In a statement posted Wednesday on the railroad’s website, Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz addresses racial inequality underlying the nation’s recent protests and social unrest, saying it is time for the railroad, its people, and the nation “to stand up and speak out.” “The racial injustice within our country deeply saddens and sickens me as […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Miami-Dade approves negotiations over Brightline commuter rail proposal
Wednesday morning rail news in brief: Miami-Dade OKs negotiations over Brightline commuter operation While the area’s commuter railroad and mayor voiced opposition, Miami-Dade county commissioners have endorsed negotiations with Virgin Trains USA for proposed commuter-rail service on the southern end of Brightline’s route between Miami and West Palm Beach, Fla. The Miami Herald reports that […]
House committee releases new five-year transportation legislation
WASHINGTON — Members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure have released the text of a new surface transportation bill, the “INVEST in America Act,” which would authorize almost $500 billion for infrastructure. It includes $60 billion for rail projects, but would also impose significant regulations, including requiring two-man crews for most freight trains. […]
MPI work now fully relocated to Wabtec plant in Erie
ERIE, Pa. — At first glance the 111-year-old locomotive plant built by General Electric in Erie looks no different, but new signs emphasize GE is no longer part of Erie. A new era has begun. So what is happening in Erie more than a year after Wabtec took control? The biggest change includes the integration […]
Amtrak to restore one through New York-Harrisburg round trip
Thursday morning rail news in brief: Amtrak restores one full Keystone Service round trip Amtrak will restore one New York-Harrisburg round trip on its Keystone Service route as of Monday, with train No. 640, a 5 a.m. departure from Harrisburg, operating to New York while train No. 653 to Harrisburg departs New York’s Penn Station […]
NS strategy officer departs, company consolidates departmental structure
Tuesday morning rail news in brief: NS strategy officer Scheib departs; departments realigned Norfolk Southern announced Monday evening that John Scheib, executive vice president and chief strategy officer, was departing effective immediately. It also is making changes in its corporate structure, consolidating functions of its Service Optimization and Customer Engagement Division into other functions. In […]
CN sets grain movement record for May
Tuesday morning Canadian rail news in brief: CN again sets grain record Canadian National announced it had set a record for May grain movement in Canada, the third consecutive month it had set a new mark. The railroad moved 2.52 million metric tons of Western Canada grain and 2.6 million metric tons overall, surpassing records […]
Norfolk Southern service in Greensboro, N.C., stopped by protests
Monday morning rail news in brief: Protesters briefly block NS line in North Carolina Norfolk Southern suspended operations through Greensboro, N.C., Saturday night and early Sunday morning because of protesters blocking its tracks, the Winston-Salem Journal reports. Local officials contacted the railroad about 10:30 p.m. and requested that it stop traffic because demonstrators were sitting […]
CN, CP interchange dispute in Chicago drags on
WASHINGTON — The long-simmering Chicago interchange dispute between Canadian National and Canadian Pacific is bubbling over again. Both railroads continue to exchange cars at the Belt Railway of Chicago’s Clearing Yard, as they have under an August 2019 interim agreement that shifted the interchange location from Spaulding in Bartlett, Ill. But CN in April told […]
Utah railroad project seeks clearance to start construction in 2021
More Monday morning rail news: Uinta Basin project aims to start construction in 2021 The company seeking to build the Uinta Basin Railway in Utah has filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board seeking an exemption that would allow it to begin construction of the line in 2021. Board approval is typically required for […]
Port Harbor Railroad unveils units honoring first responders, veterans NEWSWIRE
The Port Harbor Railroad in Granite City, Ill., has unveiled units honoring first responders and veterans. Steve Smedley Port Harbor’s Dominic Montero, left, designed the paint schemes for the two locomotives. He was joined at the unveiling by his father, Mario, of the St. Louis Fire Department. Steve Smedley GRANITE CITY, Ill. — The Port Harbor […]
Denver transit service to downtown stopped because of protests NEWSWIRE
Saturday morning rail news in brief: RTD stops transit service to downtown Denver All bus and rail service to and from downtown Denver is shut down following a Friday decision by the Regional Transportation District to suspend operations to and from the city center because of planned protests. In announcing the move on Friday, the […]