LINCOLN, Neb. — Less than two weeks after the Nebraska legislature killed a bill to require two-person train crews, a legislative committee has heard testimony on another rail regulation bill, this one including limits on train length. The unicameral legislature’s Transportation and Telecommunications Committee on Tuesday heard testimony on LB1212, introduced by Sen. Lynne Walz […]
Section: News Wire
California state senator seeks legislation to address issues on LOSSAN corridor
SACRAMENTO — A California state senator is introducing a bill to address projects to prevent interruptions to passenger rail service on the LOSSAN Rail Corridor between San Luis Obispo and San Diego, such as the current slide near San Clemente, Calif., that has disrupted Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink commuter rail service. The San Diego […]
California orders six more hydrogen-powered trainsets from Stadler
SACRAMENTO — California’s Department of Transportation, Caltrans, announced a $127 million agreement with Stadler Rail on Wednesday to purchase six more hydrogen-powered passenger trainsets, bringing to 10 the number of the trainsets on order for use in the San Joaquin Valley. The funding comes $407 million for the California State Transportation agency to purchase or […]
CPKC commits to $1.5 million in support for American Heart Association
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific Kansas City has announced a $1.5 million commitment to support the American Heart Association for heart research over the next three years. As part of the commitment announced on Valentine’s Day, CPKC will support four two-year pre-doctoral fellowships and four one-year pre-doctoral fellowships chosen by the Heart Association and focused […]
STB members question Gulf Coast delays and non-disclosure at hearing: Analysis
WASHINGTON — Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin Oberman was so disappointed in the lack of information provided at Wednesday’s board hearing into the status of Amtrak Gulf Coast service that he ordered the parties to come back in 30 days with a detailed report to address the board’s unanswered questions. “I’ve negotiated a lot of […]
Tickets on sale today for Reading & Northern steam excursions with 2102
PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Tickets will go on sale today (Feb. 15) at 9 a.m. ET for Reading & Northern Railroad’s three summer 2024 Iron Horse Rambles excursions featuring T-1 class 4-8-4 No. 2102. Two of the excursions will feature new destinations for the former Reading Co. locomotive, while the other will once again see […]
U.S. rail traffic up for week ending Feb. 10
WASHINGTON — U.S. weekly rail traffic was up for the week ending Feb. 10, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. It was the third straight week showing a gain and fourth in six weeks so far this year. Total traffic was 484,840 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4.5% […]
STB approves reactivating UP connecting track that would link with proposed Utah short line
WASHINGTON — Federal regulators yesterday approved Union Pacific’s request to restore common-carrier service over 1.04 miles of rail line in Tooele County, Utah, that would connect to the proposed Savage Tooele Railroad. The Surface Transportation Board decision also turned down BNSF Railway’s petition to begin a proceeding that would ensure that it can use its […]
Program to offer photographers access on Western Maryland Scenic’s Georges Creek Division
CUMBERLAND, Md. — Gunnoe Media Group and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad are collaborating to raise funds, coordinate special access, and host the first photo freight event on the Georges Creek Railway, the short line leased by the Western Maryland Scenic. Western Maryland Scenic announced in January it had signed a long-term lease to operate […]
North Carolina Railroad Co. plans improvements to support Siemens Energy plant
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The North Carolina Railroad Co. will invest $100,000 in upgrades and improvements to an existing spur to support Siemens Energy’s planned expansion of its manufacturing facility in Charlotte, the railroad has announced. That expansion will involve a total investment of $145 million and is projected to add 475 jobs. The expanded plant […]
Connecticut budget looks to restore New Haven Line commuter operations
HARTFORD, Conn. — Gov. Ned Lamont’s budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year would restore full funding for Metro-North’s New Haven Line commuter operations, the news site CT Insider reports. The budget proposal released last week includes $284 million for rail operations, an increase of approximately 22% over the current fiscal year, which saw cuts to […]
NTSB to investigate CSX employee death in North Carolina (updated)
ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate an incident today in which a CSX Transportation employee was struck and killed by moving equipment, according to an NTSB social media post. WRAL-TV reports the incident occured about 1:30 p.m. and involved the member of a crew installing ties, and that the Federal […]