THOMASTON, Conn. — The Railroad Museum of New England’s Naugatuck Railroad will formally unveil the museum’s restored Russell snow plow during its Connecticut Open House Day this Saturday (June 8). The plow was refurbished after being damaged by vandals last May. The plow, Maine Central No. 70, was built by the Russell Snow Plow Co. […]
Section: News Wire
U.S. rail traffic shows modest gain in May
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic was up 1% in May over the same month in 2023, the fourth straight month of modest gains over the previous year, according to the Association of American Railroads. Traffic for the week ending June 1 was also up over the same week a year earlier. May volume included a […]
Pennsylvania Rep. Deluzio named to House Transportation Committee
WASHINGTON — First-term U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pittsburgh) has been named to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the remainder of the current term, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has announced. Deluzio fills the vacancy created by the death of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.), who had been the ranking member of the […]
New York governor halts Manhattan congestion pricing plan in blow to MTA
NEW YORK — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has blocked plans to begin congestion-pricing tolling for vehicles entering lower Manhattan, postponing indefinitely the start of a program opposed by commuters and other groups but blowing a hole in the financial plans of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Assessment of the tolls — which include a $15 […]
NS, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority in talks on mainline acquisitions
Norfolk Southern and the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority are in preliminary talks on a deal that would expand passenger rail service while also preserving critical freight connections. While negotiations are in early stages, the framework of an agreement would allow VPRA to purchase the Manassas Line and pursue an option to extend passenger rail service […]
Watco welcomes new Oklahoma short line into its stable
Watco recently began operating its 46th short line, the 3-mile Verdigris Southern Railroad (VESO) that serves the Port of Inola in Oklahoma. VESO serves one customer at the inland port, paper products company Sofidel America. Sofidel’s paper mill received its first seven boxcars of compressed wood pulp in mid-April, Watco reports in its June newsletter. […]
Norfolk Southern’s Loeb discusses railroad’s growth strategy at ‘Future of Supply Chain’ event (updated)
ATLANTA — After the turmoil of Norfolk Southern’s proxy fight against an activist investor last month, the railroad’s Stefan Loeb says the shareholders’ vote showed confidence in management’s strategy. While board chair Amy Miles lost her position, Norfolk Southern’s management mainly prevailed in the vote to retain control of the Class 1 railroad, with Ancora […]
Planning agency narrows potential routes for Del Mar rail tunnel
DEL MAR, Calif. — The San Diego Association of Governments, which last year expanded the number of potential routes for a tunnel to replace the rail line along the Del Mar bluffs, has again narrowed the possibilities, this time to three choices, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. At one time, the planning agency had cut […]
Toronto could face transit strike on Friday
TORONTO — Almost 12,000 Toronto Transit Commission employees, including streetcar and subway operators and bus drivers, could go on strike at 12:01 a.m. Friday — the first such walkout since 2008, Global News reports. It would be the first strike since a 2011 law blocking strikes was struck down in court. That law had designed […]
Woman struck, killed by CPKC steam tour train in Mexico (updated)
NOPALA DE VILLAGRAN, Mexico — A 29-year-old woman was struck and killed today while trying to take a photo during the passage of CPKC’s Final Spike Steam Tour train in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, according to multiple media reports. The news site Debate reports that the woman was standing next to the tracks trying […]
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie heritage locomotive emerges from CSX’s Waycross paint shop
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The CSX heritage locomotive fleet has grown to 15 with the addition of a locomotive honoring the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie. CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs released the first photos of the unit, No. 1875, on LinkedIn this afternoon. “Another great job by our ONE CSX team in Waycross, GA. Founded in 1875 […]
Metrolink introduces ‘smart crossing’ technology at Orange County grade crossing
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. — Southern California commuter rail operator Metrolink has debuted new “smart crossing” technology at a San Juan Capistrano grade crossing, seeking to eliminate the activation of crossing gates when a train approaches a station and stops before reaching the crossing. The technology, known as a Wireless Crossing Nearside Station Stop, was made […]