Union Pacific, stung by criticism of embargoes, to evaluate suggestions for improvements

side of locomotive in front of mountains

WASHINGTON — Union Pacific has soaked up all the complaints leveled at its soaring use of embargoes and will evaluate customer suggestions before coming back to the Surface Transportation Board with steps it may take to ease the burden on shippers. “First and foremost, I do want to assure the board that we have listened. […]

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Lionel ES44AC locomotive personifies modern power

O gauge Lionel ES44AC locomotive

The O gauge Lionel ES44AC locomotive is a release that really captures the essence of modern rail power. This Legacy model has returned rather quickly to the train-maker’s catalog in 2022 with new road names. Those include several heritage paint schemes, like the Canadian National’s Elgin, Joliet & Eastern livery shown in this video. With […]

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At FRA hearing, railroads and labor stake out their positions on two-person crew rule

WASHINGTON — Class I railroads, short lines, and rail labor staked out familiar positions during the Federal Railroad Administration’s public hearing on its proposed two-person crew rule on Wednesday. The Association of American Railroads said there’s no safety data to back a rule that would require two people to be in the cab of a […]

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Traveling through the mountains via rail

Rocky Mountaineer train going past trees on rail

Traveling through the mountains Having never visited Canada before September and thus never having an opinion of the Canadian Rockies, except visualizing something like Colorado, my first brush with Canada revealed I frivolously misperceived the legitimacy of its mountain railroad scene. New realizations Prior to several realizations, this experience brought me to Calgary on Canadian […]

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Ontario government orders equipment for revival of Northlander

Rendering of new blue and yellow trainset for northern Ontario passenger service

NORTH BAY, Ontario — The Ontario government announced today it will purchase three new sets of passenger train equipment from Siemens as part of its plan to reinstate service in the northeastern part of the province. “This is a significant step forward in bringing back the rail service that northerners deserve,” said Stan Cho, the […]

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Brightline to begin service at Aventura, Boca Raton stations Dec. 21

Modern white and yellow concrete station building

MIAMI — Brightline will begin service at its new Boca Raton and Aventura stations on Dec. 21, the company has announced, and has placed tickets on sale for operations from those locations. The company will hold ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the two new facilities on Dec. 20 — at 9 a.m. on Boca Raton and at […]

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Amtrak Inspector General report addresses concerns over high-security keys

Logo of Amtrak Office of Inspector General

WASHINGTON — Amtrak should take steps to better address distribution, tracking, and retrival of keys which control access to critical and sensitive infrastructure, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General said in a report issued Wednesday. Citing the sensitive nature of the material, the highly redacted report offers few specifics on the types of locations that […]

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Hamilton, Ohio, station nears move

Boarded-up two-story building lifted off ground

HAMILTON, Ohio — The much-discussed, long-delayed move of the first portion of the Hamilton, Ohio, railroad station is at hand. As of Wednesday, Dec. 14, the two-story station building — one of two structures involved in the city preservation effort to move the station from CSX Transportation property to city-owned land — had been jacked […]

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NJ Transit approves contract for almost $35 million overhaul of diesels in ALP45 locomotives

An NJ Transit Bergen County Line train

NEWARK, N.J. — The NJ Transit board of Directors on Wednesday approved a $34.85 million contract for overhauls of the diesel engines in its fleet of ALP45 dual-power locomotives, which the agency says is needed for the locomotives to maintain their EPA Tier III emission standards. “Keeping our trains in a state of good repair […]

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Pennsylvania approves $26 million in funding for freight rail projects

Logo of PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania State Transportation Commission has approved $26 million in state funding for 24 freight rail infrastructure projects — receiving amounts ranging from $119,000 to $3 million — under the Department of Transportation’s Rail Transportation Assistance Program and Rail Freight Assistance Program. “These investments in Pennsylvania’s rail system create jobs, support efficient […]

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Metrolink brings back Rose Parade service

LA_UnionStation_2_Lassen

LOS ANGELES — For the first time since 2020, LA-area commuter rail operator Metrolink will offer early-morning service for those planning to attend the Rose Parade in Pasadena, set for Jan. 2, 2023. Trains will be just $10 with a special Holiday Pass. Trains will operate to LA Union Station on the Ventura County, Antelope […]

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