Trains Magazine’s offices will be closed much of this week and next, along with those of other Kalmbach Media publications, as staff members get some extra time to enjoy the holidays with their families. The offices will be closed Dec. 23-27, open Dec. 28-29, and closed again Dec. 30-Jan. 3. If you contact us during […]
Digest: Stimulus bill will make short line tax credit permanent
Tuesday morning rail news: Congress to make Short Line Tax Credit permanent A provision in Congress’ new stimulus/coronavirus relief bill will make permanent the 45G Short Line Tax Credit, which provides a credit of up to $3,500 per mile for short line infrastructure projects. “We applaud Congress for their bipartisan, bicameral action to make the […]
Digest: Metra, CP complete Franklin Park, Ill., CREATE project
More Tuesday morning rail news: Metra, CP, CREATE complete project in Franklin Park, Ill. Metra, Canadian Pacific, and Chicago’s CREATE program have completed the Canadian Pacific Crossover upgrade project in Franklin Park, Ill. The B1 project eliminates commuter and freight train delays by adding five crossovers and associated signals on Metra tracks used by the Milwaukee District […]
BNSF oil train derails in Washington, two cars catch fire
CUSTER, Wash. — A BNSF oil train derailed and caught fire late Tuesday morning in the small community of Custer leading to evacuations within a half-mile radius of the accident site. The Bellingham Herald reports seven cars of the train derailed about 11:40 a.m., with two catching fire. The train is reported to be carrying Bakken […]
VIA’s Canadian resumes service on shortened route
VANCOUVER, B.C. — A slimmed-down, once-weekly VIA Rail Canada Canadian has resumed operation on the train’s route west of Winnipeg, Manitoba, operating with few of the features that defined the train prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada’s strict travel restrictions between provinces during the pandemic are a significant reason the Canadian and the Montreal-Halifax, Nova […]
Digest: Bombardier to build new SkyTrain equipment
Monday midday rail news: Bombardier to build 205 new cars for SkyTrain Bombardier has signed a contract to build 205 cars for SkyTrain, the rail rapid transit system of Vancouver, British Columbia, agency TransLink. The contract is valued at $565 million, and includes an option for up to 400 additional cars. Cars will be built […]
News Wire top stories of 2020: Outside the Top 10
On Tuesday, Trains News Wire will begin counting down its Top 10 stories of 2020, a year marked by a wide range of stories in the realms of freight, passenger, rail transit, and preservation news. How wide? Well, 25 stories received votes in the end-of-the-year balloting among staff members and key contributing writers; excluding the […]
Digest: Sound Transit to replace fare enforcement with informational program
Still more Monday morning rail news: Sound Transit to introduce ‘fare engagement’ program in place of enforcement system Seattle’s Sound Transit will halt its fare enforcement program next year under a pilot program using “fare engagement ambassadors” to educate rather than penalize those who have not paid. The Seattle Times reports the ambassadors will replace […]
News Photo: CN Heritage Geep arrives in Canada
Another Canadian National heritage diesel has arrived in Canada. Painted in CN’s pre-1961 green-and-gold scheme, No. 7600, formerly GP38-2 No. 4728, was rebuilt to a GP40-3 by Progress Rail’s soon-to-close Tacoma, Wash., facility. It arrived in Canada Dec. 20 on CN train No. 148. Equipped for beltpack operation, the unit will eventually be mated with […]
Digest: Port of New Orleans to buy land for new container terminal
More Monday morning rail news: Port of New Orleans approves land purchase for container expansion The Port of New Orleans board has approved the purchase of land for a second container ship terminal, a $1.5 billion project adjacent to the privately managed St. Bernard Port. NOLA.com reports the land purchase is to be completed by […]
News Photos: Plow extra on the NYS&W
After a major winter storm dropped a foot or more of snow earlier in the week, the New York, Susquehanna & Western ran a plow extra to clear its route on Saturday. Photographer Matt Podas believes it was the first use of the plow in at least two years, and reports it provided a rare […]
Digest: Transit, Amtrak to get funds in coronavirus aid and stimulus package
Monday morning rail news: Amtrak, transit funds part of new coronavirus stimulus packageCongress has agreed to a coronavirus aid and stimulus package worth about $900 billion that includes money for transit and Amtrak. The Washington Post reports the House summary of the bill’s contents lists $14 billion in aid for transit, and $1 billion for […]