The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has transferred many of its short line and regional railroad members into a new National Division and raised the profile of small railroad members in the largest U.S. railroad union. The move follows the BLET’s decision at its 2018 Fourth National Convention to expand organizing activities on short […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Chicago mayor opposes plan for expanded Metra service to South Side NEWSWIRE
A Metra Electric train departs the 47th Street/Kenwood Station in May 2019. Chicago’s mayor has come out against a plan that would lower fares and increase service on the Electric and Rock Island lines, saying it would hurt Chicago Transit Authority ridership. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot has come out against a […]
Farm at iconic Helmstetter’s Curve is for sale NEWSWIRE
Western Maryland Scenic No. 734 pulls a photo freight through Helmstetter’s Farm around the iconic horseshoe curve. Kevin Gilliam CORRIGANVILLE, Md. — One of the best-known railroad landmarks east of the Mississippi and one of the most frequently-photographed locations along the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is for sale. The iconic Helmstetters’ Farm, located in Corriganville, […]
In rare public appearance, Amtrak’s Anderson delivers familiar themes NEWSWIRE
Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson discusses his vision for the passenger railroad during a Thursday appearance at a travel industry conference in New York. Ralph Spielman NEW YORK — Amtrak President and CEO Richard Anderson made a rare public appearance Thursday at the Skift Global 2019 Travel Industry Conference, voicing many of the themes that have […]
MBTA to begin Foxborough service in October NEWSWIRE
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — After a five-month delay, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is scheduled to begin a pilot program of commuter rail service to Foxborough on Oct. 21. The 11-month trial, approved last November, was originally slated to begin in May [see “MBTA to begin Foxborough service on trial basis,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 30, […]
UPDATE: Wabtec closing Idaho-based Motive Power; shifting jobs and work to Pennsylvania NEWSWIRE
ERIE, Pa. — It seems the struggles of the former GE locomotive plant in Erie have come to an end and now it may have a brighter future with an announcement that Wabtec intends to move its Motive Power Industries operation to the Erie Plat plant. The announcement was made Wednesday that it will be […]
N&W No. 611 will head to Spencer after Strasburg NEWSWIRE
N&W 611, shown at Jamestown, N.C., in September 2018, will move to N.C. Transportation Museum after its tour at Strasburg, Pa. Trains: Jim Wrinn SPENCER, N.C. — Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611, restored to life at the N.C. Transportation Museum in 2015, will return to Spencer in 2019 for special events this fall […]
San Francisco-area transit agencies to study fare integration NEWSWIRE
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco-area transit agencies will study the possibilities of integrating their fares to reduce commuting costs. The San Francisco Examiner reports that the Clipper Executive Board, representing transit executives from the region, has approved the study, which will take 12 to 14 months. The $599,839 cost will be covered by residual funds from […]
Will new PSR railroads follow Canadian National’s intermodal growth path? NEWSWIRE
LONG BEACH, Calif. — The impact of scheduled railroading on Canadian National’s intermodal network 15 years ago may show the path CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific will follow as they embrace the operating model of the late E. Hunter Harrison. CN slashed low-margin services, shut terminals, and shed volume while […]
AAR: All traffic except automobiles and parts were down for the week of Sept. 14 NEWSWIRE
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Sept. 14, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 526,734 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.8% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending Sept. 14 were […]
Amtrak opens new locomotive shop in Seattle’s Sodo district NEWSWIRE
SEATTLE — Amtrak has begun maintaining and repairing locomotives at a recently opened, $32 million service station in Seattle, just south of King Street Station. The 330-foot-long, 55-foot-high repair shop will work on locomotives used on Amtrak’s Cascades service, the Empire Builder, and Coast Starlight, as well as locomotives used on Sound Transit’s Sounder commuter […]
Bombardier to build new cars for GO Transit NEWSWIRE
TORONTO — Ontario transit agency Metrolinx has announced it will buy 36 new bilevel railcars from Bombardier for GO Transit. The order will include 31 standard coaches and five accessible cars, and will add more than 6,000 new seats for GO Transit operations. The cars will be built at Bombardier’s Thunder Bay, Ont., plant, which […]
