CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern have rounded up broad support for their proposed merger, which would create the first railroad to operate in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The railways announced yesterday that they have received support statements from 259 shippers, other railroads, economic development authorities, and ports. Shipper sentiment will […]
Zone & Region: Canada
Digest: Progress Rail ends manufacturing at La Grange, Ill., plant
Progress Rail closes La Grange engine plant Progress Rail has closed its La Grange, Ill., engine facility, ending manufacturing at a site that had been part of locomotive production since EMD broke ground for its main plant there in 1935. Progress, which announced plans to close the plant in 2018, said it anticipated the transition […]
Digest: Toronto residents will need transit agency approval for home improvements near planned rail lines
Toronto residents will need Metrolinx approval for home improvements near subway projects People who live next to planned Toronto-area subway projects could need permission from provincial transit agency Metrolinx for such home improvements as addition of a backyard deck or swimming pool. The Toronto Star reports that a law passed last year by the Ontario […]
Watco purchases lines in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario from CN (updated)
MONTREAL — Watco will buy 650 miles of branch lines in Wisconsin and Michigan from Canadian National, along with 250 miles of the company’s Soo Subdivision in Ontario, the companies announced today. In Ontario, where it acquires the line between Sault Ste. Marie and Oba, Ont., Watco will provide freight operations and continue the […]
Digest: Contractor warns of new delays in California High Speed project, citing land-acquisition issues
Contractor informs California high speed agency of new delays A contractor on California’s high speed rail project has told the state high speed rail agency that it will not complete a 65-mile section of the railway in the Central Valley until at least April 2025, almost two years after the target date in the agency’s […]
Digest: Academy Awards lead to changes for Amtrak at LA Union Station
Use of LA Union Station for Oscars leads to Amtrak operation changes Amtrak operations at Los Angeles Union Station will be affected April 5-27 by the station’s use as one of two sites for the 93rd Academy Awards, to be held April 25. From April 5 to 23, and April 26-27, Thruway buses will be […]
Digest: Legislation would create permanent funding for Amtrak
Senator, Congressman introduce bills to create dedicated funding source for Amtrak U.S. Sen. Richard Blumental (D-Conn.) and U.S. Rep Danny Davis (D-Ill.) have introduced legislation to provide permanent, dedicated funding for Amtrak. The Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund Act would create a fund providing approximately $5.4 billion annually for repairs, service improvements, fleet modernization and […]
Digest: MBTA extends shutdown of part of Orange Line
MBTA Orange Line work after derailment extended to April 11 The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has extended its shutdown of a portion of the Orange Line by one week, through April 11. NBC-10 Boston reports the use of shuttle buses between the Oak Grove and Sullivan Square stations will continue as the agency continues infrastructure […]
Shippers group to challenge easier path for CP-KCS merger (second update)
WASHINGTON — A major shipper group plans to challenge the waiver that would permit Canadian Pacific’s proposed acquisition of Kansas City Southern to be reviewed under the Surface Transportation Board’s old, less restrictive merger rules. The National Industrial Transportation League said today that the CP-KCS deal would ultimately harm rail competition. “Based on the significant loss […]
Digest: Judge rules for ‘Cascades’ engineer in suit against Amtrak
Judge grants Cascades train 501 engineer partial summary judgment in suit against Amtrak A judge in Washington state has ruled that Amtrak is strictly liable for the fatal 2017 derailment of an Amtrak Cascades train in DuPont, Wash., meaning a trial later this year over a claim by the train’s engineer will only be to […]
Canadian Pacific, Kansas City Southern seek regulatory approval of merger within 10 months
WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern plan to file their merger application with U.S. regulators on or around June 28 and have proposed a 10-month review of the deal that would create the first railroad to link the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The railroads told the Surface Transportation Board that their proposed review timetable […]
Digest: Competing South Bend, Ind., station plans stalled, face growing costs
Competing Shore Shore station plans for South Bend, Ind., face growing costs Competing plans to build a new South Shore Line station in South Bend, Ind. — one envisioning a downtown station, another for a relocated stop to replace the current terminus at the South Bend airport — have stalled several years after being floated, […]