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A CSX intermodal train negotiates the diamonds at Blue Island, Ill., in September 2019. Increased truck competition for intermodal traffic is one of many factors that has led Moody’s to downgrade its rating of the rail industry. TRAINS: David Lassen NEW YORK — Moody’s Investors Service last week described the outlook for North American railroads […]
Texas State Railroad’s Tremont & Gulf No. 30 will perform for Trains in May. Kevin Gilliam PALESTINE, TEXAS — Trains Magazine and the Texas State Railroad will offer a weekend with a 1920s steam freight train May 2-3. The event is designed primarily for photography but will also appeal to anyone interested in history, short […]
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending November 2, 2019, as well as volumes for October 2019. U.S. railroads originated 1,224,477 carloads in October 2019, down 8.4 percent, or 112,703 carloads, from October 2018. U.S. railroads also originated 1,331,944 containers and […]
Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express departs Rutland, Vt., in September 2013. Burlington, Vt., residents are expressing concerns over preparations to handle trains in their city when the Ethan Allen is extended from Rutland to Burlington. Scott A. Hartley BURLINGTON, Vt. — Burlington’s city council is requesting more information from Vermont’s Agency of Transportation about projects related […]
A crew member returns to the locomotive after lining a switch at Canadian Pacific’s yard in Bensenville, Ill. Class I railroads have formally introduced a proposal for one-man crews on road trains. TRAINS: David Lassen WASHINGTON — After hinting at it for months, Class I railroads have officially asked that single-person crews be part of […]
An RTD light rail train approaches the Aurora Metro Center station in September 2018. The Denver transit agency is soliciting public comments on possible service reductions because of a shortage of light rail and bus operators. TRAINS: David Lassen DENVER — Facing a shortage of operators that has led to light rail and bus cancellations, […]
BOSTON — The board that oversees the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has outlined its vision for the future of the agency’s commuter rail service. At a Monday meeting, the Fiscal and Management Control Board unanimously approved a series of resolutions supporting a plan to electrify some MBTA commuter lines and offer greatly increased train frequencies. […]
An late afternoon Metro-North Express No. 876 leaves Croton-Harmon station on the Hudson Line in October. Some 67 miles of the line, between Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Marble Hill, now have operational positive train control. Ralph Spielman NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad has extended positive train control operation from Croton-Harmon, N.Y., to […]
An empty BNSF coal train passes through La Grange, Ill, on Oct. 27, 2019. BNSF saw declines in coal volume and revenue in the third quarter, as well as volume declines in all other service areas, but still posted an increase in profits. TRAINS: David Lassen FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway reported higher third-quarter […]
Anthony Williams poses with the plywood replica of Southern Pacific GS-4 No. 4449 that he won at auction. Courtesy of Anthony Williams DESERT CENTER, Calif. — A 22-year-old college student has saved a piece of movie history: The full-size plywood replica of Southern Pacific “Daylight” No. 4449 that was used in the 1986 film “Tough Guys.” […]
CHICAGO – FreightCar America announced a third quarter loss of $35.7 million on Thursday, citing a business downturn, low demand for most railcar types, and declining railroad car loadings. Third quarter 2019 overall railcar industry orders are down 71 percent from the third quarter of 2018 and are off by 54 percent for the year, […]
The downward trend in rail employment continued in October. Surface Transportation Board The total number of rail jobs continues to show a dramatic decline in 2019 compared to the two previous years. Surface Transportation Board WASHINGTON — American railroads shed jobs faster than any other industry in October. The data point, contained in the Bureau […]
