Analysis: STB chairman flags railroad growth problem

Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman ruffled some feathers this month when he said railroads’ drive for ever-increasing profits resulted in a loss of market share to trucks over the past 15 years and continues to restrain growth today. Oberman cited STB figures that show a decline in rail traffic between 2006 and 2019 […]

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Progress Rail, Norfolk Southern unveil first GP34ECO

Black and green locomotive

Progress Rail and Norfolk Southern have unveiled the first GP34ECO locomotive, built for yard and intermediate operations to meet Environmental Protection Agency Tier 4 emission standards. The locomotive, intended to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 90% compared to older locomotives, is currently undergoing testing for EPA certification. It is powered by a 3,000-hp 12-710 EMD […]

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Amtrak aims to add routes, frequencies; raise speeds in Pennsylvania

White diesel locomotive passes stone station on overcast day

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 […]

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Norfolk Southern awarding $400,000 in grants to food banks

Norfolk Southern logo

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 […]

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Norfolk Southern reports flooding issues in Northeast

Norfolk Southern logo

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 […]

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Analysis: Merger hopes dashed, CN now faces fierce backlash

JJ Ruest standing in front of trains

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 […]

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Last segment of Atlanta Beltline project faces rail obstacles

Map of Atlanta Beltline

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. […]

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Norfolk Southern service slowed by two derailments

Norfolk Southern logo

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, […]

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