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 […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
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 […]
FTA offers grants for transit agencies to work on technologies to improve State of Good Repair NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration on May 28 announced the availability of $1.25 million in funding to demonstrate and evaluate innovative technologies and designs to improve the state of good repair for transit agencies. The competitive grant funds are provided through the Public Transportation Innovation Program. A Notice of Funding […]
Man killed when pushed in front of Chicago L train NEWSWIRE
Friday afternoon rail news in brief: Man killed after being pushed in front of CTA train A suspect is in custody after allegedly pushing a man in front of an oncoming Chicago Transit Authority train, which struck and killed him, early Friday morning. WBBM Radio reports the incident occurred about 12:15 a.m. at the Red […]
One dead, several injured as ‘Empire Builder’ hits tractor and derails in Montana (second update) NEWSWIRE
One person is reported dead and passengers and crew were injured after the westbound Amtrak Empire Builder hit a John Deere sprayer tractor east of Wolf Point, Mont., shortly before 11 a.m. today. The Billings Gazette reports the accident occurred near Bainville at an ungated grade crossing, and that the operator of the tractor was […]
Railroads say sale of CSX Massena Line to CN may fall through NEWSWIRE
Canadian National’s already-approved purchase of CSX’s Massena Line may be in jeopardy. Canadian National WASHINGTON — Canadian National’s proposed acquisition of CSX Transportation’s Massena Line linking Montreal with Syracuse, N.Y., may fall through, the railroads told federal regulators this week. The Surface Transportation Board had previously approved CN’s acquisition of the line [see “Regulators approve […]
Trump tweets announce funding for rail projects in Arizona, Indiana, Oregon NEWSWIRE
The South Shore Line’s West Lake Corridor was among three rail projects, and 10 overall, to learn of funding on Thursday night in a series of Twitter posts from President Donald Trump. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Rail projects in Arizona, Indiana, and Oregon are among 10 transit programs informed of new federal funding in […]
Twin Cities transit shut down through weekend NEWSWIRE
Friday morning rail news in brief: Metro Transit shutdown extended through weekend, now includes commuter rail Citing safety concerns over ongoing civil unrest, Metro Transit in Minneapolis/St. Paul has extended its suspension of all bus and light rail service through Sunday, and expanded it to include Northstar commuter rail. The lone exception is the Blue […]
U.S. Sugar steam locomotive powers cane train NEWSWIRE
U.S. Sugar used its restored ex-Florida East Coast locomotive on a cane train this week to mark the end of the harvest season. U.S. Sugar More Friday morning rail news in brief: U.S. Sugar uses steam locomotive on cane train, announces plans for ‘Sugar Express’ Restored U.S. Sugar 4-6-2 No. 148, a former Florida East […]
Wisconsin electric tourist railroad re-opens May 29 NEWSWIRE
Former Chicago, South Shore & South Bend car No. 13, left, and Sheboygan Light Power & Railway No. 26 are posed in East Troy, Wis., for a nighttime photo shoot in 2017. The tourist railroad is re-opening to the public with extra health safety measures on May 29. Trains staff EAST TROY, Wis. — The East […]
Amtrak asks STB to settle dispute with Metra over Chicago Union Station, seeks more than $17 million annually (updated)
The dispute between Amtrak and Metra over Chicago Union Station is back before the Surface Transportation Board. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Amtrak has filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board asking the agency to settle its ongoing dispute with Metra over terms and compensation for Chicago commuter railroad’s use of the Amtrak-owned Chicago […]
BART sets 15-point plan to handle returning riders NEWSWIRE
Thursday morning rail news in brief: BART announces ‘Welcome Back Plan’ Bay Area Rapid Transit has introduced a 15-step “Welcome Back Plan” for riders returning to the San Francisco-area rail system after the COVID-19 lockdown, including use of long trains to accommodate social distancing, increased train frequency as ridership dictates, and a possible new seating […]