And still more Monday morning rail news: Fire damages former Nickel Plate roundhouse in Indiana Fire damaged a former Nickel Plate Road roundhouse in Frankfort, Ind., on Sunday. WTHR-TV reports firefighters responded to a blaze about 10 a.m. at the abandoned structure on property now owned by Norfolk Southern; as they brought that fire under […]
Digest: Amtrak Talgo trainsets moved to Beech Grove for storage (updated)
Monday morning rail news: Amtrak Talgo sets moved to Beech Grove for storage Two Amtrak-owned Talgo Series VI trainsets moved from Washington state to Amtrak’s Beech Grove, Ind., shop complex this weekend for storage following their retirement from use in Amtrak Cascades service in the Pacific Northwest. Ultimate disposition of the Mt. Hood and Mt. […]
Drew’s Trackside Adventures: Episode 43 Goin’ to Kansas City
Tag along with MRVP’s wily, witty host Drew Halverson, as he first travels westward aboard Amtrak’s Southwest Chief between the Windy City and Kansas City! Upon arrival in the Show-Me State, Drew, KJ, and Sherpa Al form a nimble crew that’s ready to roll to historic, yet active railroad sites — both within […]
With ridership slow in returning, Metra considers next moves during pandemic
CHICAGO — With Metra ridership still at just 9% of pre-COVID-19 levels, the Chicago-area commuter railroad continues to seek a path to operational and financial stability. “The road to recovery is still unknown,” said Bruce Marcheschi, Metra’s chief operating officer, speaking at an online conference hosted by the American Public Transportation Association. Future passenger counts […]
Q&A: CP executive on changes in international intermodal
“The Big Shift,” an article in the October 2020 issue of Trains, is an in-depth look at the shift of international intermodal traffic from the U.S. West Coast to ports on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast, as well as to ports in Western Canada. Canadian Pacific, which serves the Port of Vancouver, has […]
Digest: Vandalism could force curtailed service on New York subway line
More Friday morning rail news: NYC Transit subway line could see service cuts because of vandalism Vandalism on New York City Transit’s 7 Train subway has become so extensive that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority may be forced to cut service on the line because of a glass shortage. The New York Daily News reports 39 […]
Digest: Illinois Railway Museum sets special events for September
Friday morning rail preservation news: Illinois Railway Museum sets two weekends of special events The Illinois Railway Museum, which reopened in July with special COVID-19 precautionary measures, is planning two weekends of special events in September. Labor Day weekend will feature night train operations until 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 5-6, and J. Neils Lumber Shay […]
Trains, August 2020
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Digest: Watco makes bid for one South Dakota rail line; current operator to buy another
Thursday morning rail news: Watco offers to buy state-owned route in South Dakota; state agrees to D&I purchase of Sioux Valley line Shortline holding company Watco is willing to pay up to $13 million to buy a line between Mitchell and Rapid City, S.D., from the state of South Dakota, a Watco representative told the […]
News Wire Digest second section for Aug. 20: Report says Amtrak oversight problems led to Moynihan station issues; Metra extends sale of $10 pass
More Thursday morning rail news: Metro-North, Long Island RR reach PTC milestones Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road have reached significant milestones in positive train control implementation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced. Metro-North has operability on 100% of its rail lines, while all Long Island equipment is now PTC equipped. Metro-North still needs […]
Analysis: Loss of connections will make Amtrak restoration thresholds difficult to achieve
CHICAGO — Two key documents released by Amtrak last week — the schedule for triweekly operation of long-distance trains to take effect in October, and the benchmarks for restoration of those trains to daily operation — can, taken together, show how difficult it will be for trains to achieve the measurements necessary to increase service. […]
Unions, passenger groups offer support to Metra in dispute with UP
WASHINGTON — A coalition of unions and passenger groups has filed a statement with the Surface Transportation Board supporting Metra’s request for a preliminary injunction to require Union Pacific to continue operating commuter service on three Chicago-area routes. The statement filed Tuesday notes that the STB has said it will hold ruling on Metra’s quest […]
