Federal regulators formally accept CP-KCS merger application

Logos for Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have accepted the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger application and set a timetable for review of the first proposed merger of Class I railroads in two decades. In accepting the application today, the Surface Transportation Board rejected Union Pacific’s contention that CP and KCS failed to provide sufficient information about the […]

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CP, CN make $100,000 donations for flood relief

Canadian Red Cross logo

Canadian Pacific and Canadian National have each made $100,000 donations to the Canadian Red Cross to support relief efforts in flood-battered British Columbia. CP also said it will match employee donations to the Canadian Red Cross in support of disaster relief. The railroad has also organized food delivery to the Spuzzum First Nation, secured portable […]

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Trains, Trains.com set for extended holiday closure

Trains Magazine logo

WAUKESHA, Wis. — The offices of Trains Magazine, Trains.com, and other Kalmbach Media publications will be closing for the Thanksgiving holiday at the end of the work day today (Tuesday, Nov. 23) to allow staff members more time to enjoy the holiday with family and friends. Expect posts on Trains News Wire to limited during […]

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CP line in British Columbia expected to reopen today

CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific says it expects to have its main line between Vancouver and Kamloops, British Columbia, reopened by midday today as a result of more than a week of around-the-clock work to repair damage from Nov. 14 flooding. The railroad says 30 locations on its Thompson and Cascade subdivisions sustained flood damage […]

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Firebox replacement plans advance for PRR K4s restoration project

Boiler of disassembled steam engine

ALTOONA, Pa. — Work is proceeding on planning for and funding a replacement for the firebox of Pennsylvania Railroad K4s-class 4-6-2 steam locomotive No. 1361 at the Railroaders Memorial Museum. FMW Solutions LLC, the engineering consultant on the $2.6 million project to restore the engine to operating condition, determined that the original squared-off Belpaire firebox […]

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Train crew shortage spreads to short lines

Orange and black locomotives pass color position signal

NEW YORK — Train crew shortages that have affected service on Class I railroads this year also have cropped up on short lines, as rail workers seek greener pastures and new hires are hard to find. Genesee & Wyoming, the largest shortline holding company, saw the number of employees leaving the railroad double in the third […]

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British government changes high speed rail plan

Blue high speed trainsets with yellow noses at station

LONDON — The British government last week published what it called the “Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands,” which sets out plans totalling £96 billion ($130 billion) to build several new rail lines in northern England. However, the plan also contained less welcome news for some parts of the country, providing notification that the […]

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Frisco steam locomotive cab ride

View from behind fireman tossing coal into firebox in steam engine on a Frisco steam locomotive cab ride

My Frisco steam locomotive cab ride came on Sept. 5, 2021. It was a first for me. I knew that it would be fun and that I’d like it, but what I didn’t know was exactly how much. It was a feast for the senses. My photos here may not be great or even capture […]

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Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific spar over KCS merger (updated)

Train with red locomotives rounds curve

WASHINGTON — Union Pacific has urged federal regulators to reject the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger application, arguing that it doesn’t contain enough market or operational data to meet requirements — a view subsequently supported by Canadian National. UP, in a filing with the Surface Transportation Board late Friday, said CP took shortcuts in its […]

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