SCRANTON, Pa. – Following a nearly two-year renovation, Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 locomotive No. 4012 has been returned to public display at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton. During a several-hour procedure on Wednesday, the locomotive and tender were moved from a location outside the park’s paint shop, spun separately on the turntable, reunited, […]
Union Pacific takes aim at BNSF with new Southern California intermodal terminal (corrected)
OMAHA, Neb. – The intermodal terminal Union Pacific is set to open in California’s Inland Empire will start small, but railroad officials call it a game changer that could lead to signficant growth. The terminal planned for West Colton yard will have capacity for just 45,000 lifts annually when it opens in a month or […]
Digest: LA Metro releases $8 billion budget for fiscal 2022
LA Metro budget will restore service to pre-pandemic levels LA Metro has released an $8 billion budget for fiscal 2022 including restoration of rail and bus service to pre-pandemic levels and the start of testing for two projects: the 8.5-mile Crenshaw/LAX light rail line, also known as the K line, and the 1.9-mile Regional Connector, […]
Digest: Pioneer Railcorp changes name to Pioneer Lines
Short line company Pioneer Railcorp becomes Pioneer Lines Holding company Pioneer Railcorp, which operates 15 railroads in 12 states as well as related services such as transloading and storage, has changed its name to Pioneer Lines. The change comes as the company marks 35 years in business, and two years after it was acquired by […]
April rail traffic stats show continued strength
WASHINGTON — U.S. railroads saw major traffic increases in April 2021 over the same month a year earlier, reflecting the traffic recovery from the economic slump triggered by COVID-19 related shutdowns in 2020. Traffic for the most recent week remained on pace with recent showings. Figures from the Association of American Railroads show overall U.S. […]
Virginia, Norfolk Southern reach agreement to extend Amtrak service to New River Valley
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday announced a deal with Norfolk Southern allowing the extension of Amtrak service to the New River Valley in the southwest portion of the state, as well as additional service to Roanoke. The agreement, known as the Western Rail Initiative, includes $28.2 million to acquire 28.5 miles […]
Union Pacific says autonomous trains are the answer to driverless trucks
OMAHA, Neb. — How can railroads compete with autonomous or electric trucks that would dramatically reduce the cost of trucking? “Ultimately, our answer to autonomous trucks is autonomous trains,” Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz says. A first step toward automation is reducing crew size where feasible, Fritz said during the railroad’s investor day Tuesday. UP […]
Trains Magazine 2020 index
TRAINS 2020 Magazine index […]
Union Pacific sees battery-electric locomotives as the future
OMAHA, Neb. — With a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 26% by the end of the decade, Union Pacific is working to improve locomotive fuel efficiency, plans to roll out battery-electric locomotives soon, and is exploring alternatives to the diesel-electric. “We do not plan on buying any new locomotives — unless it’s battery-electric locomotives […]
Digest: South Shore Line Double Track construction bids are higher than expected
South Shore faces decision after receiving higher-than-expected bids for Double Track project Bids for construction of the South Shore Line’s Double Track project came in higher than expected, leaving the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District to decide whether to accept the lowest bid or reject both offers in an attempt to achieve a lower price. […]
Digest: NTSB issues preliminary report on BNSF fatality in Missouri
NTSB indicates safety at industrial facilities will be part of investigation of BNSF fatality The National Transportation Safety Board has indicated it will look into safety factors for rail workers at industrial facilities, as well as investigating the cause, after issuing its preliminary report into the fatality of a BNSF Railway crew member at a […]
Digest: Ontario railcar builder extends COVID closure
National Steel Car extends closure to address COVID-19 outbreak Hamilton, Ontario, railcar builder National Steel Car has extended its manufacturing shutdown for an additional week, and now plans to resume operations on Monday, May 17. The company halted manufacturing work because of a COVID-19 outbreak on April 23 [see “Digest: Canadian freight car company halts […]