Monday morning rail news: — Reconstruction work on the New York subway L Train tunnel between Manhattan and Brooklyn is complete, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday, and regular service will resume today — within the constraints of the current Essential Service Plan limiting Metropolitan Transportation Authority operations because of the COVID-19 virus. Work […]
Siemens Mobility donates to food banks NEWSWIRE
Monday afternoon rail news: — Siemens Mobility is making donations totaling $150,000 to food banks in 10 U.S. cities to support those in need during the coronavirus pandemic. “We have all been impacted by the pandemic and each community is working to manage through its challenges,” Marc Buncher, CEO of Siemens Mobility in North America, […]
Amtrak executives look ahead to post-virus plans NEWSWIRE
Amtrak’s northbound Hiawatha arrives in Milwaukee on time on Thursday afternoon. It was the final trip for the Hiawatha before rail service was suspended; beginning today, bus service will replace the train between Chicago and Milwaukee for at least a month because of the COVID-19 outbreak. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — Although Amtrak is in […]
Class I railroads continue COVID-19 precautions as some states loosen restrictions NEWSWIRE
CSX says it is “carefully developing plans” to allow employees to return to its headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn As some states move toward lifting business restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Class I railroads are in no rush to have their employees return to headquarters. Texas, Florida, and Georgia — home to […]
Utah legislature revives locomotive fuel tax NEWSWIRE
Friday morning rail news: — Utah’s legislature has again passed a law which would remove the exemption for locomotive fuel from the state’s fuel tax — a bill similar to one vetoed by Gov. Gary Hebert earlier this year. The Provo Daily Herald reports the funds from 4.85% tax is expected to generate about $2.6 […]
AAR data shows US rail traffic crash; automotive carloads down more than 88% NEWSWIRE
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads this week reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 18, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 403,283 carloads and intermodal units, down 23.3% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending April 18 […]
CSX, UP executives see rail growth opportunities in post-pandemic environment NEWSWIRE
A UP intermodal train heads west through Glen Ellyn, Ill., on March 8, 2020. CEOs at UP and CSX see the potential for new business resulting from changes brought by the coronavirus pandemic. TRAINS: David Lassen Potential long-term changes wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic could present growth opportunities for railroads once the health crisis passes, […]
New York MTA chief cites CDC ‘failings’ for spread of virus NEWSWIRE
Thursday morning rail news: — Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Patrick J. Foye suggested in a Wednesday news conference that the “failings” of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contributed to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which has killed at least 83 MTA workers. Specifically, the New York Daily News reports, when asked if […]
SEPTA union postpones ‘job action’ NEWSWIRE
More Thursday morning rail news: — Union members have called off today’s planned “job action” against the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, citing the involvement of Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney. Willie Brown, president of Transport Workers Union Local 234 said he remained unsatisified with SEPTA’s measures to protect employees from the COVID-19 virus, but “when the […]
Toronto transit agency to lay off 1,200 NEWSWIRE
Still more Thursday rail news: — The Toronto Transit Commission will lay off 1,000 streetcar, subway, and bus operators as a result of falling revenue because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 200 non-union employees will also be cut, while salary increases will be put on hold, overtime will be reduced, and non-essential capital projects will […]
Union Pacific expects 25% traffic decline in second quarter, suspends full year outlook NEWSWIRE
OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific expects traffic to fall 25% in the second quarter due to the economic upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, has withdrawn its earnings guidance for the year, and suspended its share buyback program amid ongoing uncertainty. The railroad, which announced improved first quarter financial results on Thursday despite a 7% […]
Amtrak to replace ‘Hiawatha’ with bus service NEWSWIRE
A southbound Amtrak Hiawatha races through Lake Forest, Ill., on Feb. 2, 2020. Amtrak will replace the lone remaining Hiawatha round trip with buses as of Friday. TRAINS: David Lassen Wednesday afternoon rail news: — As of Friday, April 24, Amtrak will replace the remaining daily Hiawatha round trip between Chicago and Milwaukee with Thruway […]