Sunday morning rail news: — Canada is restricting domestic travel by passengers showing signs of the COVID-19 virus, such as fever, coughing, or difficulty breathing. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the rules Saturday; they go into effect Monday at noon. The Canadian Press reports that under the order issued by Transport Canada, VIA Rail Canada, […]
News Wire Digest Second Section for Saturday, March 28 NEWSWIRE
Some significant rail news for Saturday morning: — The $2 trillion coronavirus relief package passed by the House of Representatives and signed by President Trump on Friday includes expansion of railroad unemployment benefits, in addition to the previously reported financial aid for Amtrak and transit agencies [see “Trains News Wire Digest for Thursday, March 26”]. […]
Trains News Wire Digest for Saturday, March 28 NEWSWIRE
A Saturday morning update of rail operation changes because of the COVID-19 outbreak: — San Francisco’s Muni is shutting down all light rail service as of Monday, March 30, replacing the service with buses. Subway stations will be closed, except for those also used by Bay Area Rapid Transit trains. Closure of the Muni Metro […]
News Wire Digest Second Section for Friday, March 27 NEWSWIRE
— One crewman suffered a foot injury when nine auto racks of Amtrak’s northbound Auto Train derailed Thursday afternoon near DeLand, Fla. None of the train’s passenger cars derailed and no passengers were injured, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, which attributed the derailment to “a problem with the track.” The passenger portion of the […]
News Wire Digest Third Section for Friday, March 27 NEWSWIRE
Friday afternoon rail news: — The National Transportation Safety Board will make the performance of DOT-111A, DOT-117, and DOT-117R tank cars one of the focal points in its investigation of a Feb. 13 derailment of a CSX train in Draffin, Ky. The preliminary report on the accident, released Thursday, also indicates the agency will look […]
Operator killed, 17 injured in New York subway fire NEWSWIRE
NEW YORK — A subway operator has died and 17 were injured in an early morning subway fire, the New York Times reports. The fire was reported as a No. 2 train (Wakefield-241st St., Bronx, to Flatbush Ave.-Brooklyn College, Brooklyn) pulled into the 110th Street-Central Park North station at about 3:18 a.m. An off-duty transit […]
Trains News Wire Digest for Friday, March 27 NEWSWIRE
A southbound Amtrak Cascades train stops at the station at Olympia-Lacey, Wash., in June 2018. The Cascades service has trimmed another round trip from its schedule and closed the volunteer-staffed Olympia-Lacey station. TRAINS: David Lassen A Friday morning update on cuts to rail service related to the coronavirus pandemic: — As of Thursday, Amtrak Cascades […]
CN moves to protect employees, cut costs and spending during pandemic downturn NEWSWIRE
A northbound Canadian National merchandise train overtakes a local near Byron, Wis., in July 2019. With carloads down 6% this year, CN has currently furloughed 7% of its workforce. TRAINS: David Lassen MONTREAL — Canadian National will cut costs as carload volume falls amid the coronavirus pandemic, but the railway expects bulk and domestic intermodal […]
Guelph Junction Railway has record year, issues RFP for new operator NEWSWIRE
GUELPH, Ontario — Coming off the heels of a record year for carloadings, the Guelph Junction Railway is seeking a new operator for the line. A record 5,192 carloads were moved by current operator Ontario Southland Railway in 2019, a 12% increase over 2018 levels and 8% more than the last record year in 2017. […]
News Wire Digest Second Section for Thursday, March 26 NEWSWIRE
More Thursday morning rail news: — The San Jose, Calif., area’s Valley Transportation Authority has suspended light rail service indefinitely after a VTA employee tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, the East Bay Times reports. In a letter to employees posted by their union on its Facebook page, VTA general manager and CEO Nuria I. […]
Recession triggered by virus expected to take toll on rail traffic NEWSWIRE
A westbound Norfolk Southern intermodal train passes through Goshen, Ind., in March 2018. Norfolk Southern stock has dropped 45% since Feb. 19 as part of the general market selloff triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. TRAINS: David Lassen Railroads should brace for sharp traffic and revenue declines this year as the coronavirus pandemic plunges the global […]
Trains News Wire Digest for Thursday, March 26 (updated) NEWSWIRE
A Brightline train departs West Palm Beach, Fla., in 2019. The Florida passenger service has shut down indefinitely because of the COVID-19 virus. TRAINS: David Lassen Thursday morning rail news: — Florida passenger service Brightline shut down operations Wednesday and laid off 250 of its 300 employees because of the coronavirus pandemic. In an email […]