Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Nov. 16, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 501,249 carloads and intermodal units, down 8.4% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending Nov. 16 were […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Denver light rail cancellations continue ahead of board meeting NEWSWIRE
A Denver RTD light rail train approaches the University of Denver station in September 2018. The light rail system continues to be plagued by a shortage of operators. TRAINS: David Lassen DENVER — The Regional Transportation District cancelled at least 100 light-rail trips on Monday as part of an ongoing operator shortage, the Denver Post […]
Federal agency to require states to update grade crossing plans, improve safety NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao today announced significant plans to advance highway-rail grade crossing safety this week. The announcement comes as the Federal Railroad Administration hosted a grade-crossing safety summit, with remarks from FRA Administrator Ron Batory, Acting Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Steve Bradbury, and Federal Highway Administration Deputy Administrator […]
MBTA advances Franklin Line double-track project NEWSWIRE
BOSTON — The board overseeing the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has approved work on the next phases of a project to double-track its Franklin Line commuter-rail route. At Monday’s meeting, the Fiscal and Management Control Board approved a $30 million contract for second-phase work and third-phase preliminary design work. The contract went to commuter rail […]
Montana Rail Link president resigns NEWSWIRE
Montana Rail Link president Stacy Posey has stepped down after just 11 months as head of the regional railroad. Justin Franz MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana Rail Link President Stacy Posey has resigned after less than 11 months on the job. On Wednesday, MRL announced Posey was leaving for “personal reasons” and had been replaced by […]
Pressure builds for government intervention in CN strike (corrected) NEWSWIRE
MONTREAL — Political pressure is building as a strike against the Canadian National Railway enters its second day. More than 3,000 CN conductors, train persons, and yard workers walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday after the railroad and its largest union, the Teamsters Canadian Rail Conference, failed to forge a […]
Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz says US-China trade dispute has gone too far NEWSWIRE
Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz Union Pacific OMAHA, Neb. — The Trump Administration’s trade battle with China has gone too far and will do serious damage to the U.S. economy the longer tariffs remain in place, Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz says. About 40% of UP’s traffic originates or terminates outside the U.S., so trade […]
BART extension into San Jose won’t make 2019 date to open NEWSWIRE
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Bay Area Rapid Transit will miss the Dec. 31 target date for beginning operations on its Berryessa Extension into San Jose. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, which is building and will own the extension to be operated by BART, made the announcement in a Friday blog post. That post said […]
CN workers go on strike in Canada (updated) NEWSWIRE
MONTREAL — More than 3,000 Canadian National Railway conductors, train persons and yard workers have walked off the job after the railroad and its largest labor union failed to forge a new agreement before a midnight deadline. Over the weekend, the Teamsters Canadian Rail Conference issued a 72-hour strike notice against CN [See: “CN served […]
Congressman may seek to strip Amtrak of control of Chicago Union Station NEWSWIRE
U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, shown during last week’s hearing on Amtrak in Washington, may pursue legislation forcing the passenger railroad to turn over control of Chicago Union Station to Metra. Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson once again turned down a call to relinquish control of Chicago Union Station at last week’s House hearing on […]
Foster, fast-rising technology executive, departs CN NEWSWIRE
MONTREAL — Canadian National has announced the departure of Michael Foster, a fast-rising member of its executive team. Foster, executive vice-president and chief information and technology officer, will leave as of Nov. 29. The company says he is leaving for personal reasons, moving back to the United States to be closer to his family and […]
MBTA commuter on-time performance slips NEWSWIRE
BOSTON — Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter train service saw a steep decline in on-time performance in September and October, CommonWealth magazine reports. In other news Monday, the agency suffered the latest in a recent series of derailments, this time with one of the first cars in its order for new Orange Line equipment. Statistics […]