Wednesday morning COVID-19-related rail news: — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will dramatically slash service on Thursday, April 9, suspending service on some of its Regional Rail lines, closing some subway stations, and decreasing bus and trolley frequencies as part of what it is calling “Lifeline Service.” SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards told the Philadelphia […]
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Jay Inslee has signed into law legislation mandating a minimum of two crew members on passenger and most freight trains operating in the state. The governor did veto a provision declaring the act effective immediately. “Given the complexity of this legislation, the Utilities and Transportation Commission [which has rail-safety oversight duties […]
A Metro-North Waterbury Branch train arrives at the Bridgeport, Conn., station in August 2019. The state of Connecticut is expected to approve funding for new coaches for this and other commuter lines in the state. TRAINS: David Lassen More Tuesday morning rail news: — Connecticut is expected to approve $300 million in funding for new […]
Canadian National’s purchase of the CSX Massena line, shown in purple, has been approved. Canadian National WASHINGTON — Federal regulators on Monday approved Canadian National’s acquisition of CSX Transportation’s line linking the Montreal area with Syracuse, N.Y., a deal the railroads say will improve service for cross-border traffic. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board decision, effective […]
The City of New Orleans stops at Hazlehurst, Miss., in May 2018. CN is not allowing the train to stop here when it makes its stop to switch passengers to and from buses further south at McComb, Miss. Bob Johnston CN’s trestle over the Bonnet Carre Spillway, as seen from an Amtrak Thruway bus in […]
A Sounder South commuter train arrives in Tacoma, Wash., in June 2018. Sound Transit will further reduce Sounder South service as of Wednesday. TRAINS: David Lassen Tuesday morning virus-related rail news: — Sound Transit has halted almost all construction because of the COVID-19 outbreak, stalling work on three light rail expansion projects. The Seattle Times […]
ST. LOUIS — RR Mergers & Acquisitions announces the sale of Allpress & Moore Railroad Signal Contractors to CDL Electric Company. With operating bases in Missouri and Iowa, Allpress & Moore provides engineering, wiring, testing and construction for highway railroad crossings. The company has performed work in the 48 contiguous states. “We’re pleased to welcome […]
A screen shot from BNSF’s video updating its response to the COVID-19 virus. BNSF Railway Three Class I railroads have released videos addressing their response to the coronavirus pandemic. BNSF Railways’ video, available here, features Jon Gabriel, general superintendent of the railroad’s Network Operations Center in Fort Worth, Texas. It updates current service and moves […]
A northbound Amtrak Northeast Regional train passes through Princeton Junction, N.J., in August 2019. As of Monday, Northeast Corridor operations are down to 10 trains between New York and Washington. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Though his tenure as Amtrak’s next president doesn’t officially begin until April 15, William J. Flynn was introduced to employees […]
Pan Am Southern train 11R, with Norfolk Southern power, was the first to pass through the reopened Hoosac Tunnel on Saturday night. Norfolk Southern More Monday morning rail news: — Pan Am Railways’s Hoosac Tunnel in Western Massachusetts, closed since Feb. 12 because of the partial collapse of a wall, reopened Saturday night, Norfolk Southern […]
A Monday morning update on coronavirus-related rail news: — Twenty-two employees of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority have now died from the COVID-19 virus, the agency reported on Sunday. That is more deaths from the disease than have been recorded in all but six states as of Friday, according to provisional CDC figures. FoxNews.com reports […]
Canada’s Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau, has announced new orders restricting speeds of trains transporting hazardous materials, and updating rules regarding track safety and inspections. The first of the three ministerial orders issued Friday replaces temporary rules issued on Feb. 6 in response to a Canadian Pacific derailment and fire [see “Canadian government orders speed […]
