Digest: Union Pacific to close Palestine, Texas, car shop

Union Pacific logo with Building America slogan

Union Pacific to close Palestine, Texas, car shop, subject of lawsuit Union Pacific will close its car shop in Palestine, Texas, as of June 14, eliminating as many as 57 positions. The Palestine Herald-Press reports employees were notified Thursday; a Union Pacific spokeswoman confirmed the closure and attributed it to operational changes across the system. […]

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Digest: Metra launches capital improvement work for 2021

Commuter train passes green maintenance of way machinery

New stations, replacement of 122-year-old bridge on Metra’s 2021 capital to-do list Metra has launched its 2021 capital improvement projects, which includes work on two new stations, replacement of a 122-year-old bridge in Chicago, and continued work to close the remaining gap in the triple-track main line on the UP West line near Geneva, Ill. […]

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Digest: Fire causes estimated $3 million damage to BNSF building

BNSF Railway logo

Scottsbluff, Neb., BNSF building sustains $3 million damage in fire A fire in the terminal building at BNSF’s facility in Alliance, Neb., is reported to have caused about $3 million in damage. The Scottsbluff Star-Herald reports the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department responded to the building Sunday about 12:20 p.m., had the fire “somewhat controlled” around […]

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VIA to extend once-weekly ‘Canadian’ to Toronto in May

Passenger train on bridge

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Beginning Monday, May 17, VIA Rail Canada will begin operating its flagship train, the Canadian, across its full route from Vancouver to Toronto. The train has been operating between Vancouver and Winnipeg, Manitoba. The first westbound trip from the Ontario city is set for Sunday, May 23. Service will continue to operate […]

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Keokuk Junction F units find new homes

Train approaches grade crossing in snow

KEOKUK, Iowa — Pioneer RailCorp affiliate Keokuk Junction Railway has sold its popular A-B-A set of former Canadian National FP9s to two different buyers. FP9A No. 1752 has been sold to Dieselmotive Co., based in Turlock, Calif.; sister FP9A No. 1750, along with F9B No. 1761, have been sold to Gary Southgate, of Battleford, Saskatchewan. […]

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Digest: Amtrak to end 50% limit on seat sales in May

Amtrak logo.

Amtrak to lift capacity limits on seat sales in May Amtrak will end its 50% capacity limit for ticket sales on May 24, a company spokesman has confirmed to Trains News Wire. The passenger railroad will continue to display information on the percentage of seats available on the Amtrak.com website for those wishing to seek […]

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Digest: Death toll reaches 50 in Taiwan derailment

Derailed train in tunnel

Death toll reaches 50 in Taiwan derailment; construction supervisor arrested, released on bond At least 50 are now dead as a result of Taiwan’s worst train crash in 70 years, which occurred Friday when an express train hit a truck that had slid down an embankment from a building site. Reuters reports the manager of […]

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