ALTOONA, Pa. — Norfolk Southern furloughed 86 workers at its Juaniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona on Friday, while eliminating another 14 jobs through attrition, the Altoona Mirror reports. The moves leave the shop with approximately 400 workers. Workers learned of the layoffs Friday morning when they arrived for their shift and were prohibited from entering […]
Railroad: Norfolk Southern
Maximum speeds increase to 90 mph on Amtrak’s Chicago-St. Louis corridor
CHICAGO — As of today, top speeds are rising from 79 to 90 mph on much of Amtrak’s Chicago-St. Louis Lincoln Service corridor. With signal system testing complete and certified for reliability by the Federal Railroad Administration, the higher speed will be allowed between Laraway Road, south of Joliet, Ill., and CP Wann, two miles […]
Analysis: Are trailers reaching the end of the intermodal road?
Intermodal analyst Larry Gross has gone out on a limb. In his latest “Intermodal in Depth” report, Gross predicts the demise of TOFC, or trailer on flatcar service, within the next four years. In some ways, this shouldn’t be a surprise. Trailers have become a smaller and smaller part of the intermodal world as […]
Cleanup continues after NS derailment in Pennsylvania
NEWBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Cleanup continued Tuesday after 33 cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed Monday afternoon midway between Harrisburg and York, Pa. The York Daily Record reports plastic PVC pellets spilled from one car, and hazmat teams were part of the initial response to the derailment because some of the cars involved displayed […]
Digest: Canada increases fines for rail trespassing, interfering with operations
Canadian government stiffens fines for rail trespassing, interfering with operations The Canadian government is increasing fines for trespassing onto railroad property and interfering with railway operations. Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra announced Wednesday that fines for trespassing will increase from $100 to $500, while the fine for not giving way at railway crossings will increase […]
NS, CN, and KCS are hiring conductors to meet rising traffic demand
WASHINGTON – The chief executives of Norfolk Southern, Canadian National, and Kansas City Southern have told federal regulators that their railroads are hiring conductors to meet expected traffic demand as volume continues to rise. Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman, responding to shipper complaints about rail service as traffic has rebounded from the pandemic, […]
Digest: KCS asks regulators to block Canadian Pacific’s request for information
Kansas City Southern asks regulators to reject Canadian Pacific request for information Kansas City Southern has asked the Surface Transportation Board to reject a request from Canadian Pacific for information it seeks for CP’s efforts to merge with KCS, saying that under the termination of the merger agreement between the two railroads, CP no longer […]
Digest: MBTA to offer “Vax Express” at commuter rail stations
MBTA commuter train to offer walk-up COVID vaccinations The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will operate a commuter train offering COVID-19 vaccinations June 16-20 at stations in Boston, Worchester, Lowell, Lawrence, and Fitchburg, Mass. The Boston Globe reports the “Vax Express” will offer walk-up vaccination; while no appointment is required, residents may book a time slot […]
Chemical shippers cite widespread rail service problems, particularly on CSX (updated)
WASHINGTON — The trade association representing chemical shippers has asked federal regulators to put CSX Transportation under increased scrutiny due to what one company called an “operations meltdown.” Members of the American Chemistry Council reported “significant and persistent” railroad service problems, particularly with CSX. But Kansas City Southern and Norfolk Southern also were cited for […]
Analysis: Lengthened Crescent schedule diminishes its usefulness
ATLANTA — As of this week with its return to daily departures from New York and New Orleans, the schedule for Amtrak’s Crescent has been lengthened. This is “to improve customer satisfaction and on-time reliability,” according to a service change advistory. But the adjustments, especially for the northbound train, threaten historically strong patronage on the […]
Norfolk Southern locomotive conversion program continues to expand A.C. traction fleet
NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk Southern continues to convert older D.C.-traction locomotives into A.C.-traction units at a pace of just over 100 locomotives per year. Some 54% of the NS road fleet is now A.C. traction, Chief Financial Officer Mark George told an investor conference today. That’s up from a third of the fleet at the […]
News photos: NS train derails near Horseshoe Curve
ALTOONA, Pa. — A westbound Norfolk Southern intermodal train has derailed near Horseshoe curve, leading authorities to ask the public to stay away from the area. Photographer D. Collin Reinhart reports the derailment of westbound train 21G occurred Monday afternoon on Main 2 in the area of Allegrippus Curve, blocking all three tracks, and only […]