Union Pacific names Whited to sustainability and strategy position

Head-and-shoulders photo of smiling woman

OMAHA, Neb. — Beth Whited has been named to Union Pacific’s newly created position as executive vice president-sustainability and strategy. The appointment by the UP board of directors is effective immediately. Whited has been executive vice president and chief human resource officer since 2018. The company said that in her new role, she will help […]

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In Memoriam: Don Ball

man wearing glasses smiling for photographer wearing breastplate transmitter and headset.

Don Ball, a frequent contributor to Model Railroader magazine, died on January 21 at his home in Blue Springs, Mo. He was 73 years old. Most of Don’s articles focused on projects he was working on for his 37 x 40-foot HO scale Stockton & Copperopolis RR, set in 1895. The topics were wide ranging, […]

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CN asks regulators to resolve CP interchange dispute in Chicago

Black, gray, and yellow locomotives lined up in yard

WASHINGTON — The Canadian National-Canadian Pacific Chicago interchange dispute is back before the Surface Transportation Board. At issue: Whether CP should pick up the tab for Belt Railway of Chicago switching fees for CN-bound traffic interchanged at BRC’s Clearing Yard. The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in December vacated an October 2020 STB decision […]

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Tesla buys German railway line, plans passenger trains

Red German passenger train with electric locomotive and bilevel cars

BERLIN — Electric vehicle maker Tesla, which is building a new “Gigafactory” east of the German capital, has bought the rail line connecting the site to the German rail network and plans to offer passenger trains timed for its employees shift changes. The short rail line — about 3 miles long — was bought from […]

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Storm brings more Amtrak cancellations Thursday, Friday

Train approaching in snowstorm

Amtrak has added to its previously announced list of storm-related cancellations for today (Thursday, Feb. 3; see “Winter storm brings cancellations …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 2, 2022), while also modifying schedules for trains in New England today and Friday and adding one Friday cancellation in the Midwes Added to the previously list of cancellations […]

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Amtrak Inspector General’s report identifies issues in relationship with state operators

Passenger train approaches curve

WASHINGTON — Three significant issues remain to address concerns by operators of Amtrak’s state-supported services over cost-allocation practices by the national passenger operator, according to a new report from the Amtrak Office of Inspector General. Concerns over these issues “affect [state agencies’] trust in Amtrak, with about one third telling the OIG they have low […]

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