LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec —Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra made an unannounced visit to the Lac-Mégantic area late last week, facing continuing resistance to some land acquisitions needed to reroute Canadian Pacific’s line around the community devastated by a 2013 derailment and fire. In a statement released after the visit on Thursday, Jan. 19, Transport Canada said […]
Railroad: Canadian Pacific
Union Pacific, rail labor remain in mediation over ground-based conductor test program (updated)
The union representing conductors has thus far refused to participate in a pilot program Union Pacific wants to run to test the concept of shifting conductors to ground-based positions, The Associated Press reports. But UP remains in mediation with two SMART-TD committees and negotiations are ongoing about the proposed pilot program, railroad spokeswoman Robynn Tysver […]
Environmental review holding up final decision on Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger (updated)
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board’s final decision on the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger has been delayed and likely won’t come until late February at the earliest. Today was the statutory deadline for the board to issue its decision on the first merger of Class I railroads in more than two decades. But […]
TSB to investigate Canadian Pacific derailment in Saskatchewan
CHAPLIN, Saskatchewan — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is sending a team of investigators to examine a Canadian Pacific derailment that occurred early Monday morning in Chaplin, Sask., Global News reports. The derailment, shortly after midnight, involved 47 railcars and 95 containers, according to preliminary information. No hazardous materials were involved, CTV News reports; […]
Lac-Mégantic residents appeal decision finding CP not liable for 2013 disaster
The plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit by residents of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, are appealing a December Superior Court decision that found Canadian Pacific was not liable in the 2013 oil-train disaster that killed 47 people in the community. The Canadian Press reports that the three individuals involved the suit, on behalf of some 4,500 members of […]
CP, Canadian mechanical workers reach contract agreement
CALGARY — Canadian Pacific and Canadian union Unifor have reached agreement on a new contract for approximately 1,200 mechanical employees, the two parties announced today (Friday, Jan. 13). The previous agreement had expired on Dec. 31, 2022. Terms of the agreement were not announced. Both parties said details would be released following ratification. The workers, […]
No injuries reported in collision between CP train and hi-rail vehicle
KAMLOOPS, British Columbia — No injuries were reported after an apparent head-on collision between a Canadian Pacific train and a CP hi-rail pickup truck Thursday morning near Kamloops. Video on the CFJC-TV website shows the truck was destroyed by fire. Chief Ken Uzeloc of Kamloops Fire Rescue told the station that first responders arrived to […]
CP train derails in Alberta
TABER, Alberta — Eleven cars of a Canadian Pacific freight train were reported to have derailed early Wednesday morning near the town of Taber, CTV News reports, leading to lane closures on adjacent Provincial Route 3. No injuries were reported and no hazardous material were involved, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Traffic on […]
Top 10 stories of 2022: No. 10, alternative-power locomotives
Today, we begin our countdown of the Trains News Wire Top 10 stories of 22, as determined by a vote of Trains editors, columnists, and masthead correspondents. Up today, stories Nos. 10 and 9. The railroad industry’s search for alternatives to diesel-electric power continued to move forward in 2022, with manufacturers and railroads making inroads […]
Year in review: CP-KCS merger bid navigates regulatory process
Trains News Wire continues our review of the top stories of 2022. We’ll count down the Top 10 stories of the year, as voted on by Trains editors, columnists, and correspondents, beginning Dec. 26. As a prelude, we’ll be looking at major stories that didn’t make that list. Today: The freight rail industry. How the […]
CP Holiday Train raises more than $1.3 million, collects more than 121,000 pounds of food
CALGARY — The Canadian Pacific Holiday train raised more than C$1.3 million and collected at least 121,000 pounds of food for local food banks during its 2022 season, the railroad said Thursday. Final numbers are still being calculated from the trips by the two trains that operated across the U.S. and Canada between Nov. 23 […]
Mishandling of air brakes led to three-train Minnesota accident, NTSB says
WASHINGTON — Improper handling of train air brakes by the engineer of a Canadian Pacific train was the cause of a three-train accident in St. Paul, Minn., in August 2021, the National Transportation Safety Board has determined. The accident report, issued Dec. 8, covers an Aug. 25 incident that saw the CP train strike a […]