MONTREAL — A London-based activist investment firm has amassed 5.2% of Canadian National’s shares and says it will seek to influence how the railway is run. TCI Fund Management — which in May asked CN to call off its proposed merger with Kansas City Southern — is now CN’s second-largest single shareholder, behind only Cascade […]
New York governor orders review of major NYC subway system failure
NEW YORK — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has ordered an independent review of a Sunday night failure that shut down about half of the New York City subway system, seeking to determine what happened and what changes are needed to avoid a recurrence. amNY.com reports that a brief power dip by electricity provider Con […]
Germany faces third national rail walkout
BERLIN — Germany will face a third nationwide rail strike in less than a month, as the union representing train drivers said it would stage a one-week strike beginning Wednesday. TheLocal.de reports the GDL union will strike freight services as of Wednesday afternoon, with passenger traffic targeted as of 2 a.m. Thursday. The strike will […]
MBTA returns second new CRRC trainset to service; two more to follow
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has returned a second new Orange Line rapid transit trainset to service, and two more should be back in operation in September. But the single new train that had been operating on the Red Line won’t be back before the end of the year. Boston.com reports MBTA spokesman […]
Railroads, shut down near New Orleans, still seeking full assessment of hurricane damage
NEW ORLEANS — Rail service to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast remains disrupted following Sunday’s arrival of Hurricane Ida, with Kansas City Southern, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, and Kansas City Southern all reporting continuing shutdowns following the storm that has left much of Louisiana and parts of Mississippi without power. Kansas City Southern said […]
Vermont short line, transportation agency say CSX-Pan Am merger would harm competition
WASHINGTON – One of the complicating factors in CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways — the Pan Am Southern joint venture with Norfolk Southern — is proving to be a lightning rod. Last week, the Justice Department said the Surface Transportation Board should force CSX to sell its stake in Pan Am Southern […]
Amtrak asks federal regulators to impose conditions on CSX-Pan Am merger (updated)
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has urged federal regulators to impose conditions on CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways that would protect current and potential expansions of passenger service in New England. The CSX-Pan Am merger is the first before the Surface Transportation Board in which passenger trains account for the majority of traffic on […]
Canadian Pacific says CSX-Pan Am merger threatens viability of Hoosac Tunnel route
WASHINGTON – CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways threatens the viability of the former Boston & Maine Hoosac Tunnel route that provides competition for CSX’s own New England main line, Canadian Pacific has told federal regulators. The vast majority of CP’s traffic to and from New England runs via Mechanicville, N.Y., and the […]
Canadian Pacific derailment in Iowa leads to evacuations
NEW HAMPTON, Iowa — Canadian Pacific emergency crews remained on site Sunday, addressing a Saturday derailment of six locomotives and 11 cars of a CP train near New Hampton. Canadian Pacific reports that one car carrying anhydrous ammonia derailed into floodwaters and leaked product. “Supporting and working closely with local emergency response officials, our priority […]
News photo: Wabtec battery-electric locomotive on the move
ERIE, Pa. — Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive is on the road again. The demonstrator unit returned to the company’s Erie factory after concluding BNSF Railway testing in California in April [see “Wabtec, BNSF conclude initial tests …,” Trains News Wire, April 30, 2021], left the factory on Friday in the company of ET44C6 demonstrator […]
Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309 to operate by mid-December, executive director says
CUMBERLAND, Md. — Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 will operate for Polar Express rides in December, if not sooner, the railroad’s new executive director says. Wesley Heinz told the Cumberland Times-News that “Sometime between today and Polar Express [rides scheduled for Dec. 17], No. 1309 will make it out onto the line. We […]
VTA light rail service returns
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority resumed limited light rail service on Sunday, more than three months after service was shut down following a mass shooting at the agency’s Guadalupe rail yard. “As we continue to bring back employees safely and compassionately,” the agency said in a statement on its website, […]