Digest: Fire extinguished at site of BNSF derailment in Texas

BNSF logo

Wednesday midday rail news: Fire out at site of BNSF derailment; line expected to reopen tonight The fire at the site of Tuesday’s BNSF Railway derailment in Cameron, Texas, has now been extinguished, the National Post reports, citing information from the railroad. In a customer advisory, the railroad said it anticipates reopening the section of […]

Read More…

Federal appeals court overturns FRA decision on crew size (updated)

FRA logo

SEATTLE — A federal appeals court has overturned a Federal Railroad Administration decision on train crew size, saying the agency’s decision to withdraw a proposed rule requiring two-person crews has a “real and intended effect … to authorize nationwide one-person train crews and to bar any contrary state regulations.” Calling that decision “arbitrary and capricious,” […]

Read More…

Digest: Transport Canada issues updated rules on winter operations, hazardous-material trains

Transport Canada logo

Canadian government revises rules for winter operations, hazardous-material trains The Canadian government has revised rules regarding winter operation and hazardous material trains, updating rules first issued in response to derailments in 2020. The rules announced by Transport Minister Omar Alghabra will: — Define “higher risk key trains” as those carrying large quantities of crude oil […]

Read More…

MBTA to preserve late-night commuter rail service, redesign schedules to reflect ‘regional rail’ approach

MBTA logo

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has decided to maintain late-night commuter rail service on weekdays, and is planning a new round of schedule changes this spring that will be “closer to regional rail,” according to MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. The Boston Globe reports MBTA officials told the Fiscal and Management Control Board […]

Read More…

Digest: Union approves one-year extension of Denver RTD contract

Denver_RTD

Union approves one-year extension of contract with Denver RTD The largest union representing employees of Denver’s Regional Transportation District has voted by a 90%-10% margin in favor of a one-year extension of its current contract. The website Colorado Politics reports Amalgamated Transit Union Local 101, which represents approximately 2,300 rail and bus operators and other […]

Read More…

Digest: Court rules against railroads in fuel-surcharge case

Trains Magazine placeholder image

Judge rules against railroads on evidence in fuel-surcharge case A federal judge has denied a request by four Class I railroads to exclude certain evidence from a long-running case over fuel surcharges that involves more than 200 major shippers. The motion by BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific contended that federal law permits limited […]

Read More…

Digest: Longmont, Colo., council to consider legal options over RTD commuter rail project

Denver_RTD

Longmont, Colo., city council to meet on legal options regarding Northwest Rail project The Longmont, Colo., city council is planning a closed-door meeting Tuesday to consider the city’s legal options to push Denver’s Regional Transportation District to commit to building a long-planned, much-delayed commuter rail line to the community. The Longmont Times-Call reports the executive […]

Read More…

Digest: BNSF, UP update recoveries from winter weather

BNSF logo

BNSF, UP update recovery efforts from winter weather The most recent updates from BNSF Railway and Union Pacific as they recover from last week’s severe weather: — BNSF notified customers in a Friday update that it would take some time to clear traffic backlogs, particularly on the southern portion of the railroad, while all four […]

Read More…

Digest: East Troy Electric Railroad sets 2021 operating schedule

Trains Magazine placeholder image

East Troy Electric to begin season March 27; regular operations start April 24 The East Troy (Wis.) Electric Railroad has announced its 2021 schedule of regular operations and special events, opening the year with health measures including pinpoint ionizations for air filtering, socially distant seating, and mask. The first special-event trains of the year will […]

Read More…