VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Tristan Armstrong, son of founder Peter Armstrong, has been named as the new CEO of luxury tour train company Rocky Mountaineer. The younger Armstrong has served on the board of the family-owned company since 2016 and has previously worked in several operations and guest experience roles for Rocky Mountaineer. He is […]
Train Topic: Rail Industry
Randall named as new CEO of FreightCar America
CHICAGO — Railcar manufacturer FreightCar America Inc. has announced Nicholas J. Randall will be promoted from chief operating officer to president and CEO, effective May 1. Randall will succeed James R. Meyer, who will become executive chairman of the company’s board of directors. The current board chairman, William D. Gehl, will remain on the board and […]
Homendy to be nominated to continue as NTSB chair
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will nominate Jennifer Homendy to serve another term as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, the White House announced last week. Homendy has served on the board since 2018 and has been its chair since Aug. 13, 2021, when she became the 15th chair since the agency’s creation in […]
Railroading’s new proving ground: The MxV Rail FAST test track loop
PUEBLO, Colo. — For a guy who goes around in circles at work every day, MxV Rail locomotive engineer Mike Walfoort sure gets a lot done. At the beginning of each 10-hour shift he climbs aboard an SD70M that’s on the point of a 114-car train of surplus coal gondolas. He slowly notches the throttle […]
Draft report: CSX and CPKC acquisition of G&W short line would have no environmental impacts
WASHINGTON — CSX and CPKC’s proposed acquisition of Genesee & Wyoming short line Meridian & Bigbee will have no significant environmental impacts, federal regulators said in a draft environmental assessment released today. The Class I railroads aim to link their systems — and create a new through route connecting the Southeast with Texas and Mexico […]
Cincinnati Southern sale completed
CINCINNATI — The city of Cincinnati’s sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway to Norfolk Southern has been completed. Paul Muething, president of the Cincinnati Southern board of trustees, said in a statement available on the railway website that the board received the $1.6 billion payment from NS, plus $20 million in deferred transaction fees, on […]
Gulf Coast impasse at Mobile remains unresolved: Analysis
WASHINGTON — Parties in the settlement intended to lead to the start of Gulf Coast passenger service said in a status report to the Surface Transportation Board that negotiations between Amtrak and the city of Mobile for a lease of downtown city land “are continuing to move forward.” The report filed Friday by Amtrak, Norfolk […]
Norfolk Southern adds communications, compliance officers
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has named Betsy Talton-Buck as vice president and chief communications officer, and Angie Kolar as vice president and chief compliance officer. The appointments, announced Friday, March 15, are effective on Tuesday, April 9. Both positions report to Nabanita Nag, executive vice president, corporate affairs and chief legal officer. Talton-Buck was previously […]
MBTA announces April maintenance shutdowns for transit, commuter rail lines
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s ongoing efforts to eliminate slow orders on its rail transit system will continue with shutdowns on the Orange, Blue, and Red lines in April, the agency has announced. Also planned are shutdowns on several commuter rail lines, one of which will last for nine days. More complete details […]
Metra schedules meeting on plans for new Woodstock yard
WOODSTOCK, Ill. — Metra will hold an open house meeting in Woodstock on Thursday, March 21, to discuss plans for a new layover yard for the Union Pacific Northwest Line planned near the community in McHenry County, The meeting will be Thursday, March 21, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Woodstock Opera House […]
More than 30 rail-related projects receive funding under federal ‘Reconnecting Communities’ program
WASHINGTON — Some 33 rail-related projects are among those receiving $3.3 billion in funding under the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Grant Program announced earlier this week by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The program seeks to address rail lines, highways, or other transportations that create barriers within communities, improving access to daily needs such as […]
Canadian government provides $6.7 million for improvements at Port of Thunder Bay
THUNDER BAY, Ontario — The Canadian government will provide up to C$6.7 million for two projects to increase capacity at the Port of Thunder Bay, according to a Friday announcement. Up to C$3 million will go to a project to redevelop an existing rail yard at the Port’s Keefer Terminal, adding heavyweight track and switches […]