BNSF train derails in northeast Missouri

BNSF Railway logo

BARING, Mo. — About 40 cars of a BNSF Railway train derailed on Sunday morning near Baring, shutting down service on the railroads Marceline Subdivision. No injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were reported to be involved. The train was carrying mixed freight, WGEM-TV reports. A BNSF service advisory to customers says the derailment […]

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News Wire Top 10, No. 6: Battery-electric and hydrogen locomotives

Red and black locomotive with full-width carbody to accomodate batteries

The rail industry has long touted its energy efficiency compared to other modes of transport, as well as the parallel environmental benefits. But with railroads and their customers both placing more focus on combating climate change, an increasing number of projects are under way to develop alternatives to diesel-electric locomotives. Making the most progress to […]

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GIO Rail prepares to start service on CN Cayuga Subdivision

Man standing in front of gray locomotive

ST. THOMAS, Ontario — One week after the GIO Railway Corp. ran the final train on one Ontario short line, it debuted on another route. On Christmas Eve, Canadian National’s Cayuga Subdivision saw its first train since April 30, 2020, when Ontario Southland discontinued operation on the 30-mile line between St. Thomas and Courtland, Ontario. […]

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Disputes between BNSF, Illinois town continue

Freight train passing Metra station at BNSF Cicero Yard

CICERO, Ill. — The back and forth between the Chicago suburb of Cicero and BNSF railway, the town’s largest landowner, over flooding and taxation continues. The Chicago Tribune reports a state legislator is seeking to pass legislation aimed at the railroad over what the town says is neighborhood flooding caused by pavement and work to […]

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Former Amtrak worker faces wire fraud charges

U.S. Department of Justice seal

NEW ORLEANS — A former Amtrak on-board services attendant has been charged with wire fraud for allegedly selling spaces on a non-existent New Orleans-New York City trip, and for allegedly submitting false sick benefit claims to the Railroad Retirement Board. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana says in a press release […]

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CP, potash firm Canpotex sign new seven-year deal

Canadian Pacific Railway beaver logo

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific and potash export firm Canpotex have announced a new seven-year contract between the two firms, a successor to a current 10-year agreement that expires in 2022. The new agreement runs through 2028. “We are pleased to have entered into this agreement and incredibly proud to continue our successful relationship with Canpotex,” […]

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BNSF to share in cost of Chicago lead cleanup

BNSF Railway logo

CHICAGO — BNSF Railway has agreed to reimburse the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for part of the costs of the cleanup at the site of a metal foundry in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. The Chicago Sun-Times reports H. Kramer & Co., which operates the brass and bronze foundry; BNSF; and the City of Chicago will share […]

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News Wire Top 10, No. 7: Railroad crew shortages

Man in orange vest climbing onto black locomotive

At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Class I railroads furloughed train crews as volume sank at its fastest rate ever. When volume rebounded, crew members were not called back to work at the same rate as traffic returned because railroads were moving their tonnage on fewer but longer trains. Then three things happened […]

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