If anyone could demolish the aphorism that talent skips a generation, it was Jack Barriger. A third-generation railroader, he built a distinguished career as a Santa Fe Railway executive, only to make as big a mark in retirement as a leader in preserving the industry’s heritage. He also embraced his status as the son of […]
More Monday morning rail news: With COVID-19 upswing, restart of VIA service in Western Canada not certain VIA Rail Canada plans to restart service on the route of the Canadian between Vancouver, British Columbia and Winnipeg, Manitoba, are continuing, but are not final, the Winnipeg Free Press reports. The plans to resume service on Dec. […]
Still more Monday morning rail news: Utah to consider cog railway to serve recreational area A cog railway has been added to the list of options under consideration by the Utah Department of Transportation to address traffic congestion in Little Cottonwood Canyon, a popular recreation area which includes the Snowbird and Alta ski areas. The […]
Monday morning rail news: Long Island Rail Road, with 5 miles of PTC still to complete, says it will meet deadline The Long Island Rail Road has one 5-mile section of track that does not yet have positive train control in service, but says it will complete the job before the Dec. 31 deadline. Newsday […]
Monday midday rail news: Brightline, Disney World announce station agreement Brightline and Walt Disney World have announced an agreement to build a Brightline station at to serve the resort at the Disney Springs shopping, dining, and entertainment complex. The preliminary concept calls for ground level lobby and passenger facilities with an upper-level train platform. “Brightline […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak President and CEO Bill Flynn today cautioned the passenger railroad faces cuts with long-term impact without additional funding from Congress. “If the current level of funding is extended in a continuing resolution beyond Dec. 11, 2020, and supplemental funding isn’t provided,” Flynn said during a conference call, “we’re going to be unable […]
With the financial vise tightening around transit agencies, and prospects diminishing for a rescue from Washington, severe service cuts are coming, accompanied by thousands of layoffs for workers who operate and maintain trains and buses. Public meetings this month in Boston, New York, Washington, and Chicago reveal the extent of the economic carnage taking […]
The Class I railroads that have embraced E. Hunter Harrison’s Precision Scheduled Railroading operating model say their service is faster and more dependable, and that their evolving online tools make it easier for customers to do business with them. Shippers beg to differ. In an Oliver Wyman survey of rail customers in seven industries, every […]
The Rail Pulse car tracking system that’s under development will lead to growth in merchandise traffic by providing shippers with real-time location data throughout a car’s journey from origin to destination, rail industry executives say. Rail Pulse is a joint venture of Norfolk Southern, short line holding companies Genesee & Wyoming and Watco, railcar leasing […]
Friday afternoon rail freight and logistics news: UP opens Minneapolis intermodal terminal, will launch service to LA Union Pacific will begin offering intermodal service to Minneapolis-St. Paul in January 2021 following today’s opening of its Twin Cities Intermodal Terminal in Minneapolis. The new service will feature domestic intermodal service between the Twin Cities and Los […]
More Friday morning rail news: San Francisco Muni may have to spend millions to redo part of tunnel project Just two years after completing a $52 million tunnel project, San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency will be forced to redo part of the project because of potential stability problems in the track used by Muni light […]
Friday midday rail news: Port Authority of NY-NJ budget proposal includes layoffs, service cuts The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is considering layoffs, service cuts, and cutbacks to future capital projects as it prepares its 2021 budget reflecting COVID-19-related financial woes. NorthJersey.com reports that Executive Director Rick Cotton told the board the […]
