MIAMI — Ending a hiatus that began in March 2020 during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brightline is finally restoring its Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Fla., service on Nov. 8. Sixteen weekday round trips and 12 on both weekend days will begin on that date, following essentially the same schedule in effect when […]
New Ottawa transit chief will face ongoing light rail issues
OTTAWA — The city of Ottawa has a new head of its transit system to deal with the ongoing issues regarding its light rail Confederation Line. The Ottawa Citizen reports Renee Amilcar, who spent almost 20 years with Montreal’s transit agency, began her new duties as general manager of OC Transpo on Monday — the […]
Britain to develop PTC equipment for heritage steam and diesel equipment
LONDON — British rail infrastructure owner Network Rail has appointed two specialist contractors to deliver an industry-first “pathfinder” project fitting positive train control to heritage steam and diesel locomotives. The consortium of Atkins (part of the SNC-Lavalin Group) and Thales is undertaking the work as part of Network Rail’s “East Coast Digital Programm” which will […]
Unions, Union Pacific file suits over vaccination requirement
OMAHA — Union Pacific and its unions are suing each other over the vaccination requirement announced by the railroad last week. The Associated Press reports the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division, or SMART-TD, filed suit last week contending UP should have negotiated before announcing the vaccine requirement. The same day, UP sued […]
MTA adds new executives as part of restructuring
NEW YORK — Two New York City commissioners are joining the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as part of a reorganization that will reduce the number of people reporting directly to the CEO, at the same time the agency does away with its transformation plan. Politico reports Lisette Camillo, commissioner of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, […]
CN CEO JJ Ruest to step down amid proxy contest
MONTREAL — Canadian National CEO JJ Ruest will retire in January, the railroad announced today amid the ongoing proxy contest launched by activist investor TCI Fund Management. No successor was named, and CN’s announcement came a day after TCI released its plan touting former CN Chief Operating Officer Jim Vena as its chief executive candidate […]
CN announces CEO JJ Ruest’s planned retirement
MONTREAL — Canadian National announced that Jean-Jacques Ruest will retire as president and CEO and as a member of the board of directors, effective as of the end of January 2022, or such later time as a successor has been appointed. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank JJ for his dedicated […]
Regulators receive last-minute pleas regarding CSX acquisition of Pan Am
WASHINGTON — Federal regulators on Monday received a flurry of last-minute comments regarding CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. The filings – from federal and state transportation officials, Norfolk Southern, and Genesee & Wyoming – were submitted on the deadline to respond to comments already made to the Surface Transportation Board […]
Auto woes, Mexico protests crimp Kansas City Southern earnings
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Southern’s profits slumped in the third quarter due to the impact of merger-related costs, but revenue was up sharply even as volumes declined slightly as a result of auto assembly plant shutdowns and protests that blocked the railroad’s route to a key Mexican port. The railroad today reported that […]
Federal regulators ask CSX to respond to shipper service complaints (updated)
WASHINGTON — Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman has asked CSX Transportation CEO Jim Foote to explain ongoing service problems that range from missed switches and unfulfilled car orders to delayed manifest and bulk shipments. “Over the past several months the Board has continued to receive a steady stream of complaints about the adequacy […]
Metrorail car in Arlington derailment had left tracks twice earlier the same day
WASHINGTON — The DC Metrorail train that derailed Oct. 12, stranding passengers in a tunnel near Arlington National Cemetery, had derailed twice before that day, the National Transportation Safety Board said Monday, and other cars in the same order had been involved in 31 failures since 2017. The Washington Post reports that inspections last week […]
News Photo: Dome-observation returns to VIA’s Churchill train
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Dome-lounge-observation Tweedsmuir Park brings up the rear of VIA Rail Canada’s Churchill-Winnipeg train No. 692 at Roblin, Man., on Oct. 18, marking the return of the Park class cars to the remote-service train for the first time since spring 2020. The train’s nine-car consist — including three coaches, three Chateau-series sleepers, a […]