WASHINGTON — Just two commuter railroads — NJ Transit and New Mexico’s Rail Runner Express — are now considered at risk of not completing PTC implementation by the Dec. 31, 2020, deadline, according to the latest quarterly PTC update from the Federal Railroad Administration. Chicago’s Metra and TEXRail, the service between Fort Worth, Texas, and […]
Section: News & Reviews
Digest: Amtrak now offering train-capacity information on website, app
Wednesday morning rail news: Amtrak updates website, app to show how full a train will be Amtrak has updated its website and smartphone app to provide real-time information on a train’s capacity. Searches for train information when booking will now display an icon indicating how full the train will be (for example, 50% full). Ticket […]
Digest: New study offers options, cost for Northstar extension to St. Cloud
Tuesday morning rail news: Study says extension of Twin Cities’ commuter rail service to St. Cloud could cost $36 million to $257 million A new feasibility study says it could cost anywhere from $36 million to $257 million to extend the Twin Cities’ Northstar commuter rail service from its current northern terminus in Big Lake […]
Digest: CP runs first international container train from Saint John, N.B.
Tuesday afternoon rail news: CP operates first international intermodal train from Saint John In a preview of the railroad’s future plans, Canadian Pacific operated its first international intermodal train from the Port of Saint John, New Brunswick, today. The train carried containers from the Hapag-Lloyd ship Detroit Express, bound for terminals in Canada and the […]
Amtrak releases criteria for restoring long-distance service
Amtrak has released information on the measurements it will use to determine restoration of long-distance service after the service is cut to triweekly, which is currently planned for Oct. 1. The three metrics to be used are: — Public health: COVID-19 hospitalizations must be stable or declining as of Feb. 15, 2021. — Future demand: […]
Digest: High winds cause BNSF derailment in Oklahoma
More Tuesday morning rail news: Winds derail BNSF train in Oklahoma High winds derailed a BNSF Railway train near Gage, Okla., on Monday night. The community’s fire chief estimated as many as 25 cars were derailed by winds up to 70 mph, according to KWTV News in Oklahoma City. The train included three cars of […]
New model trains for the week of August 13, 2020
HO scale locomotives General Electric Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive. BNSF Ry. (as-delivered Heritage I scheme in three road numbers, Heritage I with yellow hood lettering in one number, and Heritage II), BC Rail (Dash 9-44CWL in red, white, and blue scheme), Canadian National (Dash 9-44CWL in North America scheme, three numbers), Chicago & North Western […]
Digest: Maryland set to take over management of Purple Line construction
Monday morning rail news: Maryland set to take over Purple Line construction The state of Maryland will take over management of the troubled Purple Line light rail construction project if the current public-private partnership is dissolved, state transit officials said last week in a letter to subcontractors. The consortium that has been managing the project […]
Digest: Errors halt construction on bridge for California high speed project
Monday afternoon rail news: Work on bridge for high speed rail project stopped by errors Construction errors, along with possible design problems, have halted work on a major bridge for California’s high speed rail project in Central California, the Los Angeles Times reports. The bridge in Madera County, north of the town of Madera, will […]
Ben Anthony, a GE ‘Man of Erie,’ dies
ERIE, Pa. – General Electric engineer Benjamin F. Anthony Jr., age 92, died Aug. 4, 2020. He started his railroad career as a crew “call boy” in the summer of 1945 at a Pennsylvania Railroad enginehouse in Cleveland, Ohio. His railroad career included time as a signalman helper and brakeman on the Nickel Pate Road, […]
Digest: Brightline ends marketing agreement with Virgin Group
Saturday morning rail news: Brightline severs ties with Virgin, will retain current name, image Florida passenger operator Brightline says it has ended its agreement with Richard Branson’s Virgin Enterprises and will retain its Brightline name and image, although Virgin may challenge termination of the two companies’ licensing agreement. Forbes reports that Brightline reported the move […]
STB defers decision in Metra-Union Pacific dispute
CHICAGO – The Surface Transportation Board is declining to intervene in an ongoing dispute between Metra and Union Pacific – for now. In a decision published Wednesday, the STB is holding a decision on its jurisdiction in abeyance and has directed both parties to inform the agency of any rulings issued by the federal district […]