CALGARY, Alberta — For the second year in a row, Canadian Pacific has pulled an international intermodal contract away from rival Canadian National. CP today announced that it would begin hauling Yang Ming Marine Transport’s containers at the Port of Vancouver, British Columbia, effective Jan. 1, 2020. The contract with the Taiwan-based steamship line […]
CHICAGO — Canadian National officials seek to double-track 4.27 miles of former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern track to speed the flow of freight and bypass Chicago’s congested rail hub, but the plan is facing a regulatory hurdle and growing opposition from municipalities and residents. CN, acting under its Wisconsin Central Limited Railroad subsidiary, has applied […]
A route map of the proposed Brooklyn-Queens Connector streetcar. New York City Economic Development Corp. NEW YORK — The proposed Brooklyn-Queens Connector light rail line, known as BQX, received its first city council discussion Thursday when the council’s task force on the project received an update on the 3-year-old plan. Gothamist reports that city officials […]
BISMARCK, N.D. — The State of North Dakota will continue its 4-year-old rail safety inspection program for at least two more years, the Associated Press reports. The program was set to expire in July, but Gov. Doug Burgum signed a bill extending the program through 2021, and state Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner said he […]
QUEENSBURY, N.Y. — OmniTRAX has withdrawn its application to run the Saratoga Springs-North Creek, N.Y., line formerly operated by Iowa Pacific, leaving just one group as a potential operator. “We’ve got better opportunities elsewhere,” OmniTRAX spokesman Ron Margulis told the Albany Times Union. Originally, three groups had considered taking over the route operated by Iowa […]
With a Canadian National unit in the lead, a northbound BNSF Railway train crosses the international bridge over the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass, Texas, in May 2019. Bill Stephens WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s proposal to hit Mexican imports with tariffs beginning next month could eventually hurt cross-border rail traffic that has been a […]
SEATTLE — The shuffling of operators for segments of the state-owned Palouse River & Coulee City in eastern Washington state continues. The Washington State Department of Transportation said it picked Omaha Track as the winning bidder to operate the 90-mile P&L branch of the PCC, which runs from the Idaho border near Pullman to Marshall, […]
This week’s Trains news wire round-up includes Jim and Steve talking about tariffs on Mexican goods; CSX’s views on automation, Amtrak detours and more! Only from Trains! […]
CHICAGO — BNSF Railway and CREATE have announced the completion of a CREATE project on the Western Avenue Corridor, the fourth of eight projects completed on that section of the project to improve Chicago rail traffic flow. Overall, 30 projects are now complete of the 70 that make up the entire program. The newest project, […]
NEW YORK — Railroads need to take advantage of their investments in positive train control, but the industry likely will move slowly toward one-person crews and autonomous operations, CSX Transportation CEO Jim Foote says. Foote likens PTC to the advent of wayside detectors and end-of-train devices that allowed railroads operate more safely, while eliminating cabooses. […]
On May 25, 2019, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad opened its season with doubleheaders, departing from Chama, N.M., and Antonito, Colo. The 64-mile route goes through the scenic Toltec Gorge and climbs the 10,000-foot Cumbres Pass. It is one of the most beautiful scenic railroads in the United States as voted by the 2018 […]
Friends of the 261 President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Sandberg poses with former Milwaukee Road E9 No. 32A in St. Paul on May 29. Sandberg’s grandfather was a Milwaukee Road engineer who operated 32A many times on passenger trains between the Twin Cities and La Crosse, Wis. The unit will make its debut at […]
