WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration issued two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Dec. 19 which would allow railroads to change how they inspect track and train brake systems. Officials say the changes will “promote safety innovation and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.” “It’s time to modernize existing regulations to permit methods of inspecting, testing, […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has awarded more than $2.7 million in grants to nine projects as part of its Industrial Rail Access Program to improve rail and freight access. Applicants must match the public funds with private funding that pays at least 40% of the project’s total cost. The projects approved Monday […]
TORONTO — The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference is suing Canadian Pacific, alleging that the railroad is forcing employees to work beyond their hours of service in violation of a 2018 arbitration order. Reuters News reported on Dec. 20 that earlier this year the Teamsters filed a lawsuit against CP in federal court and that the […]
ROGERS PASS, British Columbia — A Canadian Pacific train derailed after being struck by an avalanche over the weekend. At 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 21, a CP intermodal train was struck by an avalanche on Rogers Pass in British Columbia’s Glacier National Park. Seven cars derailed in the incident and no one was injured, spokeswoman […]
Metra trains meet in Western Springs, Ill., in November 2019. The commuter railroad is inviting riders to participate in a survey on possible amenities in new railcars that could replace the familiar bilevel gallery coaches. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Metra is seeking customers’ opinions on features of new railcars it expects to order soon. […]
WASHINGTON — Programs at the University of Illinois and Michigan Tech are the 2019 recipients of the National Rairload Construction and Maintenance Association’s Educational Grant Program. The Rail Transportation and Engineering Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign plans to use its grant funds for outreach and recruiting of grade K-12 students that demonstrate […]
MEXICO CITY — Kansas City Southern, rail company Ferromex, and bus company Autobuses de Oriente have already expressed interest in operating Mexico’s Maya train project, even though construction has not yet begun, according to Latin America business site BNamericas. The $6.3-billion project would build a 900-mile tourist route on the Yucatan Peninsula, connecting archaeological sites, […]
An LA Metro A Line train traverses the rebuilt junction at Flower Street and Washington Boulevard, a longstanding bottleneck on the line to Long Beach. Dan Zukowski New electronic signage on the A Line offers updates on service, as well as local maps to help passengers navigate station areas. Dan Zukowski LOS ANGELES — The Nov. […]
An eastbound Canadian rolls through northern Ontario near Sioux Lookout on Oct. 15, 2018. The westbound Canadian arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia, some 27 hours late on Monday, delaying the return trip until Tuesday. Bob Johnston VANCOUVER, British Columbia —Mechanical issues, not Canadian National dispatching decisions, caused VIA Rail Canada’s transcontinental flagship Canadian to finally […]
A CSX derailment in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., sent two cars into the Potomac River and knocked down a pedestrian bridge that is part of the Appalachian Trail. National Park Service/T. Troxel HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — A CSX freight train derailed on a bridge over the Potomac River derailed early Saturday morning, sending two cars into […]
CHICAGO — Union Pacific’s desire to get out of the business of operating Metra commuter trains has landed in federal court. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that UP filed suit earlier this week. The exact nature of the dispute is unknown, since the filing is sealed at UP’s request, and neither side provided details in response […]
Boxcar bliss: Menards has expanded its growing roster of O gauge freight cars with a pair of boxcars. The nos. 279-5341 Erie Lackawanna and 279-5343 J. Shepherd & Sons have, among other features, sliding doors and are listed at $19.99 each plus shipping. You can also select free shipping to a local Menards store. Order […]
