WASHINGTON — Aside from the revelation that Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner was granted $620,000 in bonuses on top of a $500,000 salary last year, very little new ground was covered at today’s House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Rail Subcommittee hearing. The hearing, “Amtrak and Intercity Passenger Rail Oversight: Promoting Performance, Safety and Accountability,” was abruptly […]
LAREDO, Texas — With SD70ACU No. 7013 and two FP9 diesels at the head end, Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 pulled into Laredo on June 11 after recrossing the Rio Grande at the International Railway Bridge, reentering the United States. Roughly 2 weeks prior on May 30, The Empress led the three diesels and office […]
BALTIMORE — The Port of Baltimore’s main shipping channel reopened Monday. The channel had been blocked after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River, when it was struck by the container ship Dali on March 26. The reopened shipping lane will allow Norfolk Southern and CSX to resume normal intermodal operations through […]
FERNLEY, Nev. – The Port of Nevada, an inland port near Reno, is now offering international intermodal service to and from the Port of Oakland, Calif., thanks to a partnership with Union Pacific and CMA CGM Group. “Direct rail access between Reno and the West Coast significantly increases the amount of cargo freight that can […]
ROCKLAND, Maine — Loss of a freight customer that supplied more than 95% of Midcoast Railservice’s revenue on the 57-mile Rockland branch leased from Maine’s Department of Transportation has prompted the Finger Lakes Railway subsidiary to exit the property. The move upends plans the state, Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, and Amtrak had been […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority board has approved a five-year Capital Investment Plan calling for $9.6 billion in spending, covering more than 640 separate projects. The board unanimously approved the plan at its meeting on Tuesday, June 11. The plan addresses only a fraction of the agency’s projected needs over the 2025-2029 period, […]
VENTURA, Calif. — Southern California commuter rail operator will once again add service for the X Games extreme sports competition in Ventura, to be held this year June 28-30. Metrolink will offer two round trips between Los Angeles and the Ventura Downtown/Beach station on Saturday, June 29, and Sunday, June 30. Schedules and other details […]
MOBILE, Ala. — Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said Tuesday that his city’s funding obligation to support two daily Amtrak round trips could be split equally between Mobile, the state of Alabama, and the Alabama State Port Authority. As originally reported by AL.com, Stimpson announced Republican Gov. Kay Ivey had dropped her long-standing opposition to provide […]
WASHINGTON – Virginia and Charlotte, N.C., have notified federal regulators that they intend to acquire portions of Norfolk Southern main lines in order to expand passenger and commuter service. In a filing with the Surface Transportation Board this week, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority said its acquisition of the NS Manassas Line, as well as […]
WASHINGTON — In advance of a scheduled Wednesday hearing on Amtrak, two members of the House Committree on Transportation and Infrastructure have announced bills regarding the passenger operators’ governance and executive bonuses. U.S. Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-Texas), chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, has introduced the Amtrak Transparency and Accountability […]
In the Wisconsin Dells, tourism is the region’s life blood. The Riverside & Great Northern Railway, located just one mile north of the downtown area, is one destination worthy of a Grand scale visit. Yes, it is grand scale (well-known for park railroading) and operates on 15-inch gauge track, but the smaller size is fitting. […]
SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Caltrain announced plans to launch electrified service on its San Francisco-San Jose service on Sept. 21 after a final weekend of testing that included running eight trains of electric equipment simultaneously, the agency said on Monday. Electrified operation will see service between San Francisco and San Jose in less than an […]
