WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration has issued a final rule, launching the Risk Reduction Program to support an increasing standard of safety for the nation’s freight railroads. “The Risk Reduction Program will improve safety in the nation’s freight rail system,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. The final […]
NEWARK, NJ – The Federal Railroad Administration has given NJ Transit approval to begin revenue service demonstration of its positive train control system, moving NJ Transit one-step closer to meeting the federally mandated deadline of PTC certification by December 31, 2020. “Entering the RSD phase of PTC is a major milestone and a testament to […]
ROANOKE, Va. — More railroaders will soon be out of work after new cuts were announced today in Roanoke. According to local media reports, Norfolk Southern will close its “Roanoke Distribution Center” and move remaining locomotive shop operations to Altoona, Pa. One outlet cites a Norfolk Southern news release that attributes the workforce cuts to […]
Tennessee Pass proposal Surface Transportation Board filing WASHINGTON — A firm controlled by billionaire New York City real estate magnates has asked the Surface Transportation Board to order Union Pacific to sell its 228-mile Tennessee Pass route so that the historic Colorado line can be reactivated. KCVN LLC and its subsidiary, Colorado Pacific Railroad LLC, […]
The Canadian government has modified its rules for hazardous-material trains, raising some speed limits. TRAINS: David Lassen Tuesday morning rail news: — The Canadian government has modified its order slowing trains carrying hazardous materials, raising some speed limits and adding additional rules reflecting rail-line signaling, the CBC reports. The rules issued Sunday create two categories […]
SAINT-OUEN, France — Rail equipment manufacturer Alstom will acquire Montreal-based Bombardier Transportation in a deal worth 5.8 to 6.2 billion Euros ($6.28-$6.71 billion), Alstom has announced. It is Alstom’s second attempt to grow in an effort to compete with China’s CRRC, the world’s largest manufacturer of rail equipment. A previous attempt to merge with Germany’s […]
Blockades of rail lines across Canada continue, with Canada’s prime minister cutting short an international trip to address the crisis, which saw new blockades develop over the weekend, and warnings of shortages and other commodities as the service disruption entered its 12th day. On Sunday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cancelled a scheduled trip to Barbados […]
More Monday morning rail news: — Canadian National has withdrawn an application to expand yard facilities in East Chicago, Ind., to handle carloads of petroleum coke from BP’s Whiting, Ind., refinery, the Times of Northwest Indiana reports. The application by CN’s U.S. subsidiary Wisconsin Central Ltd. would have allowed the railroad to fill in wetlands […]
Monday morning rail news: — Amtrak service to and from Canada was disrupted Sunday by the rail blockades in that country. The Maple Leaf originated and ended in Niagara Falls, N.Y., instead of Toronto; the northbound Adirondack terminated in Albany rather than Montreal, while the southbound train originated in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Some Amtrak Cascade trains […]
OTTAWA — Freight and passenger traffic on a large part of the Canadian rail system are at a standstill today as groups protesting the construction of a natural gas pipeline in northern British Columbia continue to block rail lines from coast to coast. On Thursday, Canadian National announced it was shutting down all of its […]
The wreckage of Thursday’s CSX ethanol train derailment in Kentucky burns after the train crashed into a landslide along CSX’s Kingsport Subdivision. The lead locomotive of a CSX ethanol train that derailed and burned Thursday sits partially submerged in the rain-swollen river adjacent to the rail line. ELKHORN CITY, Ky. – The crew members of […]
Wick Moorman addresses the crowd gathered on Feb. 14. Joseph Kovalchick, whose family has been longtime owner of the line, is seated in the black overcoat. Rich Roberts Henry Posner III, left, discusses a matter with Bennett Levin. Rich Roberts ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – Sixty years ago, that quote by East Broad Top Railroad owner […]
