Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday his government remained focused on resolving the protests that have blocked rail lines “quickly and peacefully,” but Canadian National Railway’s frustration at the ongoing protests is continuing to grow. Sean Finn, CN’s senior vice president and chief legal officer told the Globe and Mail, “This has been long […]
FRA to require risk reduction program for Class I railroads, certain short lines NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration has issued a final rule, launching the Risk Reduction Program to support an increasing standard of safety for the nation’s freight railroads. “The Risk Reduction Program will improve safety in the nation’s freight rail system,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. The final […]
NJ Transit moves to revenue service demonstration of its PTC system NEWSWIRE
NEWARK, NJ – The Federal Railroad Administration has given NJ Transit approval to begin revenue service demonstration of its positive train control system, moving NJ Transit one-step closer to meeting the federally mandated deadline of PTC certification by December 31, 2020. “Entering the RSD phase of PTC is a major milestone and a testament to […]
Norfolk Southern to lay off more people in Roanoke, move locomotive shops to Altoona NEWSWIRE
ROANOKE, Va. — More railroaders will soon be out of work after new cuts were announced today in Roanoke. According to local media reports, Norfolk Southern will close its “Roanoke Distribution Center” and move remaining locomotive shop operations to Altoona, Pa. One outlet cites a Norfolk Southern news release that attributes the workforce cuts to […]
Real estate moguls seek to pry Tennessee Pass line away from Union Pacific NEWSWIRE
Tennessee Pass proposal Surface Transportation Board filing WASHINGTON — A firm controlled by billionaire New York City real estate magnates has asked the Surface Transportation Board to order Union Pacific to sell its 228-mile Tennessee Pass route so that the historic Colorado line can be reactivated. KCVN LLC and its subsidiary, Colorado Pacific Railroad LLC, […]
Trains News Wire Digest for Tuesday, Feb. 18 NEWSWIRE
The Canadian government has modified its rules for hazardous-material trains, raising some speed limits. TRAINS: David Lassen Tuesday morning rail news: — The Canadian government has modified its order slowing trains carrying hazardous materials, raising some speed limits and adding additional rules reflecting rail-line signaling, the CBC reports. The rules issued Sunday create two categories […]
Locomotive profile: 2-6-0 Mogul type steam locomotive
Rio Grande Scenic 2-6-0 No. 1744 at Laveta Pass, Colorado, in 2002. Jim Wrinn 2-6-0 •YEARS BUILT: 1852-1929 •MANUFACTURERS: Lima, Southern Pacific, Baldwin, Pennsylvania Railroad, others •OPERATED ON: Chicago & Western Indiana, Baltimore & Ohio, Green Bay & Western, Boston & Maine, Southern Pacific, Canadian National, short lines •NAMES: Mogul, Valley Mallet •QUANTITY: 8,000; Canadian […]
Alstom reaches agreement to buy Bombardier (updated) NEWSWIRE
SAINT-OUEN, France — Rail equipment manufacturer Alstom will acquire Montreal-based Bombardier Transportation in a deal worth 5.8 to 6.2 billion Euros ($6.28-$6.71 billion), Alstom has announced. It is Alstom’s second attempt to grow in an effort to compete with China’s CRRC, the world’s largest manufacturer of rail equipment. A previous attempt to merge with Germany’s […]
Canadian rail blockades enter 12th day NEWSWIRE
Blockades of rail lines across Canada continue, with Canada’s prime minister cutting short an international trip to address the crisis, which saw new blockades develop over the weekend, and warnings of shortages and other commodities as the service disruption entered its 12th day. On Sunday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cancelled a scheduled trip to Barbados […]
News Wire Digest Second Section for Monday, Feb. 17 NEWSWIRE
More Monday morning rail news: — Canadian National has withdrawn an application to expand yard facilities in East Chicago, Ind., to handle carloads of petroleum coke from BP’s Whiting, Ind., refinery, the Times of Northwest Indiana reports. The application by CN’s U.S. subsidiary Wisconsin Central Ltd. would have allowed the railroad to fill in wetlands […]
Trains News Wire Digest for Monday, Feb. 17 NEWSWIRE
Monday morning rail news: — Amtrak service to and from Canada was disrupted Sunday by the rail blockades in that country. The Maple Leaf originated and ended in Niagara Falls, N.Y., instead of Toronto; the northbound Adirondack terminated in Albany rather than Montreal, while the southbound train originated in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Some Amtrak Cascade trains […]
As VIA, CN shut down, union joins call for end to rail blockades NEWSWIRE
OTTAWA — Freight and passenger traffic on a large part of the Canadian rail system are at a standstill today as groups protesting the construction of a natural gas pipeline in northern British Columbia continue to block rail lines from coast to coast. On Thursday, Canadian National announced it was shutting down all of its […]