CSX GP40-2 No. 6498 leads a train eastbound at Vale on the Union Pacific in River Forest, Ill., in November 2019. CSX has cut its locomotive fleet in half in the last three years. TRAINS: David Lassen JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation on Wednesday reported lower quarterly revenue and earnings as coal volume sank and […]
Former CP chairman, CEO Ian Scott dies NEWSWIRE
MONTREAL – Ian Barry Scott, former Chairman and CEO of Canadian Pacific Railway, died in Montreal April 17. He was 90. Born Feb. 2, 1930, Scott had a 45-year career with CP, culminating in being named chairman and CEO in 1985. He retired on Feb. 28, 1995, and was succeeded by Robert J. Ritchie. In retirement […]
InnoTrans trade show postponed NEWSWIRE
More Wednesday morning rail news: — InnoTrans, the massive international rail trade fair held every other year in Berlin, has postponed its 2020 edition, which had been set for Sept. 22-25. The decision follows a decree on Tuesday by the Berlin Senate banning events with more than 5,000 people before Oct. 24 because of the […]
Crash in oil prices could mean Canadian Pacific crude-by-rail traffic falls to zero NEWSWIRE
An empty Canadian Pacific oil train arrives at Bensenville Yard in suburban Chicago on March 8, 2020. CP could see crude by rail traffic drop to zero in light of the crash in oil prices. TRAINS: David Lassen CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific is bracing for the possibility that crude by rail volumes could drop to […]
Midwest Association of Rail Shippers cancels summer meeting NEWSWIRE
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. — The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers has cancelled its summer meeting, which had been scheduled for July 20-21 at Lake Geneva. “This was not an easy decision,” MARS president Stefan Loeb said in a message to association members. “We understand our members enjoy and appreciate the education and networking opportunities the […]
UP announces pay cuts for executives, unpaid time off for employees NEWSWIRE
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific executives, including the board of directors, will take a 25% pay cut and non-union employees will be required to take one week per month of unpaid leave as the railroad deals with the financial impact of the COVID-19 virus. Both moves are effective May through August. “I recognize this is […]
Vancouver’s TransLink cuts service, staff, executive salaries NEWSWIRE
Tuesday morning rail news: — Vancouver, British Columbia, transit agency Translink is laying off 1,500 workers, cutting executive pay and reducing services as it attempts to deal with losses of $2.5 million a day because of the coronavirus pandemic. Executives and members of the board of directors will take 10% pay cuts, the Vancouver Sun […]
Wilmington, N.C., to vote on engineering contract for CSX line relocation NEWSWIRE
More Tuesday morning rail news: — The Wilmington, N.C., City Council is scheduled to vote today on a $2.5 million contract for engineering work on a plan to relocate a CSX Transportation rail line out of the city and turn the existing right-of-way into a light rail system, a concept which could cost $1 billion. […]
Trains, April 2020
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Amtrak to require masks for employees NEWSWIRE
Monday morning coronavirus-related rail news: — Effective today, Amtrak will require all customer-facing employees wear a facial covering of some kind — a mask if available— and strongly encourages all other employees and passengers to wear coverings. At Friday’s employee town hall, the first hosted by new CEO William Flynn, CEO asked employees to start […]
As Earth Day turns 50, Wabtec and rail industry tout sustainability improvements NEWSWIRE
Dominique Malenfant, Wabtec chief technology officer Wabtec The railroad industry is increasingly touting its sustainability efforts and using its lower carbon footprint as a selling point as more and more shippers look to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. As the 50th anniversary of Earth Day approaches on Wednesday, April 22, three Class I railroads — […]
US Department of Transportation makes available $311.8 million for capital rail projects NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on Friday for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. “We’re committed to addressing the unmet transportation needs of rural areas, which face unique challenges in safety, infrastructure condition, and passenger and freight usage,” said […]