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, […]
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 […]
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has added three locations to those offering $5,000 starting bonuses for its conductor trainee program. Bonuses are now available for trainees in Bellevue, Ohio; Elkhart, Ind.; and Fort Wayne, Ind., the company said in a press release. The railroad offers similar bonuses at a dozen other “priority locations” announced in February […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation will provide up to $1.76 billion in loans for the troubled, long-delayed Purple Line Light Rail Transit project in Maryland, the agency announced last week. The loan from the DOT Build America Bureau will finance up to 33% of the $5.9 billion in eligible project costs, using Transportation […]
SCRANTON, Pa. — Passenger excursions at the Steamtown National Historic Site wil resume beginning May 14, 2022, with 30-minute trips starting that day and the first extended trip set for May 28. The short trips, the Scranton Limited or Caboose Experience, will operate on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has unveiled the new paint scheme to be worn by the remainder of its fleet of Siemens ALC42 locomotives, a two-tone blue design with a splash of red and white trim. The “Phase VII” scheme — the seventh standard design in Amtrak’s 50-year history — debuts on Charger No. 309, the 10th […]
LOS ANGELES — The former Pacific Harbor Line engineer who intentionally derailed his train at the Port of Los Angeles in 2020 was sentenced this week to three years in prison, the Los Angeles Times reports. Eduardo Moreno, 46, had pleaded guilty in Decmeber to committing a terrorist attack and other violence against railroad carriers […]
TORONTO — A trainset of VIA Rail Canada’s new Siemens-built equipment made a circuit of corridor stations in Ontario stations April 13-14, 2022, testing track geometry and passenger loading and unloading. Running as special train No. 649, the Charger locomotive and full set of Venture cars stopped at all station between Ottawa, Brockville, Ont., and […]
JUPITER, Fla. — Replacing a 96-year-old, bascule drawbridge while keeping both rail and river traffic moving requires round-the-clock activity and lots of compromise. This was obvious Sunday, April 10, with the latest step in the project to replace a Florida East Coast Railway bridge over the Loxahatchee River at Jupiter, improving both operational reliability and […]
WASHINGTON — A Caltrain commuter train hit three hi-rail maintenance vehicles — two flatbed trucks with cranes and a heavy-duty pickup truck — in the March 10 collision in San Bruno, Calif, that injured 14 people, according to the preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board. The preliminary report outlines details of the accident […]
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — D&I Railroad SD40-2 No. 3023, one of five SD40-2s new to the railroad’s roster, leads an eastbound train at Sioux Falls, S.D., on April 13, 2022. Photographer Kevin J. Ryan says it is believed to be the locomotive’s first revenue trip on the railroad. The 138-mile D&I, a wholly owned subsidiary […]
WASHINGTON – Federal regulators on Thursday gave the green light to CSX Transportation’s acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. The Surface Transportation Board’s unanimous, 75-page decision approving the merger becomes effective on May 14. But CSX said it planned to close on the transaction on June 1. Regulators largely agreed with CSX’s arguments […]
