NEW YORK — Deliveries of new Bombardier subway equipment is almost three years behind schedule, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority failed to adequately oversee the manufacturer’s performance, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer reports in an audit released Monday. MTA’s $600 million contract with Bombardier Transit Corp. to produce 300 R-179 subway cars was […]
Panel’s report says ‘safety is not the priority’ at MBTA NEWSWIRE
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority equipment sits outside the Riverside Shops in Newton, Mass., in 2011. A new report is highly critical of MBTA practices saying safety is not a priority. It said the issues primarily exist with transit operations, rather than commuter rail. Scott A. Hartley BOSTON — A highly critical report commissioned in the […]
Report: CP engineer was killed when struck by another train NEWSWIRE
PORT COQUITLAM, British Columbia — The widow of a Canadian Pacific engineer killed earlier this month says her husband was hit by the moving cars of another train as he ended his work day and wonders about safety procedures in the yard where the accident happened. Kirk McLean, 56 and a 32-year veteran of the […]
Wabtec makes first test with battery locomotive NEWSWIRE
Wabtec’s GECX 6000 battery-powered locomotive shown in a consist for testing near the company’s Erie, Pa., shops. Stephan M. Koenig ERIE, Pa. — On Tuesday morning, the much anticipated battery powered locomotive from Wabtec made its first trial run on the test track near Erie. The locomotive is the first unit to rely mainly on […]
Amtrak to close Kalamazoo ticket office NEWSWIRE
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Kalamazoo will become the latest Michigan city to lose a staffed ticket office at its Amtrak station, WWMT-TV reports. The TV station reports the ticket office will close “at the beginning of 2020.” It follows similar moves East Lansing, Niles, Jackson, and Flint, which saw their ticket offices close in 2018 [see […]
Chair of House committee rips agency for allowing LNG move by rail
WASHINGTON — While the federal government gathers input on a proposal to allow liquefied natural gas to be moved in tank cars, one company has gotten a special permit to do just that. On Dec. 5, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration granted a special permit to Energy Transport Solutions LLC to move LNG […]
Police, hazardous materials crews respond to CP train derailment and fire in Saskatchewan NEWSWIRE
REGINA, Saskatchewan — Royal Canadian Mounted Police are diverting traffic away from roads near a derailment of a Canadian Pacific train in Saskatchewan. The RCMP for Saskatchewan’s Twitter account began posting shortly after 7 a.m. on the derailment and fire. A Canadian Pacific representative tells Trains the derailment happened west of Guernsey, Sask., and that […]
Railroads can gain carload traffic if they do three things, industry consultant says NEWSWIRE
NEW YORK CITY — The success of railroads in coming years will hinge on whether the industry can improve carload service enough to capture growth opportunities, transportation consultant Rodney Case told the RailTrends 2019 conference in November. “Carload is probably the step-child of the industry,” Case says, pointing to the way railroads have grown their […]
Students will ride on Montana Rail Link ‘Christmas Express’ NEWSWIRE
MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana Rail Link is giving a group of lucky students a ride aboard the “Christmas Express” this week. On Tuesday morning, the railroad will be giving a ride aboard its business train to more than 30 students from a school in Thompson Falls, Mont. The ride will feature music, entertainment and even […]
Two Illinois communities retain lobbying firm to help with Metra Kendall extension efforts NEWSWIRE
Officials in Yorkville will discuss the four possible sites for a Metra station at a Tuesday meeting. Kendall Extension Study OSWEGO, Ill. — Two communities hoping to bring Metra service to Kendall County, Ill., will retain the service of a Chicago lobbying firm to continue the effort to extend the BNSF Line service, as well […]
Vancouver prepares for SkyTrain strike NEWSWIRE
An Expo Line SkyTrain stops at the Main Street/Science World station in April 2018. The Expo Line is one of two SkyTrain routes that will be shut down by a strike beginning Tuesday. Scott A. Hartley VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Workers on Vancouver’s SkyTrain rail system are scheduled to go on strike Tuesday morning, setting […]
Orphan Talgo equipment returns to Milwaukee factory (updated) NEWSWIRE
Long-stored Talgo trainsets pass through Dyer, Ind., during Friday’s move from Amtrak’s Beech Grove, Ind., shops to Talgo’s factory in Milwaukee. Amtrak says the equipment may see “interim” use in the Pacific Northwest. James L. Burd MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Talgo Series 8 trainsets built for but never used by the state of Wisconsin have returned […]