Josef Lesser, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation, died earlier this week at his home in Los Angeles. After 45 years of film production experience, Lesser, working with his wife Jo Ann, founded the organization in 1999 along with Ronald Gustafson. He passionately promoted and expanded the foundation’s mission to diligently […]
Section: News Wire
New York tunnel needs, Amtrak break-even claims questioned in hearing NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — Witnesses told a U.S. House of Representatives hearing Wednesday that investment in America’s rail infrastructure needs to be sharply increased. Six witnesses addressed the House Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee hearing titled, “Funding a Robust Freight and Passenger Rail Network,” addressing the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization. Video of the nearly 2½-hour hearing […]
Trains News Wire Digest for Thursday, March 5 NEWSWIRE
Thursday morning rail news: — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has pulled some of its new Orange Line cars from service for a third time, in this case to deal with problems with trucks on the CRRC-built cars, MassLive.com reports. The problem is with the cars’ trucks, specifically the bolster that allows the wheelset to […]
Transit, commuter rail agencies addressing coronavirus concerns NEWSWIRE
NJ Transit trains meet in Elizabeth, N.J., in August 2019. The agency is one of several increasing cleaning and disinfecting efforts because of the coronavirus. TRAINS: David Lassen Commuter railroads and transit agencies throughout North America are stepping up cleaning efforts to address passenger concerns over the Covid-19 coronavirus spreading across the continent. Among the […]
Restoration of No. 1309 replaces stolen parts; fundraising moves forward (corrected) NEWSWIRE
Fundraising continues for Western Maryland No. 1309, shown during restoration work last August. Tishia Boggs CUMBERLAND, Md. — Using funds donated by Trains magazine readers, Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has picked up the 12 drive-wheel journal boxes for steam locomotive No. 1309 to replace those stolen in an employee theft two years ago. Meanwhile, the fund-raising drive launched […]
RailcarRx says MBTA chooses company’s data analysis platform NEWSWIRE
DALLAS — RailcarRx, a leading provider of software products and services for the Rail Industry, announced that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has deployed a customized data analytics/decision support platform developed by RailcarRx to provide their operations and maintenance department with actionable information to help improve their asset lifecycle management processes. Steve Adkins, director of […]
Railroaders ascend Capitol Hill for Railroad Day NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON – Today, 450 railroad industry employees will knock on 330 doors on Capitol Hill, exercising their first Amendment right to petition their government and tell their story. The annual gathering of freight rail professionals, known as Railroad Day on Capitol Hill, was first held nearly twenty years ago. The gathering is unique as it […]
Trains News Wire Digest for Wednesday, March 4 NEWSWIRE
The Wednesday morning rail roundup: — In a significant blow to the fledgling commuter rail service, California voters in Sonoma and Marin counties have turned down a measure extending the quarter-cent sales tax that funds Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit. Approval of the measure would have guaranteed funding through 2059, the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports; without […]
US railroad traffic drops, again, for the week ending Feb. 29, 2020 NEWSWIRE
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 29, 2020, as well as volumes for February 2020. U.S. railroads originated 927,084 carloads in February 2020, down 7.3%, or 73,058 carloads, from February 2019. U.S. railroads also originated 997,683 containers and trailers in […]
Midwest Association of Rail Shippers elects new officers NEWSWIRE
New MARS President Stefan Loeb, left, is congratulated by outgoing president Tom Surma, who was honored for his leadership at the 2020 Winter Meeting in January. MARS submitted photo CHICAGO — The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) elected its 2020 slate of officers at the annual winter meeting earlier in January. The 2020 MARS […]
News Wire Digest second section for Tuesday, March 3 NEWSWIRE
More Tuesday rail news: — Following the lead of several airlines, Amtrak says it will waive ticket-change fees for travelers wishing to change plans because of concerns over the coronavirus that has killed six people in the U.S. In a statement on its website, the passenger railroad says it will waive the fees on new […]
Trains News Wire Digest for Tuesday, March 3 (updated) NEWSWIRE
Tuesday morning rail news: — Union Pacific and the city of Palestine, Texas, have been ordered to go to mediation over UP’s efforts to do away with a 150-year-old agreement requiring the railroad to keep a set number of jobs in the community. The Palestine Herald-Press reports a federal court is requiring the sites to […]
