Additional Wednesday morning rail news: CN, partners to open logistics park in Mobile, Ala. Canadian National will join with the Alabama Export Railroad and Ray-Mont Logistics on a new logistics park in Mobile, Ala., projected to open in late 2021. The first phase of the project will be a facility for bagging and containerizing plastic […]
Digest: Pennsylvania’s Cumberland Mine sold
Wednesday midday rail news: Cumberland Mine, with rail operation, has new owner Pennsylvania’s Cumberland Mine, which operates a 17-mile railroad profiled in the January 2021 issue of Trains Magazine, has changed hands. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Iron Senergy Holding LLC was formed specifically to purchase the mine from prior owner Contura Energy, and kept its […]
NTSB issues recommendation for increased use of buffer cars on hazardous-material trains
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending increased use of buffer cars in trains with DOT-111 tank cars carrying hazardous materials as a result of investigations into two derailments. The recommendation issued Tuesday recommends at least five non-placarded cars be placed between locomotives or occupied equipment and those carrying hazardous materials, regardless of […]
Metra, Amtrak inform STB of remaining issues in Chicago Union Station dispute
WASHINGTON — A total of 16 issues, some major (the procedure for adding trains to Metra’s schedule), some less so (whether Metra is entitled to any station parking), remain to be settled by the Surface Transportation Board in the long-running dispute between Metra and Amtrak over the commuter railroad’s lease at Chicago Union Station. That’s […]
Amtrak cancelling, modifying Northeast service because of expected winter storm
With a significant winter storm expected in the Northeast, Amtrak has announced cancellation of some trains and modified service for others beginning Wednesday. Cancelled Wednesday are 16 Keystone Service trains between Harrisburg, Pa., and New York; Boston-Newport News, Va., Northeast Regional train No. 67, and Empire Service trains 244 and 241 between New York and […]
Marvin Cohen, railfan author and publisher, dies at 93
MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. — Marvin H. Cohen, a lifelong railfan and pioneering rail book editor and publisher, died on Dec. 10. He was 93. Cohen developed the original “Steam Passenger Service Directory” in 1965 and was editor of the first 24 annual editions of that book, which became the “Tourist Trains Guidebook” currently published by Kalmbach […]
FRA publishes rule requiring state plans on grade crossing safety
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has published its final rule requiring states to create action plans addressing safety at rail-highway grade crossings, a rule addressing a mandate of the federal FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transporation) Act. The rule requires 40 states and the District of Columbia to develop plans that identify any grade crossing […]
Digest: Transport Canada plan to require more rail data begins comment period
Transport Canada opens consultation on collection of Class I freight data Transport Canada has begun the consultation period on a proposal to collect new data from Class I freight railroads, including service and performance information that would be available to the public. In addition to the weekly service and performance data, the proposal would require […]
Digest: Montreal REM light rail project unveils plans for $10 billion extension
Montreal REM light rail plans C$10 billion, 19.9-mile addition The proposed “REM de l’Est” addition to Montreal’s Reseau express metropolitain light rail system will be a $C10 billion, two-line addition to the system under construction, adding 19.9 miles and 23 stations to the 41.6-mile system already planned. This is according to a presentation by the […]
Digest: Montreal REM light rail project unveils plans for $10 billion extension
Tuesday midday rail news: Montreal REM light rail plans C$10 billion, 19.9-mile addition The proposed “REM de l’Est” addition to Montreal’s Reseau express metropolitan light rail system will be a $C10 billion, two-line addition to the system under construction, adding 19.9 miles and 23 stations to the 41.6-mile system already planned. This is according to […]
CSX donation helps advance Berkshire Scenic’s RDC restoration
LENOX, Mass. — A donation from CSX to the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum will mean new windows for its ex-New Haven Budd Rail Diesel Car in the coming year. The $10,000 donation came as a surprise to the group. “CSX reached out to us,” said Brent S. Bette, of Berkshire Scenic. “They wanted to make […]
Board approves MBTA cuts
BOSTON — By a 3-2 margin, the board overseeing the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority today approved a wide-ranging series of service reductions reflecting the financial losses brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes, while significant, include some modifications from those originally proposed a month ago [see “Planned MBTA cuts would end commuter rail service after […]