Thursday midday rail news: Ford plant in Mexico hit by rail blockade Operations at Ford’s auto plant in Hermosillo, Mexico, and cross-border import-export traffic are being affected by a rail blockade in Mexico, the automaker said Wednesday. Reuters reports the blockade in the border state of Sonora by the indigenous Yaqui community, demonstrating for land […]
Union Pacific claims it will suffer “millions of dollars in losses and incur millions in additional risk” if forced to continue to operate commuter rail service for Metra, according to the previously sealed lawsuit it filed against the commuter rail agency last December. The lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District […]
CHICAGO — The depth of disagreement between Metra and Union Pacific over commuter rail service on three Chicago-area UP lines is visible in Metra filings with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board seeking to ensure UP continues to provide service on those lines. In two filings on Tuesday, Metra asks that the STB to rule that […]
CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Emery Rail Heritage Trust and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad are pleased to announce the trust has issued a special mid-year grant of $50,000 to help complete 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 as part of the “Steam the Last Baldwin” fundraising campaign. The grant will go toward $150,000 needed to complete No. 1309, […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation’s earnings dropped sharply in a yo-yo second quarter that included unprecedented declines in traffic volume and revenue, followed by a strong rebound. “Wow. Where do I start in talking about this quarter?” CEO Jim Foote asked in his opening remarks on the railroad’s earnings call Wednesday afternoon. “This was the […]
Tuesday morning rail transit news: Contract approved for South Shore’s West Lake project The agency which oversees South Shore Line commuter train operation has selected two Chicago-based companies to lead design and construction of the planned West Lake Corridor branch line, which could see construction work begin this fall. The Times of Northwest Indiana reports […]
CHICAGO — Metra has asked the Surface Transportation Board to issue an injunction to prevent Union Pacific from acting on plans that the commuter railroad says would “degrade or halt service” on the three Metra lines operated by UP. In a press release, Metra also says it has asked the STB to rule whether UP […]
More Tuesday morning rail news: Conrail Historical Society to turn donated boxcar into museum The Conrail Historical Society in Shippensburg, Pa., has acquired an 86-foot auto-parts boxcar for use as a Conrail museum. CSX Transportation has donated the car, built in 1970 and formerly Conrail No. 295633. It will eventually be repainted in Conrail colors, […]
MONTREAL — Canadian National plans to spin off 850 miles of low-density routes in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario, the railway said today while announcing its quarterly financial results. Railroad officials did not specify which lines will be marketed for sale to short line operators. But executives say the bulk of the routes on the block […]
More Monday morning rail news: Oregon excursion train cancels season Northeast Oregon’s Eagle Cap Excursion Train has cancelled its 2020 season after previously delaying opening because of the coronavirus pandemic. The operation based in Elgin, Ore., made the decision based on the risk involved in operating, given the age of passengers and volunteers and the […]
Monday morning rail news: Change to ballot initiative could cut Caltrain funding, may be illegal, legislators say A proposed change to a ballot initiative meant to generate tax support for Caltrain could mean the San Francisco Bay commuter railroad receives little or no revenue from the tax, according to a group of legislators. The San […]
Saturday rail news in brief: Damage to W&LE shops could reach $3 million The Wheeling & Lake Erie shops in Brewster, Ohio, sustained damage estimated at close to $3 million in a fire that broke out Thursday evening and was not fully extinguished until early Friday morning. The Wooster Daily Record reports that 23 fire […]
