More Tuesday morning rail news in brief: Judge rules against conductors’ effort to stop new Metro-North schedule A federal judge has rejected an effort by the union for Metro-North Railroad conductors to delay the railroad’s new schedule, which took effect Monday. The Rockland/Westchester Journal News reports that U.S. District Court Judge Ronnie Abrams ruled late […]
Investigations begin into cause of UP derailment, explosion
Monday morning rail news in brief: Investigations begin into UP derailment, explosion, fire Investigators from the Federal Railroad Administration, Union Pacific, and Wyoming Department of Transportation have all begun work to determine the cause of Saturday’s derailment, explosion, and fire involving a Union Pacific train near Rock Springs, Wyo. SweetwaterNow.com reports the fire involving cars […]
Florida East Coast brings rocket boosters to NASA
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — For the first time in 10 years, Florida East Coast Railway has handled a train of NASA rocket boosters bound for Kennedy Space Center. Friday’s move of FEC’s “NASA-12” extra brought the Northrop Grumman solid rocket boosters for the Space Launch System Artemis 1, the first of an estimated nine such […]
EU sets deadline to rule on Alstom-Bombardier deal
Monday midday rail news in brief: EU to decide on Alstom-Bombardier deal by July 16 European Union regulators have set a July 16 deadline to decide whether to approve Alstom’s acquisition of Bombardier’s rail division, Reuters reports. The deal, an effort to strengthen Alstom’s ability to compete with China’s CRRC, the world’s largest rail equipment […]
Amtrak plans triweekly service for almost all long-distance trains as of Oct. 1
WASHINGTON — Amtrak plans to reduce most long-distance trains to three-day-a-week service as of Oct. 1, according to an internal message obtained by Trains News Wire. In an internal “Service Update,” Amtrak Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and Revenue Service Officer Roger Harris told employees today that the goal would be “to restore daily service […]
UP derailment in Wyoming leads to explosions, fire
Sunday morning rail news in brief: Explosions, fire follow derailment of UP train in Rock Springs, Wyo. A Union Pacific derailment led to explosions and a wildfire near Rock Springs, Wyo., on Saturday, as the 26 cars that derailed included multiple cars of liquefied petroleum gas and alcohol, according to a report from the Sweetwater […]
Metro-North conductors sue, claiming health risk from crowded trains
Friday midday rail news in brief: Metro-North conductors sue over crowded trains Conductors have filed suit against Metro-North, saying their health is at risk because of increasingly crowded trains increase the possibility of contracting COVID-19. The Poughkeepsie Journal reports the suit was filed Thursday in federal court by the chairman of the Association of Commuter Rail […]
Benjamin Tarbutton Jr., veteran Georgia shortline executive, dies
Longtime Georgia short line executive Benjamin Tarbutton Jr. dies Benjamin Tarbutton Jr., who spent 65 years at his family’s short line, the Sandersville Railroad Co. in Sandersville, Ga., has died at the age of 90. Tarbutton, a U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Korean War, served at president, vice president, and director during […]
Reassessment finds more rider support for Massachusetts East-West rail plan
More Thursday morning rail news in brief: Ridership estimates improve for Massachusetts East-West rail, but still short of federal funding threshold A long-proposed rail service between Boston and Springfield, Mass., could attract more riders than previously estimated — but still not enough to qualify for federal funding, according to Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack. The […]
Maine museum begins fundraising to build new locomotive
ALNA, Maine — The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum has kicked off a fundraising campaign to build a new steam locomotive. The new machine, No. 11, would be a faithful reproduction of the original railroad’s No. 7, a 1907 Baldwin 2-4-4RT Forney. No. 7 was damaged in a roundhouse fire in 1933 and was […]
Austin approves transit expansion plan
Thursday morning rail news in brief: Austin approves ‘Project Connect’ transit plan The Austin, Texas, city council and board of transit agency Capital Metro on Wednesday approved the Project Connect transit plan, a major expansion of the city’s public transportation that will include three new light rail lines — with a subway section in downtown […]
Durango & Silverton aims to begin operation in late June
Wednesday morning tourist and museum news in brief: Durango & Silverton says it can operate profitably at 50% capacity, seeks OK to open The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad says it will be capable of turning a profit while running trains at 50% of capacity and now hopes to resume full trips by late […]