Track buses for Digital Command Control

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Track buses for Digital Command Control: Layouts wired for direct-current block control have several isolated track sections called blocks. Each block has an electrical switch that controls which DC throttle powers that track section. In theory, a Digital Command Control (DCC) layout could be wired as one large block with two wires feeding the power […]

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Grand Central Madison, terminal for MTA’s East Side Access, debuts

Interior of not-yet-completed commuter rail station in New York

NEW YORK — The path to the opening of Grand Central Madison — the new Long Island Rail Road terminal in Midtown Manhattan, deep beneath Grand Central Terminal — has been long, arduous, and incredibly expensive. Now that it has arrived, officials at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority hope it will be viewed for its transformational […]

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Genesee & Wyoming agrees to settlement over Clean Air Act violations (updated)

Genesee & Wyoming logo

WASHINGTON — Genesee & Wyoming will spend up to $42 million to correct Clean Air Act violations regarding locomotives under an agreement announced Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency. A complaint that was also filed Tuesday alleged that G&W and a number of its subsidiaries operated diesel locomotives with rebuilt […]

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Massachusetts legislation calls for MBTA commuter-line electrification

MBTA purple and silver commuter locomotive. Governor reacts following more close calls on MBTA

BOSTON — Bills have been introduced in both houses of the Massachusetts legislature that would require electrification of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail lines by the end of 2035, the Boston Herald reports. The bills include an ambitious goal of electrifying by Dec. 31, 2024, three segments that serve what are defined as environmental […]

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Canadian National expects recession to put a dent in traffic volume

Train with red locomotive approaching curve

MONTREAL — Canadian National met all of its financial targets for 2022, but the railway issued a cautious outlook for this year with the expectation of a mild recession and soft traffic volumes. “Without a doubt we are in an uncertain economic time,” CEO Tracy Robinson told investors and analysts on CN’s earnings call on […]

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Louisville and Indiana Railroad profile

Louisville and Indiana Railroad logo

Louisville and Indiana Railroad summary The Louisville and Indiana Railroad (LIRC) is a Class III short line railroad that operates in Indiana and Kentucky. It’s owned by Anacostia Rail Holdings, a privately held firm that manages multiple short lines throughout the United States. Headquartered out of Jeffersonville, Ind., a 106-mile standard-gauge main line connects Indianapolis […]

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Union Pacific reports record revenue and profits for 2022

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific generated record revenue and profits last year despite the impact of crew shortages that snarled operations, hurt service, and limited traffic growth. “The fourth quarter and 2022 overall were challenging for Union Pacific and our employees. The lengthy labor negotiations tested our workforce, while customers felt the impact of our […]

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MTA to begin service to Grand Central Madison on Wednesday

Interior of new station

NEW YORK — More than a decade after it was first projected to begin — and after more than three weeks of ventilation-fan issues that delayed a final effort to open before the end of 2022  — New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority will open its East Side Access project on Wednesday, bringing Long Island Rail […]

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CSX train derails in Ohio

CSX logo

GREENWICH, Ohio — Twenty cars of a CSX Transportation freight train derailed around midday Monday in Greenwich. There were no reports of injuries or of incidents involving cargo, but a power outage was reported in the area. WYKC-TV reports about 100 people were left without power. Images on the station’s website show the incident occurred […]

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Pacific Surfliner to resume weekend service between LA, San Diego on Feb. 4

Passenger train next to ocean

ORANGE, Calif. — Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service between Los Angeles and San Diego, suspended since Sept. 30 because of an unstable hillside in San Clemente, Calif., will be restored on weekends beginning Feb. 4. In announcing the partial restoration of service, the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Corridor Agency said tracks in the San Clemente […]

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Montreal, Quebec to spend more than $500 million to begin upgrades to Metro train control system

Two Montreal Metro trainsets meet in tunnel

MONTREAL — The city of Montreal and the province of Quebec will spend more than C$565 million to begin operational upgrades on the city’s Metro system. CTV News reports the money will equip the Metro Blue Line with a new train control system, better managing spacing between trains, train speed, and track changes. Similar improvements […]

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