Friday midday rail news: Canadian crude-by-rail sees major drop in 2020, regulator says Canadian crude-by-rail exports fell by nearly 40% in 2020, according to the Canada Energy Regulator, which regulates the export of crude and petroleum products. The average of 172,013 barrels per day — after an average of 280,272 barrels in 2019 — after […]
Section: News
Digest: Canadian rail accidents declined in 2020, Transportation Safety Board reports
More Friday morning rail news: Preliminary statistics show decline in Canadian rail accidents in 2020 Preliminary statistics from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada show a decrease in rail accidents and incidents in 2020, numbers the agency believes were likely influenced by the impact of COVID-19 on the transportation. Numbers released as part of a […]
Amtrak seeks to start New Orleans-Mobile service in 2022
MOBILE, ALA. — Amtrak, attempting to move forward a project that has most funding in place, says it has notified host railroads CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern that it plans to start two daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., sometime in 2022. The passenger carrier announced its intentions even though a traffic […]
Digest: Canada’s Auditor General criticizes Transport Canada safety oversight
Friday morning rail news: Auditor General criticizes Transport Canada safety oversight; Transport Minister says agency will address issues Canada’s Auditor General said Thursday that Transport Canada has failed to implement recommendations included in a 2013 audit of its safety practices. The CBC reports the auditor general found the agency has improved its focus on high-risk […]
CSX files Pan Am merger application with federal regulators (updated)
CSX Transportation has told federal regulators that its proposed acquisition of regional Pan Am Railways will improve service, capture business from trucks, and boost railroad competition in New England. CSX’s merger application, posted today on the Surface Transportation Board website, also resolves a thorny issue: Who will operate Pan Am Southern, the joint venture that […]
STB decision may doom CN’s acquisition of CSX’s Massena Line
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board on Thursday said it would not reconsider the conditions it placed on Canadian National’s proposed acquisition of CSX Transportation’s Massena Line linking the Syracuse, N.Y., area with Montreal. The railroads previously said they would scuttle the deal if the board did not reconsider a condition that would permit CN […]
News Photo: COFC (Caltrain on Flat Cars)
New Stadler KISS double-deck electric multiple-unit trainsets bound for San Francisco-area commuter operator Caltrain arrive at Union Pacific’s North Yard in Denver on Tuesday, Feb. 23, from Stadler’s Salt Lake City plant. The cars were in route to the Association of American Railroads’ Transportation Technology Center, Inc., near Pueblo, Colo., to begin testing. As part […]
Weather woes lead to steep decline in weekly U.S. rail traffic
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic suffered a steep decline in the week ending Feb. 20, a week in which severe winter weather disrupted rail traffic from coast to coast. Weekly statistics from the Association of American Railroads show overall rail traffic down 21.7% for the week, compared to the same week in 2020. The 206,262 […]
Canadian National announces major changes to board governance, creation of Indigenous Advisory Council
MONTREAL — Canadian National will undertake new Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives including a commitment to diversity on its board of directors, limits on the age and tenure of board members and other restrictions, and creation of an Indigenous Advisory Council. “Over the 25 years since privatization, the company has strived to reflect best practices […]
Digest: South Dakota to sell rail route for new Watco short line
Thursday morning rail news: South Dakota to sell Mitchell-Rapid City route to Watco short line The South Dakota State Railroad Board has authorized the sale of the state-owned route between Mitchell and Rapid City to Watco’s Ringneck & Western Railroad. The Mitchell Republic reports the board authorized the state Department of Transportation to sell the […]
Digest: NS, CSX trains collide in Georgia (updated)
More Thursday morning rail news: Crew member’s medical emergency reportedly leads to NS derailment in Georgia (updated) Injuries were reported when a Norfolk Southern locomotive struck and derailed a CSX train in Augusta, Ga., on Wednesday evening. WRDW/WAGT-TV reports 17 cars were derailed of a CSX intermodal train with two locomotives and 55 cars, 42 […]
Digest: South Carolina Senate approves borrowing for port’s intermodal expansion
Still more Thursday morning rail news: South Carolina Senate approves funding for Charleston port projects including intermodal terminal After debates over parts of four days, South Carolina senators on Wednesday approved a plan to borrow up to $550 million to expand rail service at the Port of Charleston and add a barge system to move […]