Still more Monday morning rail news: Study planned of Dubuque-Rockford rail service A Dubuque, Iowa, group is planning to contract for a study to restore rail passenger service between Dubuque and Rockford, Ill., once a proposed Chicago-Rockford service is revived. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports the committee of government and economic officials from Dubuque […]
Section: News & Reviews
CSX to acquire New England regional Pan Am Railways (updated)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation will acquire regional Pan Am Railways in a deal that will redraw the railroad map in New England. CSX, already the dominant freight railroad in the region, will extend its reach into Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, as well as to Saint John, New Brunswick, via Pan Am’s haulage rights […]
Amtrak names Stephen Gardner as president (updated)
Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn has named Stephen Gardner as president, effective Dec. 1. An Amtrak press release describes the move as “part of a broader set of actions taken under Flynn’s leadership, working with the board of directors, to ensure that Amtrak is well positioned for success in fiscal year 2021 and beyond.” It says […]
Ontario Southland returns RS18 to action, repaints SW1200SAL
FORD, Ontario — The Ontario Southland Railway has made two moves of note for rail photographers, returning RS18s to service on the railroad’s St. Thomas Subdivision and repainting SW1200 No. 1245, which becomes the first such locomotive to wear OSR livery. The pair of RS18s are in action on the division for the first time […]
Maine museum to get 2-foot gauge tamper donated by Australian sugar firm
ALNA, Maine — A 2-foot gauge tamper is on its way from Australia to the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, culminating an 18-month effort by the museum to secure an operational narrow gauge tamper. In a moment of serendipity, the WW&F approached the Wilmar organization just a few days after it decided to retire […]
Hydrogen train plans announced for Germany, Italy
Plans have been announced for Siemens to debut a hydrogen-powered trainset in German, while Alstom will introduce its hydrogen equipment to Italy. Siemens and German national passenger operator Deutsche Bahn will test the manufacuture’s first foray into hydrogen power, a two-car trainset based on its Mireo Plus regional train. A Siemens press release reports the […]
Digest: NJ Transit line running modified scheduled after derailment
Modified service continues on NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line Modified service will continue through the holiday weekend on NJ Transit’s North Jersey Coast Line as a result of a Tuesday morning derailment. As of Thursday, trains are operating on the entire line on a schedule with service every two hours for the Hazlet, Middletown, […]
Rail equipment firm Linsinger introduces hydrogen-powered milling train
In a press release, the company says the new MG11 H2 machine is a variant on its MG11 milling train, developed for the smallest tunnel clearances and short work windows. That milling train used the latest generation of electric drive and milling technology, facilitating the conversion, and is capable of working a full shift on […]
Digest: Derailment, bridge collapse reported on Pennsylvania short line
More Wednesday morning rail news: Short line derailment, bridge collapses closes Pennsylvania highway A train derailment and bridge collapse have closed a state highway in Indiana County, Pa. The Indiana Gazette reports the derailment has occurred near Starford, Pa., closing State Route 1014. The location is on the R.J. Corman Pennsylavania lines. Photos on the […]
Digest: Canada announces major change in train crew work rules
Wednesday evening rail news: Transport Canada makes major revisions to crew work rules Transport Canada has updated its rules regarding fatigue rules for railroad workers, placing new limits on the length of a work period and the number of hours that can be worked in a week or month, while increasing the length of […]
AAR rail traffic stats show continuing intermodal strength
WASHINGTON — Continuing long-running trends, Association of American Railroads rail traffic statistics for the week ending Nov. 21 shows intermodal volume lifting overall traffic ahead of the level for the same week in 2019, while carload traffic remains down. The year-to-date gap between 2019 and 2020 levels is decreasing, however. For the week, total traffic […]
Report says Hudson tunnels can be repaired while still in service, but finds little support
NEW YORK — An independent report released Monday contends Amtrak’s Hudson River tunnels can be repaired while the tunnels remain in service, contrary to a longstanding belief that the tunnels cannot be fully refurbished until they can be taken out of service following the construction of the proposed Gateway Project tunnel between New Jersey and […]
