Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Nov. 9, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 515,269 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.9% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending Nov. 9 were […]
In a photo taken from a video feed, Rail Passenger Association President Jim Mathews holds up his “survival pack” for long-distance Amtrak travel during Wednesday’s House hearing. Bob Johnston An Amtrak San Joaquin heads south from Madera, Calif., on Oct 21, 2019. The executive director of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority expressed her frustrations […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Canadian National continues to cut costs in the face of rapidly weakening freight demand across virtually all types of traffic. On a revenue ton mile basis, CN’s volume has slumped 12% to 13% over the past two weeks amid a traffic downturn that is affecting the entire rail industry, Janet Drysdale, vice […]
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte City Council has approved a $50 million study of the proposed Silver Line extension of its LNYX light rail system. The study will take two to three years, preparing for a project that may not begin construction until 2027 and begin service in 2030. WCNC-TV reports the council voted 8-2 […]
Canadian National has donated this SW1500 to the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay. The railroad gave the locomotive a full overhaul prior to the donation; the museum then repainted it into its current scheme. National Railroad Museum GREEN BAY, Wis. — Canadian National has donated an SW1500 locomotive to the National Railroad Museum in […]
WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Tuesday announced 55 projects in 35 states which will receive funding under the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grants, with funding totaling $900 million. Half of the funds were awarded to projects in rural areas, with a maximum award of $25 million for a single project and no […]
BOSTON — Keolis Commuter Services, operator of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter trains, says it is investigating a Tuesday incident in which a packed train operated with one coach door open. WHDH-TV reports that a commuter on the Middleboro-bound train from Boston’s South Station tweeted that “there were people holding on for their life … […]
An inbound Metro-North train approaches the Park Avenue Tunnel on its way to Grand Central Terminal. Metro-North’s president outlined positive train control progress and other improvements under the railroad’s Way Ahead program at a Tuesday meeting. Ralph Spielman NEW YORK — Metro-North President Cathy Rinaldi offered a favorable report on efforts by her railroad and […]
MCPHERSON, Iowa — BNSF Railway crews are working to re-open a stretch of Iowa main line closed early Wednesday after a derailment in the western part of the state. According to a BNSF service advisory, a train derailed near McPherson about 3:30 a.m., blocking the main line. A railroad representative did not respond to a […]
Nine decommissioned HHP-8 locomotives cross a highway in Bear, Del., in an March 27, 2017, work-train move from Amtrak facilities in Bear to the company’s Wilmington, Del., shops. Amtrak is being sued over the lease contracts for eight of its 15 HHP-8s. Michael S. Murray NEW YORK — Two investment groups are suing Amtrak over […]
CHICAGO — An Amtrak worker has died in an industrial accident at the passenger railroad’s yard south of Chicago Union Station. CBS-2 Chicago reports that the accident happened on Saturday. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office said the worker, whose identity has not been released, died of multiple blunt-force injuries. No other injuries were reported; […]
SACRAMENTO — The California High-Speed Rail Authority has completed the environmental review process for the 23-mile from Shafter, Calif., to Bakersfield, allowing the authority to move toward construction into Bakersfield. The process required more than 100 stakeholder meetings, 17 public and technical-group meetings, and 15 monthly meetings coordinating regulatory agencies. More details are available here. […]
