Up in June … Railfan Road: Chicago’s Cicero Avenue Roosevelt Road used to be THE Chicago railfan road. On less than a mile of viaducts just south of downtown, fans could catch passenger trains to and from many of the great Chicago passenger stations and associated coach yards. But intercity trains now only call at […]
The risk of derailment increases with freight train length, according to an academic study published today, which found that a 200-car train is 24% more likely to derail than a 50-car train. The study — by researchers from Brigham Young University, Georgetown University, and Virginia Tech — analyzed Federal Railroad Administration rail equipment accident data […]
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s Department of Transportation has announced that the state will run special passenger train to this year’s U.S. Open golf championship at Pinehurst, N.C. The “Open Express” train will run daily between Raleigh Union Station and the Pinehurst Clubhouse, near Pinehurst No. 2 golf course, during the June 13-16 tournament. The […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has announced schedule changes for some Northeast Corridor trains because of heat orders issued by CSX Transportation. A brief alert posted by Amtrak on its NEC social media feed says “CSX, the owner and maintainer of the tracks, issues heat orders notifying Amtrak that the maximum speed of passenger trains are reduced […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — Alstom is no longer working on an axle redesign for Ottawa’s light rail vehicles, previously presented as the solution to problems that have plagued the city’s Confederation line for three years. CTV News reports that a report prepared for an upcoming meeting of the city’s Transit Commission and Light Rail Transit Committee […]
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s House of Representatives has passed a bill requiring drivers to stop for all on-track equipment at grade crossings, and making the failure to do so a misdemeanor. House Bill 372, sponsored by Michele Grim (D-Toledo) and James M. Hoops (R-Napoleon), requires a driver to stop at a grade crossing if […]
MOBILE, Ala. — Members of the Mobile City Council remained focused on its potential funding obligation to support Amtrak Gulf Coast service at a Monday meeting with Amtrak representatives, WKRG-TV reports. Representatives of the passenger operator, as well as CSX, the Southern Rail Commission, and the Federal Railroad Administration were on hand for a meeting […]
EAST ORANGE, N.J. — Eight rail transit systems will receive a total of $343 million to modernize stations, improving access for passengers including those with disabilities and injuries, under grants announced today by the Federal Transit Administration. The grants, under the FTA’s All Stations Accessibility Program, were announced in an event at NJ Transit’s Brick […]
ATLANTA – Former Canadian National CEO Claude Mongeau has been appointed chair of Norfolk Southern’s board of directors, the railroad announced today. The board unanimously chose Mongeau to lead the board, which has five new members — including three who were nominated by activist investor Ancora Holdings as part of its proxy battle with the […]
CALGARY, Alberta — CPKC has released a revised schedule for the return trip of Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 and the Final Spike Steam Tour, including a new display date in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The revised schedule accommodates the planned excursion with the locomotive on June 29 between Silvis and Bureau Junction, Ill., on the Iowa […]
After making its public debut on May 18 at a Final Spike Steam Tour event in Kansas City, CPKC ES44AC No. 9375 — the first locomotive to wear the railroad’s new paint scheme — is now in revenue service. Paired with sister ES44AC KCS No. 4805, also repainted into the new scheme, the locomotive was […]
WASHINGTON — The five members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation have asked the Federal Railroad Administration to address the lack of a safety inspector for the state in the wake of the April derailment of a BNSF freight train near the New Mexico-Arizona state line that closed Interstate 40 for more than two days. The […]
