Amtrak’s Ray Lang speaks at Tuesday’s hearing in Chicago on commuter rail issues. To his left is Metra CEO Jim Derwinski. Others are Patricia Caslin of BNSF, John Friedmann of Norfolk Southern, and Mike Matteucci, regional director for Canadian National. Richard Wronski CHICAGO — Amtrak is rejecting a proposal to let Metra take over operations […]
SEATTLE — A Canadian transportation regulator says Canadian National violated its obligation to serve customers by imposing limitations on shipments of wood pulp last year because of congestion on the rail network as western railroads worked to move grain harvests to ports. In a statement issued Tuesday, April 16, the Canadian Transportation Agency cleared Canadian […]
Clinchfield No. 800 will lead C&O 2716 to restoration. Trains: Jim Wrinn RAVENNA, Ky. — The move of a historic steam engine this summer across Central Kentucky will now be a reunion 40 years in the making between two famed locomotives. Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp., announced today that Clinchfield Railroad F7 No. 800 will lead […]
WASHINGTON — Look no farther than positive train control to understand the motivation behind the formation of the Commuter Rail Coalition, an advocacy group for U.S. commuter rail agencies. The nation’s commuter railroads will spend $4.1 billion to implement PTC, an unfunded congressional mandate that has forced some transit agencies to delay needed repair or […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation reported record first-quarter financial results on Tuesday as revenue gains, merchandise carload growth, and improved operations overcame flat overall traffic volume. CSX’s net income rose 20%, to $834 million, as revenue rose 5%, to $3 billion. The railroad reported earnings per share of $1.02, a 31% increase that easily topped […]
No. 168 undergoes a hydro test on Tuesday under the supervision of the Federal Railroad Administration. Cumbres & Toltec Scenic ANTONITO, Colo. – Denver & Rio Grande 4-6-0 No. 168 – a 136-year-old locomotive under restoration at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic – passed a hydrostatic test on Tuesday. The successful test was witnessed by […]
INDIANAPOLIS — Odds of saving Amtrak’s Hoosier State continued to fade Tuesday as the Indiana Senate left funding for the train out of its version of the two-year state budget, the Lafayette (Ind.) Journal & Courier reports. State Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette) had said he would offer an amendment to continue the state’s $3 million […]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern reported record first-quarter revenues on Wednesday despite a 1% decline in volume that was largely due to the impact of Mexican teacher protests that shut down key routes in January and February. When adjusted for one-time items, KCS reported record first-quarter operating income of $242 million as revenue […]
CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors on Wednesday approved contracts totaling $13.6 million to two consultants to assist the commuter rail agency in purchasing locomotives and coaches. One contract, for $10 million, was awarded to STV Inc. of Philadelphia, Pa., to provide quality assurance, engineering, and administrative assistance for Metra’s planned purchase of new commuter […]
An inbound Metra Union Pacific North train passes through the Rogers Park station on April 13, 2019. Metra announced it is receiving funding for two new stations in Chicago, one of them just south of Rogers Park on the UP North line. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Metra announced today that funds from the state […]
NEW YORK — Metropolitan Transportation Authority Patrick Foye said Monday that installation of positive train control on the Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road is being delayed by “an appalling industrial performance” by a key vendor, setting up a grilling of representative of two vendors at the Metro-North and Long Island committee meeting. Almost 40 […]
WASHINGTON — Private varnish will become a rare sight at Washington Union Station for the foreseeable future as concourse modernization work limits the switching and layover of private railcars in the Nation’s Capital. Amtrak has already denied several private car trips originating in Washington Union Station as soon as early May, citing recent changes in […]
