KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The two infrastructure funds that are reportedly teaming up to acquire Kansas City Southern are no strangers to the railroad industry. Blackstone Group owned Chicago & North Western in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It also owned Great Lakes Transportation, a collection of former U.S. Steel transportation companies that included […]
First in a series WASHINGTON — Any savings Amtrak management may achieve by reducing most long-distance trains to triweekly service will be overshadowed by a precipitous drop in revenue, additional unforeseen expenses, and a crippled ability to restart service. That assessment is the consensus of former Amtrak managers contacted by Trains News Wire: former president […]
BOONE, Iowa – A planned move of a steam locomotive from one side of this small town near Des Moines became part of a political controversy last week, as the locomotive was decorated with banners calling for reelection of President Donald Trump during its move. The locomotive, part of the Boone Rotary Club’s “Welcome Train” […]
Friday morning rail news: Tank car leak at Tempe derailment site contained The tank car leaking a hazardous material at the site of Wednesday’s Union Pacific derailment in Tempe, Ariz., has been contained, officials said Thursday. An estimated 500 gallons of cyclohexanone, a flammable solvent, leaked from the car into a storm drain near the […]
More Friday morning rail news: CN marks record grain year, releases plan for 2020-21 Canadian National announced completion of a record year for grain movement on Thursday, and said it would dedicate more equipment to the commodity next year as part of its 2020-21 Grain Plain. CN moved more than 30 million metric tons of […]
Union Pacific’s route to Phoenix will be cut off indefinitely following Wednesday’s derailment and fire which led to a partial collapse of the 108-year old Salt River bridge in Tempe, Ariz., but the railroad says a reroute plan is in place to continue to serve customers. Shipments are subject to delays of up to 72 […]
Thursday morning rail news: Kansas DOT proposes two-person crew requirement The Kansas Department of Transportation has proposed requiring two-person crews for trains operating in the state. The regulation proposed earlier this week would require two people in the cab of a train’s lead locomotive, with exceptions for switching, brake tests, safety inspections, and setouts. In […]
Thursday midday rail news: CN to spend more than $520 on U.S. capital work Canadian National will spend more than $520 million on capital projects in the United States, according to state-by-state plans released this week. Notable projects include work on Chicago’s St. Charles Air Line bridge; a new auto facility in New Richmond, Wis; […]
A Union Pacific train carrying hazardous materials derailed and caught fire Wednesday morning on a bridge in Tempe, Ariz. Part of the bridge collapsed, sending railcars onto a roadway and an empty park below. CNN reports one person was treated for smoke inhalation; train personnel were not injured. Eight to 10 cars caught fire, according […]
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern executives are encouraged by the strong rebound in intermodal and automotive traffic, but say it’s uncertain how durable the recovery may be amid rising coronavirus cases and its potential impact on the economy. “Who knows what the rest of the year may hold?” CEO Jim Squires said this morning while […]
More Wednesday morning rail news: City wants ‘Pere Marquette’ route linked with other Michigan trains The St. Joseph (Mich.) City Commission has called for building a connection that would link the routes used by Amtrak’s Pere Marquette, Blue Water, and Wolverine service in New Buffalo, Mich. WJSM radio reports this would allow all the routes […]
Wednesday morning rail news: Amtrak adds business-class reserved seating on Acela Amtrak will offer reserved seating in business class on Acela trains beginning Monday, Aug. 3, expanding the seat-selection program that had previously been available only in first class. The feature also allows passengers a look at the overall occupancy rate of a train. As […]
