NTSB expresses concern about STB proposal on trackage rights

National Transportation Safety Board logo

WASHINGTON — In an uncommon move, the National Transportation Safety Board has weighed in on a proposed rule before the Surface Transportation Board, expressing concern about a proposal regarding temporary trackage rights. The proposed rule, requested by the Association of American Railroads, would allow an exemption from the usual process to approve trackage rights to […]

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STB chairman questions level of rail competition, Wall Street influence on Class I railroads

Man standing in front of banner for Midwest Association of Rail Shippers

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. – Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman fully supports the White House’s call for more competition in the rail industry and questions whether Class I railroads are shirking their obligations as common carriers due to pressure from Wall Street. Oberman, addressing the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers today, said the Biden administration’s […]

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Former Cotton Belt bridge for sale in north Texas

View down through truss bridge

DALLAS — Dallas Area Rapid Transit has regularly sold off end-of-life buses or excess parcels of land. But this time the agency has a piece of railroading history on the market: a bridge. Removal of the bridge is required to accommodate DART’s new Silver Line Regional Rail project. Currently, the bridge is a single-track truss […]

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Nickel Plate Road 765 to return to Ohio for Steam in the Valley

Steam locomotive crosses waterway on bridge

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765 will return to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for Steam in the Valley on Sept. 3, 10-12 and 17-19. Each year, except for 2020, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad works with the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society to bring the steam locomotive to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, […]

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Bay Area’s SMART adds freight operations

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit logo

PETALUMA, Calif. — As of Monday, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit is also a freight railroad. The 45-mile, 12-station commuter railroad north of San Francisco on Monday took over the freight operations that had previously been handled by Northwestern Pacific. The Marin Independent Journal reports the move received final approval from the Surface Transportation Board on […]

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SEPTA, other Pennsylvania transit agencies seek new funding methods

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority logo

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and other Pennsylvania transit agencies are asking state legislators to create new funding streams to address money from the state turnpike system that is coming to an end, and to take other measures to address transit needs. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports lobbyists and transit advocates are seeking […]

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R&LHS names 2021 scholarship award winners (corrected)

Railway & Locomotive Historical Society logo

Benjamin Kletzer, Stanton Schmitz, and Matthew Parkes are the winners of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society’s 2021 scholarship awards. Klezter, pursuing a Ph.D. in history at UC San Diego, has received the George W. Hilton Scholarship. He is writing a dissertation on the development of the Chinese National Railway. Schmitz, pursuing a Bachelor of […]

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Trains Magazine, U.S. Sugar set photo charter with ex-FEC No. 148

Steam locomotive leads train on curve

CLEWISTON, Fla. — U.S. Sugar’s restored 4-6-2 No. 148 will star in its first outing for railroad photographers in an exclusive event sponsored by Trains Magazine on Jan. 29-30, 2022. The 1920 Alco-built Pacific-type locomotive will pull passenger and replica freight consists in locations chosen by Trains Editor Jim Wrinn and Videographer Kevin Gilliam for […]

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Amtrak, shipper groups voice support for Biden executive order

Amtrak logo.

WASHINGTON — Amtrak and shipper groups have welcomed the executive order from President Joe Biden which seeks to increase competition among railroads. Biden signed the order on Friday, drawing criticism from the Association of American Railroads and some individual Class 1 roads [see “Biden executive order prods STB …,” Trains News Wire, July 9, 2021]. […]

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VIA’s Ocean to resume once-weekly round trips in August

Passenger train with dome-lound-observation at rear

MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada says it is relaunching its last suspended route on Wednesday, Aug. 11, when the formerly triweekly Ocean departs Halifax, Nova Scotia, for Montreal for the first time since March 2020. The overnighter’s first eastbound return is set for Sunday, August 15. Service is finally resuming as a result of “progressive […]

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