WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill requiring Amtrak to report annually to Congress on its progress in improving stations to stations with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The bill, previously passed by the Senate, now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. S.4107, the Think Differently Transportation Act, was […]
CPKC will receive some much-needed motive power help starting next year in the form of a 170-unit order of new locomotives from Wabtec. The railroad has been heavily spending on capacity work across its combined system to support new traffic and motive power has been in short supply to move tonnage across its network. The […]
NEW YORK — Delays continue as Amtrak continues to restore operations between Philadelphia and New York after a suspension for much of the morning because of downed overhead power wires today (Dec. 22, 2024) near Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station. Amtrak’s latest update, as of 1:30 p.m. ET, says two of the four tracks in the […]
For a fifth straight year, the revival of the much-loved narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad in Pennsylvania has made Trains News Wire’s year-end Top 10. The rebirth of this 33-mile-long coal-hauler turned preservation tourist railroad began in 2020 with the formation of the nonprofit EBT Foundation, Inc. by industry leaders Henry Posner III, Wick […]
In general terms, America is not a country with great affinity for nationalization. The machinations of the American economy are diametrically opposed to the principles of nationalization. However, that doesn’t mean that the U.S. has never dabbled in the practice. The United States Railroad Administration (USRA) is an example. In the interest of clarity, I’ll […]
In November 2021 I wrote about modeling a boxcar storage scene based around an ex-Milwaukee Road car in Milbank, S.D. This time around we’ll take a look at a car in the Minnesota Northern RR (MNN) yard in Crookston, Minn., my hometown. Back in 2016 I was invited to the National Model Railroad Association Thousand […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate has confirmed four nominees for the Amtrak board of directors, the first time the legislative body has confirmed a majority of the 10-member board in almost a decade. Senate records indicate David Capozzi, Elaine Clegg, Ronald Batory, and Lanhee Chen were confirmed by voice vote during a Friday session that […]
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said he has selected David Fink to become administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration. In a post today (Saturday, Dec. 21) on Truth Social, Trump said Fink is a “fifth-generation railroader” who “will bring his 45+ years of transportation leadership and success, which will deliver the FRA into a new […]
Several freight rail business developments did not rank among our Top 10 stories of the year — but were still important in the grand scheme of things. They include: New Southeast-Mexico corridor CSX and Canadian Pacific Kansas City on Dec. 1 began service over the former Meridian & Bigbee short line that serves as a […]
PECOS, Texas — The Union Pacific train involved in Wednesday’s fatal derailment was going about 68 mph before beginning an emergency brake application, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement today (Friday, Dec. 20). Maximum speed on most of UP’s Toyah Subdivision, including in Pecos, is 70 mph. Two Union Pacific crew members […]
MOLINE, Ill. — An exceptionally long-running effort to launch Amtrak service to the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa may be extended even longer, if some federal lawmakers have their way. Three members of Illinois’ congressional delegation — U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, and U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen — have written Transportation Secretary […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a new final rule on freight car safety standards including limitations on cars or parts from China or another “country of concern.” The rule, released Thursday, Dec. 19 and effective Jan. 21, 2025, fulfils a requirement of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The rule requires railcars […]
