Colorado’s Royal Gorge Route Railroad says it plans to resume operations on May 23. TRAINS: David Lassen COVID-19-related rail news for Thursday morning: — Colorado’s Royal Gorge Route Railroad, closed since mid-March, is tentatively planning to resume operations May 23 with three daily round trips. The railroad said in a Facebook post earlier this week […]
U.S. Rail Traffic commodities table for the week ended April 25 Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 25, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 414,123 carloads and intermodal units, down 22.4% compared with the same week […]
The annual celebration marking the driving of the Golden Spike has been cancelled because of the coronavirus. Shown is the 150th anniversary celebration in May 2019. TRAINS: Steve Sweeney Wednesday morning COVID-19-related rail news: — One year after a huge celebration of the 150th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike, there will be […]
A Norfolk Southern intermodal train passes through Goshen, Ind., in 2018. NS will cut capital spending 25% in response to the pandemic-induced economic downturn. TRAINS: David Lassen NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern will slash capital spending 25% this year as traffic and revenue decline sharply due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the […]
A Norfolk Southern GE Dash 8-40C leads a train on the Union Pacific at River Forest, Ill., in April 2015. NS has slimmed its locomotive fleet to just 10 models through its current roster reduction program. TRAINS: David Lassen This information on the locomotive rationalization program at Norfolk Southern was presented during the railroad’s earnings […]
More Wednesday morning rail news: — It would take more than $700 million to restore the former Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway line on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to operating condition suitable for a proposed commuter rail service, and another $600 million to launch such a service, according to a government report issued Tuesday. The Vancouver […]
Big Boy No. 4014 takes Track 3 across Sherman Hill at Speer, Wyo., on Sept. 27, 2019. The locomotive will not run in 2020, Union Pacific has announced. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn Union Pacific has cancelled all planned steam activities in 2020, citing the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 virus and social distancing measures. Senior Vice President […]
A masked Metra BNSF crewman boards his train after watching passengers board at Naperville, Ill., on April 20, 2020. The White House is reviewing guidelines for transit agencies as part of its plan to restart the nation’s economy. TRAINS: David Lassen Still more Wednesday morning rail news: — The White House is reviewing guidelines for […]
Canadian National reported strong first-quarter earnings Monday, but has made a series of cost-cutting moves in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, including furloughs for 2,500 workers and storage of 500 locomotives. TRAINS: David Lassen MONTREAL — Canadian National reported stronger first-quarter earnings on Monday despite the impact of a month of blockades on key […]
A southbound Canadian National container train passes through Sussex, Wis., in 2015. TRAINS: Brian Schmidt MONTREAL – Canadian National executives don’t expect the coronavirus pandemic to alter global supply chains and return manufacturing to North America from China and elsewhere in Asia. CSX Transportation and Union Pacific executives last week said they expected the global […]
Tuesday morning rail news: — The board overseeing the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has approved an upgrade to an all-electronic fare system, a project that now cost an estimated $930 million — $210 more than when it was first approved two years ago. The Boston Globe reports the Fiscal Management and Control Board approved changes […]
More Tuesday morning rail news: — The city of Jackson, Miss., is suing Canadian National over a long-disputed underpass beneath the railroad’s right-of-way, demanding CN pays the full cost of reopening the once heavily-used route. The Jackson Clarion Ledger reports the city says the closure of Walter Dutch Welch Drive in west Jackson — shut […]
