New Stadler KISS double-deck electric multiple-unit trainsets bound for San Francisco-area commuter operator Caltrain arrive at Union Pacific’s North Yard in Denver on Tuesday, Feb. 23, from Stadler’s Salt Lake City plant. The cars were in route to the Association of American Railroads’ Transportation Technology Center, Inc., near Pueblo, Colo., to begin testing. As part […]
Section: News & Reviews
Weather woes lead to steep decline in weekly U.S. rail traffic
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic suffered a steep decline in the week ending Feb. 20, a week in which severe winter weather disrupted rail traffic from coast to coast. Weekly statistics from the Association of American Railroads show overall rail traffic down 21.7% for the week, compared to the same week in 2020. The 206,262 […]
Canadian National announces major changes to board governance, creation of Indigenous Advisory Council
MONTREAL — Canadian National will undertake new Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives including a commitment to diversity on its board of directors, limits on the age and tenure of board members and other restrictions, and creation of an Indigenous Advisory Council. “Over the 25 years since privatization, the company has strived to reflect best practices […]
Digest: South Dakota to sell rail route for new Watco short line
Thursday morning rail news: South Dakota to sell Mitchell-Rapid City route to Watco short line The South Dakota State Railroad Board has authorized the sale of the state-owned route between Mitchell and Rapid City to Watco’s Ringneck & Western Railroad. The Mitchell Republic reports the board authorized the state Department of Transportation to sell the […]
Digest: NS, CSX trains collide in Georgia (updated)
More Thursday morning rail news: Crew member’s medical emergency reportedly leads to NS derailment in Georgia (updated) Injuries were reported when a Norfolk Southern locomotive struck and derailed a CSX train in Augusta, Ga., on Wednesday evening. WRDW/WAGT-TV reports 17 cars were derailed of a CSX intermodal train with two locomotives and 55 cars, 42 […]
Digest: South Carolina Senate approves borrowing for port’s intermodal expansion
Still more Thursday morning rail news: South Carolina Senate approves funding for Charleston port projects including intermodal terminal After debates over parts of four days, South Carolina senators on Wednesday approved a plan to borrow up to $550 million to expand rail service at the Port of Charleston and add a barge system to move […]
Digest: BNSF train catches fire after collision with semi
Wednesday morning rail news: BNSF train in Texas derails, catches fire after hitting semi A BNSF Railway derailed and caught fire after hitting a truck in Texas on Tuesday morning, leading to a spectacular blaze and triggering an evacuation of nearby residents. The train crew and truck driver escaped injury. The accident in Cameron, Texas, […]
Amtrak now offers passengers opportunity to bid on upgrades
Overall intermodal traffic in North America is expected to return to growth this year as retail inventories remain low, consumers continue to spend on goods instead of services during the pandemic, and trucking companies can’t field enough drivers to meet demand. That’s the view of a trio of TTX analysts who participated in an Intermodal […]
TTX executives forecast intermodal growth this year
After a topsy-turvy 2020, intermodal volume should bounce back with 7.3% growth in international containers and a 4.7% gain in domestic volume, according to the TTX forecast. Last year intermodal volume was down 2% overall in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico due to the economic impact of the pandemic. Intermodal volume declined sharply in the […]
Digest: Fire extinguished at site of BNSF derailment in Texas
Wednesday midday rail news: Fire out at site of BNSF derailment; line expected to reopen tonight The fire at the site of Tuesday’s BNSF Railway derailment in Cameron, Texas, has now been extinguished, the National Post reports, citing information from the railroad. In a customer advisory, the railroad said it anticipates reopening the section of […]
Digest: New Jersey governor’s budget avoids NJ Transit fare increases, does not address dedicated funding
More Wednesday morning rail news: New Jersey budget avoids NJ Transit fare increases, does not address dedicated funding for agency New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy does not plan NJ Transit fare increases as part of his fiscal 2022 budget — the fourth straight year that has been the case — but his budget plan also […]
Federal appeals court overturns FRA decision on crew size (updated)
SEATTLE — A federal appeals court has overturned a Federal Railroad Administration decision on train crew size, saying the agency’s decision to withdraw a proposed rule requiring two-person crews has a “real and intended effect … to authorize nationwide one-person train crews and to bar any contrary state regulations.” Calling that decision “arbitrary and capricious,” […]