act
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway’s plans to institute a new attendance policy while a new labor agreement is under negotiation is contrary to the terms of the Railway Labor Act, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen argues in a new court filing. The Thursday filing with the U.S. District Court in Fort Worth […]
Union Pacific orders 20 battery-electric locomotives for yard service (second update)
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific will purchase 20 battery-electric locomotives to test in yard service, the largest commitment to date for the technology by any rail operator. In separate announcements Friday, the railroad announced purchase of 10 Wabtec FLXdrive locomotives and 10 of Progress Rail’s EMD Joule locomotives. The railroad said the cost of the […]
Meet the new boss: Canadian National CEO Tracy Robinson – analysis
Canadian National shocked the railroad world this week with the selection of Tracy Robinson, a Canadian energy executive and former Canadian Pacific official, as its next CEO. The surprise came mostly from the fact that she is not a marquee name in railroad circles and has been out of the industry for eight years. But […]