Bull Sheet Newswire
AMTRAK'S CITY OF NEW ORLEANS STRIKES, KILLS PEDESTRIAN IN MISSISSIPPI: Amtrak's southbound City of New Orleans struck and killed a man who was walking across the tracks in McComb, Mississippi, shortly after noon on Dec. 31. [Amtrak, 12-31-24]
SUNSET LIMITED ANNULLED SAN ANTONIO TO NEW ORLEANS: Amtrak's eastbound Sunset Limited was annulled in San Antonio on Dec. 31. The train had left its origin point Los Angeles about five and one-half hours late due to equipment issues, and was slightly later than that when it arrived into San Antonio. [Amtrak, 12-31-24]
IRON HORSE RAMBLES TO RUN ON READING & NORTHERN IN 2025: Reading & Northern Railroad will resume Iron Horse Rambles featuring steam locomotive 2102 beginning Febr. 8 with an excursion between Reading and Jim Thorpe, Pa. Remaining Iron Horse rambles will run in May, June and August. [Progressive Railroading, 12-30-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TRAINED 5,500 FIRST RESPONDERS IN 2024: Norfolk Southern trained more than 5,500 first responders across 20 cities in 2024. Training included experience with multiple types of rail cars and equipment, tank car identification, types of emergencies, response strategies and tactics. [Progressive Railroading, 12-30-24]
WABTEC ACQUIRES BLOOM ENGINEERING: Wabtec has acquired Pittsburgh-based Bloom Engineering, an industrial heating application provider. Bloom will become a part of Wabtec's freight and industrial components group. [Progressive Railroading, 12-30-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-nine percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Dec. 29, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 33 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 12-30-24]
AUTOMATED MONITOR TO DETECT WHEEL WEAR AT SPEED: Central Japan Railway has developed a device that allows the shape of wheels to be measured while trains are passing over it at up to 50 MPH. It comprises an array of equipment laid in the track, and the wheel shape is calculated with a laser light analyzing the resulting images. [Railway Gazette, 12-30-24]
NJT FILES SUIT TO BLOCK ARBITRATION IN BLET LABOR DISPUTE: New Jersey Transit has filed suit in U.S. District Court seeking an order to stop arbitration in the labor contract dispute with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen. The contract between the carrier and the union requires engineers to be paid 10.4 pct more than conductors, according to the union, but this did not happen. The union will argue that under the parties' existing contract, the money is owed, and that arbitration should be held. [BLET, 12-29-24]
AMTRAK'S CARDINAL STRIKES TREE IN VA., DELAYED OVER SEVEN HOURS: Amtrak's eastbound Cardinal on Dec. 29 struck a tree in Virginia, and this resulted in the need to change locomotives with a delay of more than seven hours. [Amtrak, 12-29-24]
BRIGHTLINE TRAIN STRIKES FIRE TRUCK AT CROSSING: A Brightline train on Dec. 28 crashed into a fire truck at a crossing in downtown Delray Beach, Fla. A freight train on a parallel track had just cleared the crossing in the opposite direction when the fire truck proceeded to cross in front of the Brightline train. Three firefighters were injured and multiple passengers had minor injuries. The Brightline locomotive was extensively damaged. [WSAZ, 12-28-24]
OVER 100 AMTRAK PASSENGERS STRANDED AT STATION WITH BOARDING GATE LOCKED: At Washington Union Station late in the evening on Dec. 26, about 110 Amtrak passengers were told to assemble at the boarding gate for the last northbound train of the day. The train arrived, but the gate never got opened. Then the train left without them. Amtrak later issued an apology for the mixup, explaining that it was due to a 'communication error.' The stranded passengers were re-booked onto trains the following morning. [Fox DC, 12-28-24]
COAL TRAIN DERAILS IN ILLINOIS: A Canadian National train carrying coal derailed about 19 cars early Dec. 27 in Thompsonville, Ill. No injuries were reported. [WMIX, 12-27-24]
AMTRAK'S FLORIDIAN ARRIVES INTO MIAMI FIVE AND ONE-HALF HOURS LATE: Amtrak's Floridian was delayed Dec. 25 over two hours by mechanical problems after it left Chicago, and was further delayed Dec. 27 in Florida from issues in striking debris on the tracks, and finally arrived into its Miami destination over five and one-half hours late. [Amtrak, 12-27-24]
NTSB RELEASES EARLY FINDINGS IN FATAL UNION PACIFIC DERAILMENT IN TEXAS: The National Transportation Safety Board has released preliminary information on its investigation into the Dec. 18 derailment of a Union Pacific train in Pecos, Texas. A truck tractor-lowboy trailer tried to cross the track at a crossing more than a minute before its trailer was struck by the train, and the equipment struck a nearby building causing significant damage. The train derailed on impact, resulting in the derailment of all four head-end locomotives and 25 intermodal wells. The train's conductor and engineer both died as a result of the collision. [Progressive Railroading, 12-26-24]
UTAH CENTRAL RWY WORKERS VOTE TO JOIN BLET: Train and engine service employees from Patriot Rail's Utah Central Railway have voted to join the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen. [Railway Age, 12-26-24]
CANADIAN REGULATOR RULES ON GRAIN ENTITLEMENTS: The Canadian Transportation Agency has ruled that CPKC was above and CN was below their respective maximum grain revenue entitlements for the crop year 2023-2024. [Railway Age, 12-26-24]
MBTA COMPLETES T-TRACK IMPROVEMENTS: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has completed its improvement of the subway T-Track and the removal of slow zones. Since work began last year, the MBTA has removed more than 220 speed restrictions. [Progressive Railroading, 12-26-24]
TRANSLINK ANNOUNCES OPENING OF CAPSTAN SKYTRAIN STATION IN RICHMOND, B.C.: TransLink this week announced the opening of its recently-built $62-million (C) Capstan SkyTrain station on the Canada Line in Richmond, B.C. This is only the second time TransLink has constructed an additional SkyTrain station to serve an existing line. [Progressive Railroading, 12-26-24]
LARGEST RAILWAY IN BANGLADESH OPENS: Bangladesh's largest railway is now officially open, stretching some 105 miles. It cuts travel time from Dhaka to Jashore from 10 hours to just three. [Xinhua, 12-25-24]
CPKC HOLIDAY TRAIN RAISES OVER $1.75-M: Canadian Pacific Kansas City said their 2024 Holiday Train program raised more than $1.75-million and collected more than 130,000 pounds of food for local food banks during its four-week journey across Canada and the U.S. [Railway Age, 12-24-24]
BNSF TRAIN DERAILS IN TEXAS, NO INJURIES: A BNSF train derailed early Dec. 24 near Brenham, Texas. Several cars came off the track, but there were no injuries reported. The accident is under investigation. [KBTX, 12-24-24]
ALVIN BROWN NAMED VICE-CHAIR OF NTSB: Alvin Brown, a National Transportation Safety Board member and former mayor of Jacksonville, Fla., has been designated by President Biden to serve as the board's vice-chair. [Railway Age, 12-24-24]
AMTRAK DISRUPTIONS DEC. 24: Eastbound Southwest Chief arrived into Chicago Dec. 24 almost two hours late, having been delayed en route by equipment issues and freight train interference. Southbound Coast Starlight was over an hour late into Los Angeles from rail congestion and weather delays. Northbound Coast Starlight left Portland almost six and one-half hours late en route to Seattle. Southbound Floridian arrived into Miami two hours and 15 minutes late due to late equipment servicing in Chicago and en route mechanical issues, rail congestion and speed restrictions. Westbound Lake Shore Limited was four hours late into Chicago, and southbound Silver Meteor was almost four and one-half hours late into Miami. [Amtrak, 12-24-24]
RAIL VISION JOINING MXV RAIL'S TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP: Rail Vision, a technology company, has joined MxV Rail's technology roadmap program, a body responsible for formulating minimum interoperable requirements and supporting development of systems to improve rail operations, safety and efficiency in North America. [Globe Newswire, 12-24-24]
FOUR-HOUR ITALIAN TRANSPORT STRIKE PLANNED FOR JAN. 10: Commuters in Italy can expect delays and cancellations due to a four-hour public transport strike on Jan. 10. Long-distance rail service is not expected to be affected. [EuronEWS, 12-24-24]
DOWNED OVERHEAD WIRES DISRUPT NORTHEAST CORRIDOR: Amtrak and commuter rail service was disrupted the morning of Dec. 22 along the busy Northeast corridor between New York and Philadelphia because of downed overhead wires. Service was resumed in the early afternoon with the opening of two of the four impacted tracks, but with residual delays which continued into the following day, Amtrak said. [Amtrak, 12-23-24]
CANADIAN NATIONAL, UNIFORM REACH FOUR-YEAR LABOR PACT: Canadian National has announced that its new four-year labor agreements with Unifor were formally ratified by employees on Dec. 22. [Railway Age, 12-23-24]
TEXAS EAGLE ANNULLED DUE TO LACK OF EQUIPMENT: Amtrak's northbound Texas Eagle was canceled Dec. 23 over its entire San Antonio to Chicago run due to equipment not being available. [Amtrak, 12-23-24]
EUROCITY BRUSSELS-AMSTERDAM PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE BEGINS: A new EuroCity Direct cross-border rail service connecting Brussels and Amsterdam began on Dec. 15. The hourly service is principally operated by Alstom Coradia Stream electric 'Wasp' multiple-units. [Railway Gazette, 12-23-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-two percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Dec. 22, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 17 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 12-23-24]
AMTRAK'S MICHIGAN SERVICE DISRUPTED BY NORFOLK SOUTHERN DERAILMENT: A Norfolk Southern derailment late Dec. 22 in northeast Indiana disrupted Amtrak Michigan Wolverine service. Eight cars of ethanol derailed while moving through Gary, resulting in a spill of about 250 gallons of ethanol from one of the cars. No injuries were reported. [Akron Railroad Club, 12-23-24]
CUYAHOGA VALLEY SCENIC R.R. TRAIN DERAILS, NO INJURIES: The last train of the season for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's 'North Pole Adventure' derailed at slow speed halfway through its trip in Peninsula, Ohio, late Dec. 21. There were reportedly 588 people on the train, but there were no injuries. [Cleveland 19 News, 12-22-24]
AMTRAK DISRUPTIONS DEC. 22: Southbound Coast Starlight was delayed more than an hour Dec. 22 in Eugene, Oregon, because of a disabled freight train blocking the route ahead. Northbound Texas Eagle was held more than three hours in San Marcos, Texas, due to a disabled vehicle blocking the tracks. Westbound Cardinal left origin point New York almost seven hours late due to residual effects of downed overhead power lines. Northbound Coast Starlight arrived into Seattle seven hours and 47 minutes late, having been delayed en route by crew availability and a disabled freight train blocking the tracks ahead. Northbound Silver Meteor was three and one-half hours late into New York from delays by downed overhead power lines. [Amtrak, 12-22-24]
DAVID FINK NAMED TO HEAD FRA: President-elect Trump has selected David Fink, a former president of Pan Am Railways, to become administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration. A fifth-generation railroader, he is the son of the late David Andrew Fink, who served as president of Guilford Transportation before it rebranded as Pan Am. [Forbes, 12-21-24]
TRAIN STRIKES VEHICLE ON LONG ISLAND: A vehicle was struck by a train on the tracks early Dec. 21 in Central Islip, N.Y., according to New York MTA. A male operating the vehicle was arrested and hospitalized. Several train delays were reported following the incident. [News12 L.I., 12-21-24]
AMTRAK DISRUPTIONS DEC. 21: Southbound Texas Eagle was annulled south of St. Louis on Dec. 21 with bus transportation provided because the train had mechanical problems. Eastbound Southwest Chief was delayed over five hours in Kansas by a freight train derailment blocking the tracks. Southbound Coast Starlight was delayed over three and one-hour hours in Portland due to a disabled freight train blocking the tracks ahead. [Amtrak, 12-21-24]
FATAL UNION PACIFIC DERAILMENT IN TEXAS: The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a fatal Union Pacific derailment that occurred Dec. 18 in Pecos, Texas. The accident occurred when the train collided with a tractor-trailer stopped on the tracks at a grade crossing. As the train derailed, it crashed into the local Chamber of Commerce building. The train's conductor and engineer both died as a result of their injuries. [Progressive Railroading, 12-20-24]
AMTRAK'S OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL FAULTS DELAYS IN PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR NEW LONG-DISTANCE TRAINS: Amtrak's ambitious long-distance fleet replacement program faces significant risks according to a report from its office of inspector general. Delays, unclear management structures and complex design requirements pose challenges. An audit highlights the inherent complexity of procuring new Superliner rail cars with untested designs and features, such as onboard elevators for passengers with disabilities. Meanwhile, Amtrak has already addressed concerns about the number of car types and designs, and expects to respond to other concerns by March. [Rail Passengers Assn., 12-20-24]
AMTRAK AWARDS CONTRACTS FOR SAWTOOTH BRIDGES PROJECT: Amtrak has chosen a joint venture to conduct pre-construction activities and other contract opportunities for the project to build three quadruple-track bridges to replace the original 1907 structures along a stretch between Newark and Secaucus Junction, N.J. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-20-24]
AGREEMENT REACHED ON OPERATION, PROMOTION OF FLYING SCOTSMAN LOCOMOTIVE: The National Railway Museum has reached agreement with Flying Scotman's custodian, Northern Steam Operations Ltd., on future arrangements for the locomotive and how the two parties will work together in the future. Productive conversations with various heritage railways have been held, and the Flying Scotsman is likely to be back in steam as early as Febr. 2025. [Rail Business Daily, 12-20-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN NAMES MICHAEL BARR VICE-PRESIDENT OF INVESTOR RELATIONS: Norfolk Southern has named Michael Barr vice-president of investor relations and treasurer. Most recently, he served a managing director for asset management firm Neuberger-Berman. [Progressive Railroading, 12-20-24]
FEDS RELEASE ADDITIONAL $250-M TO HART TOWARD SKYLINE RAIL SYSTEM: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has released an additional $250-million to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. The release was awarded as the finalized contract for the City Center guideway and stations extension package for the Skyline rail system was awarded. [Progressive Railroading, 12-20-24]
FEDS GRANT $72.8-M TOWARD FREIGHT BYPASS OF MILWAUKEE INTERMODAL STATION: The state of Wisconsin has qualified for a %72.8-million federal grant to create a CPKC double-track main line through a rail yard in Muskego. The project would allow freight trains to bypass the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, where Amtrak trains arrive and depart. [Progressive Railroading, 12-19-24]
CHICAGO TRANSIT COMPLETES 2024 REFRESH & RENEW PROGRAM WORK: The Chicago Transit Authority this year completed around $6.5-million in repairs and maintenance at 29 stations and bus turnarounds. The program was created in 2019 for state-of-good-repair for enhanced safety, security and appearance. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-19-24]
PA. GRANTS $13.1-M TO CSX TOWARD REHAB OF 25TH ST VIADUCT IN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY: The Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation has approved a $13,1-million grant to CSX toward rehabilitation of the 25th street viaduct in Philadelphia County. [Progressive Railroading, 12-19-24]
FRA AMENDS SAFETY STANDARDS FOR NEW FREIGHT CARS: The Federal Railroad Administration has amended freight car safety standards to implement a requirement included in the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act of 2021 that places certain restrictions on newly-built freight cars entering service in the U.S. The restrictions include limiting content that originates from a 'country of concern,' or is sourced from a state-owned enterprise. [Progressive Railroading, 12-19-24]
IBEW MEMBERS RATIFY LABOR AGREEMENTS WITH BNSF, CSX: Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have ratified five-year collective bargaining agreements with BNSF and CSX, but 'narrowly' rejected an agreement with Norfolk Southern. [Progressive Railroading, 12-19-24]
KEOLIS, MBTA REACH AMENDED LABOR AGREEMENTS WITH NINE UNIONS: Keolis Commuter Services, Boston's operating and maintenance partner for commuter rail, has reached amended labor agreements with an additional nine of the company's 14 unions. [Progressive Railroading, 12-19-24]
AMTRAK'S CARDINAL DELAYED BY DISABLED FREIGHT TRAIN IN INDIANA: Amtrak's eastbound Cardinal en route from Chicago to New York was delayed about three hours in Indiana Dec. 19 by a disabled freight train ahead with locomotive problems. [Amtrak, 12-19-24]
FIRST TRAIN SETS TO TYNE & WEAR METRO IN U.K. ENTER SERVICE: The first of the 46 custom-designed Class 555 train sets that Stadler is supplying to replace the Tyne & Wear Metro fleet entered passenger service on Dec. 18. Two-thirds of the train sets have now been built, and 13 have been delivered with 25 more to follow in 2025, and the rest in 2026. [Railway Gazette, 12-19-24]
PRODUCTION OF INDIA'S VANDE BHARAT TRAINS BEGINNING SOON: A Russian-backed consortium led by Transmashholding expects to begin producing India's Vande Bharat intercity train sets soon. As well as the manufacturing of 1,920 sleeping cars for operation at up to 124 MPH, the contact includes maintenance of trains for 35 years. [Railway Gazette, 12-19-24]
AMTRAK CASCADES SERVICE INTO CANADA SUSPENDED BY ROCK SLIDE: Due to a rock slide near White Rock, B.C., Amtrak's Cascades service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., is suspended for 48 hours. Buses will substitute. [Amtrak, 12-18-24]
INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED AT LAREDO: The $100-million Patrick Ottensmeyer international railway bridge construction is officially complete. The second span across the Rio Grande, linking Laredo with Nuevo Laredo, doubles CPKC's cross-border capacity, eliminating a bottleneck. [Freight Waves, 12-18-24]
BLET, BERKSHIRE & EASTERN REACH TENTATIVE LABOR CONTRACT: The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen has reached a tentative contract with the Berkshire & Eastern Railroad, a short-line using Pan Am Southern tracks and running between Mechanicsville, N.Y., and Ayer, Ma. [BLET, 12-18-24]
CALIFORNIA HSR SEEKS RAIL-RELATED SPECIALISTS IN FACE OF NEW ADMINISTRATION: The California High-Speed Rail Authority is seeking external specialists in a range of rail-related disciplines to attend a forum in January as speculation mounts about the prospects of its projects under the incoming administration. [Railway Gazette, 12-18-24]
AMTRAK REMOVES LAST OF LEFTOVER PIERS FROM 1866 RAIL BRIDGE IN SUSQUEHANNA RIVER: Amtrak has completed the removal of the last of 10 remnants of leftover piers that remained from an 1866 railroad bridge that spanned the Susquehanna River in Maryland. The project clears the way for construction of a new, high-speed bridge at that location. [Progressive Railroading, 12-18-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 526,166 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Dec. 14, 2024, up 4.8 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 2.4 pct, and intermodal was up 11.1 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-18-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN PROJECTS MARCH REOPENING OF STORM-DAMAGED LINE THROUGH ASHEVILLE: Norfolk Southern has announced its projected timeline for completing hurricane Helene cleanup on its AS line. The section running east from Newport, Tennessee, through Asheville to Grovestone, North Carolina, is now projected to reopen March 31, 2025. [Railway Gazette, 12-18-24]
RAILROADER BENEFITS LEGISLATION HEADS TO PRESIDENT FOR SIGNING: Railroad unemployment and sickness benefits will be fully-bestowed for the more than 200,000 railroad workers and their families as the REEF (Railroad Employee Equity & Fairness) Act heads to President Biden's desk for signature. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-18-24]
PASSENGER RAIL RESTARTED ON BRITAIN'S NORTHUMBERLAND LINE: Passenger rail services restarted Dec. 15 on Britain's 18-mile Northumberland line between Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Ashington. [International Railway Journal, 12-18-24]
STADLER TO SUPPLY 17 SIX-AXLE EURODUAL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES TO LITHUANIA: Lithuania's state-owned freight operator LTG Cargo has signed a contract with Stadler for the supply of 17 six-axle Eurodual electric locomotives. [International Railway Journal, 12-18-24]
LOCOMOTIVE LEASING COMPANY LAUNCHED IN POLAND: Polish leasing company OnTrain has been launched to offer central European freight operators a way to replace aging locomotive fleets, and has placed initial orders for 80 electric locomotives. OnTrain said 81 pct of Polish locomotives in service are more than 30 years old. [Railway Gazette, 12-18-24]
TRAIN BRAKING CONVEYS ENERGY TO SUBWAY STATIONS, PLUG-INS IN BARCELONA: Barcelona's subway system has developed a project whereby energy generated from the trains' brakes is used in 16 of its stations along with remaining energy sent through cables to the surface for plug-in stations for privately-owned vehicles. [AP News, 12-18-24]
TEN MILLION PASSENGERS RIDE DOWNEASTER SINCE 2001 INAUGURAL RUN: Amtrak's Downeaster celebrated the milestone of reaching 10 million passengers since its inaugural trip in 2001 with an on board party Dec. 18 between Brunswick and Wells, Maine. [Amtrak, 12-18-24]
DAILY PARIS-BERLIN HIGH-SPEED RAIL SERVICE BEGINS: A daily high-speed train service linking Paris and Berlin began Dec. 16. It is operated through a partnership of SNCF Voyageurs and Deutsche Bahn using Siemens Mobility Class 407 Vetaro D train sets. The journey time is just over eight hours using high-speed lines from Paris to Strasbourg, and from Frankfurt to Berlin. Fares are about $63 in standard-class and $73.50 in first-class. [Railway Gazette, 12-17-24]
MONTANA, WYOMING SUE TO OVERTURN RULE TO END FEDERAL COAL LEASING IN POWDER RIVER BASIN: Montana and Wyoming have filed suit against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management seeking to overturn the agency's rule to end federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin. The petition alleges that the agency's decision fails to comply with the Federal Land Policy & Management and National Environmental Policy acts. The Powder River Basin is a major source of coal traffic by BNSF and Union Pacific. [Daily Inter Lake, 12-17-24]
BNSF DESIGNATES FOUR LOCATIONS AS 'CERTIFIED SITES': BNSF has designated four locations as Certified Sites, adding to the company's catalog of rail-served sites that are ready for immediate development. They are in Everett, Spokane and Plymouth, Washington; and Springfield, Missouri. [Progressive Railroading, 12-17-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN NAMES FELISMINA DE OLIVEIRA V.P. ENTERPRISE RESOURCES: Norfolk Southern has named Felismina De Oliveira vice-president of enterprise resources. The move expands responsibilities of her previous role as assistant vice-president to include precision fuel, strategic supplier management and sourcing. [Progressive Railroading, 12-17-24]
TANCO TO EXPAND, ADD RAIL LOADING TRACK AT PORTS OF INDIANA SITE: Tanco Terminals will build an $8.2-million expansion of its liquid tank farm at Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor to support growth in Lake Michigan shipments. Tanco will add a sixth rail loading track, a new truck scale, and three storage tracks. [Progressive Railroading, 12-17-24]
EGYPT TO BEGIN RAILWAY ROLLING-STOCK PRODUCTION IN MID-2025: Egypt will begin railway rolling-stock production in mid-2025 at a new plant to be located in East Port Said. [Railway Supply, 12-17-24]
TWO PEOPLE STRUCK, KILLED BY AMTRAK TRAIN IN BALTIMORE: Amtrak's southbound Silver Meteor struck and killed a man and a woman who were on the track south of the train's stop in Baltimore on Dec. 16. [Local news reports, 12-16-24]
FEDS AWARD $290-M TO CHICAGO'S 75TH STREET CORRIDOR PROJECT: The Chicago Region Environmental & Transportation Efficiency program has been awarded more than $290-million in USDOT grants for the 75th street corridor improvement project. [Railway Age, 12-16-24]
FULTON COUNTY R.R. TO SERVE BROE GROUP'S FUTURE INDUSTRIAL FACILITY IN ATLANTA: The Broe Group has acquired a former Kellogg factory in Atlanta where it plans to develop an industrial facility served by OmniTRAX subsidiary Fulton County Railroad. [Railway Gazette, 12-16-24]
METRA'S HOMEWOOD STATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT COMPLETED: Chicago's Metra has marked the completion of the $21-million project to rebuild Homewood station and improve its accessibility. The facility serves Metra, Amtrak and Pace customers. [Progressive Railroading, 12-16-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-one percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Dec. 15, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and one minute late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 12-16-24]
AMTRAK DISRUPTIONS DEC. 16: Eastbound Southwest Chief was delayed an hour and 45 minutes in Albuquerque due to late fuel servicing. Northbound City of New Orleans was delay an hour and one-half shortly after leaving New Orleans by locomotive sensor faults. Southbound Silver Meteor was delayed more than three hours in west Baltimore after striking two trespassers. [Amtrak, 12-16-24]
NEW YORK'S G-LINE GETTING NEW OPEN-GANGWAY CARS: New York's MTA has announced a new upgrade for the G-line that travels between Brooklyn and Queens. The agency approved a massive new order, including dozens of the popular 'open-gangway' cars. The full order is for 435 new cars, 80 of them being the open-gangway cars, some of which will be on the G-line by March. [NBC4 N.Y., 12-16-24]
CHICAGO UNION STATION REDESIGN PROJECT BEGINS IN 2025: Last renovated in 1991, Chicago's Union Station will get a $418-million redesign starting next year. To increase the station's capacity and reduce train backlog, Amtrak will be reopening currently unused platforms located beneath the old Post Office, 433 W. Van Buren street. An overhaul of the main concourse is also planned. [Block Club Chicago, 12-16-24]
KANSAS SHARES COST ESTIMATES FOR EXTENSION OF HEARTLAND FLYER TO NEWTON: The Kansas Dept. of Transportation says that it will cost a minimum of $311-million to extend Amtrak's Heartland Flyer from Oklahoma City to Newton, Kansas, where passengers could connect with the Southwest Chief. Currently, the train runs from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City with five intermediate stops. The quoted cost comprehends a top speed of 55 MPH, but could cost about $573-million for a top speed of 79 MPH. [Rail Passengers Assn., 12-13-24]
STADLER'S U.S. BUSINESS TO BECOME STAND-ALONG DIVISION: Stadler's U.S. business is to become the group's stand-alone North America division beginning Jan. 1, 2025. It will be headed by the current CEO Martin Ritter. Stadler established its U.S. headquarters in Salt Lake City in 2016, enabling it to comply with the Buy America Act. Work in under way to expand the plant. [Railway Gazette, 12-13-24]
AMTRAK DISRUPTIONS DEC. 13: Eastbound Southwest Chief was delayed two and one-half hours east of Kansas City on Dec. 13 due to locomotive problems. Southbound Floridian arrived into Miami two and one-half hours late having been delayed en route by mechanical issues, on-train police assistance and weather-related speed restrictions. Eastbound Maple Leaf left Toronto two and one-half hours late due to mechanical problems. Northbound City of New Orleans was an hour and one-half late into Chicago, having been delayed earlier by a locomotive issue. [Amtrak, 12-13-24]
NJT AWARDS CONTRACT FOR LIFT PORTION OF NEW RARITAN RIVER BRIDGE: New Jersey Transit has awarded a $444.4-million contract to construct the lift portion of the new Raritan River bridge on the North Jersey Coast line. The approaches to the bridge are under construction under a separate contract. [Progressive Railroading, 12-13-24]
ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE TO N.Y. GATES AVE STATION: The Gates avenue Brooklyn J&Z station on the Jamaica line will be made accessible with the installation of two elevators and other improvements with work to begin in late 2026. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-13-24]
D.C. METRO TO BEGIN AUTOMATIC TRAIN OPERATION FOR FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS: The Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority will begin operating Metrorail trains in automatic train operation mode for the first time in 15 years. Trains will receive signal and speed commands from equipment located between the tracks. The rollout will begin on the Red line on Dec. 15, and on other lines in 2025. [Progressive Railroading, 12-13-24]
BALLARD TO SUPPLY STADLER WITH FUEL CELLS TO POWER FLIRT H2 TRAINS IN CALIFORNIA: Ballard Power Systems has agreed to supply Stadler with FCmove-HD+ fuel cells to power Flirt H2 multiple-units ordered by California Dept. of Transportation. [Railway Gazette, 12-13-24]
OTTAWA TRILLIUM LINE TO BEGIN WEEKDAY SERVICE JAN. 6: Starting Jan. 6, 2025, Ottawa's O-Train lines 2 and 4 (Trillium line) will begin weekday passenger service to Limebank and Ottawa International Airport stations, marking a major milestone in the O-Train South extension project. [Railway Age, 12-13-24]
DRIVERLESS SUBWAY SYSTEM OPENS IN THESSALONIKI, GREECE: Thessaloniki, Greece, recently opened a 9.6-mile, 13-station subway system. It is fully-automated and driverless, and cost about 3.24-billion. The excavation to build the system yielded the discovery of over 3000 archaeological artifacts from ancient empires, and this led to a requirement that the tunnels be constructed at a minimum of 20 meters below the surface. Representative artifacts are featured among the 13 stations on the system. [Philip Mayer, Rail Passengers Assn., 12-13-24]
BRITAIN'S GBR RAIL DEVELOPS MOBILE WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEM FOR TRAINS: Britain's GBR Rail has developed its 'Cleartrak' system, a mobile treatment solution for handling wastewater directly on trains. Solid waste is converted into dry, pathogen-free biosolids, while water is treated for re-use. Trains only need servicing four times a year, reducing downtime. [Rail Business Daily, 12-13-24]
NEW ROCHELLE PROPOSES REDESIGN OF ITS TRANSIT CENTER: New Rochelle, N.Y., city officials have announced a $100-million proposal to redesign and modernizing their transit center. Included would be added green spaces, a multi-use plaza, and solar panels. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-12-24]
HOUSTON METRO BRAKES GROUND ON NEW MOFW FACILITY: Houston's Metro has broken ground on a new maintenance of way facility near Burnett Transit Center. It will serve as a hub for maintenance along the Red, Green and Purple lines. The project is slated for completion in July 2026. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-12-24]
RELAUNCH OF NORTHLANDER PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE MOVES FORWARD WITH STATION CONTRACT: The project to relaunch Northlander passenger rail service between Toronto and a future Timmins-Porcupine station is advancing with the province of Ontario awarding a contract for station works. The reinstated trains will run four to seven days a week, based on seasonal demand. The previous Northlander was replaced by buses in 2012. [Railway Gazette, 12-12-24]
CPKC, AMERICOLD TO EXPLORE PROJECTS IN MEXICO: Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Americold Realty Trust have announced plans to explore co-development opportunities in Mexico as part of their continued effort to optimize temperature-sensitive commodity flow in North America. CPKC in 2023 announced the addition of 1000 new 53-foot refrigerated containers, more than doubling its existing fleet. [Progressive Railroading, 12-12-24]
CPKC MEMBERS RATIFY LABOR CONTRACT WITH INDIANA SOUTHERN: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen members have ratified a new five-year labor contract with Indiana Southern Railroad, a Genesee & Wyoming property. Indiana Southern operates 196 miles of track between Indianapolis and Evansville. [BLET, 12-12-24]
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR ALMOST SEVEN HOURS LATE INTO CHICAGO: Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr was six hours and 52 minutes late arriving into Chicago on Dec. 12. The train had been delayed en route by locomotive problems in Roseville, California, requiring a replacement unit, followed by additional mechanical issues and track maintenance further east. [Amtrak, 12-12-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 520,894 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Dec. 7, 2024, up 4.4 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 1.8 pct, and intermodal was up 9.7 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-11-24]
MARTA'S BLUE LINE SERVICE RESUMES AT INDIAN CREEK FOLLOWING BRIDGE INSTALLATION: Atlanta's Rapid Transit Blue line service resumed Dec. 11 after the installation of a new pedestrian bridge connecting to Durham Park road. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-11-24]
ARIZONA FORMS LEADERSHIP TEAM TO STUDY FUTURE PHOENIX-TUCSON PASSENGER RAIL: The Arizona Dept. of Transportation has announced an executive leadership team to guide the future of passenger rail service between Phoenix and Tucson. Currently the proposed corridor would extend 160 miles between Tucson and Buckeye, with anticipated daily round-trips. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-11-24]
LANSINGVILLE RAIL PARK EXPANSION SLATED TO FINISH IN 2025: Youngstown & Southern's Lansingville Yard should be completed in 2025. In involves building a five-track yard that can hold 220 cars. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-11-24]
SHORT-LINE TO HANDLE LOCAL SERVICE FROM UNION PACIFIC'S EUGENE YARD: Union Pacific and Genesee & Wyoming have announced plans for Central Oregon & Pacific to handle local service from Eugene Yard. The change will allow Union Pacific to reduce the number of times a rail car is handled. [Progressive Railroading, 12-11-24]
NJT'S CEO TO LEAVE HIS POST IN JANUARY: New Jersey Transit's president and CEO Kevin Corbett will resign on Jan. 15, 2025, to accept a new academia position. Former transportation commissioner Kris Kolluri will serve as interim president. [Progressive Railroading, 12-11-24]
MEXICO TO INVEST $7.8-B TOWARD CONSTRUCTION, DEVELOPMENT OF RAILS IN 2025: The Mexican government has plans to invest $7.8-billion in 2025 for the construction of new passenger railways and the development of freight operations on certain parts of the network. The ambition is to build more than 1,860 route-miles of passenger railway over six years. [Railway Gazette, 12-11-24]
AMTRAK DISRUPTIONS DEC. 11: Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief arrived into Los Angeles 11 hours and 16 minutes late Dec. 11, having had mechanical issues in Kansas City, freight train interference en route, and further equipment issues in California. This was the second time in as many days that the train was more than 11 hours late arriving into its destination. The northbound Carolinian was delayed about two hours en route due to signal problems, and the southbound Carolinian was an hour and 35 minutes late arriving Charlotte. The southbound Auto Train was an hour and 20 minutes arriving Sanford. [Amtrak, 12-11-24]
VIA RAIL PLANS PURCHASE OF NEW LOCOMOTIVES, RAIL CARS, INCLUDING DOMES: VIA Rail Canada has issued bids for a contract to supply more than 40 locomotives and 313 rail cars of nine types to replace its long-distance, regional and remote fleets. This includes sleepers, accessible sleepers, couchette, dining, panoramic and dome cars. The dining cars will have a full kitchen, and the panorama and dome cars would allow passengers enhanced viewing of the scenery. [Railway Gazette, 12-10-24]
ALSTOM TO ASSUME METROLINK OPERATION, MAINTENANCE IN JULY 2025: Southern California Regional Rail has awarded Alstom a combined train operation and maintenance services contract for Metrolink. Alstom will take over on July 1, 2025, when its current fleet maintenance and separate operating contracts with Amtrak expire. [Railway Gazette, 12-10-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF 11 & 1/2 HOURS LATE INTO L.A.: Amtrak's Southwest Chief was more than 11 and one-half hours behind schedule arriving into Los Angeles on Dec. 10. According to Amtrak, the train had been delayed by locomotive trouble in Colorado, a disabled freight train west of Raton, police activity in Las Vegas, N.M., and unexplained further issues in California. [Amtrak, 12-10-24]
NEW ACELA TRAINS TO ENTER SERVICE THIS COMING SPRING: After more than a decade of planning and years of tests, Amtrak's next-generation Acela high-speed trains are set to enter service at some point in the spring of 2025. Amtrak said it recently completed more than 900 test runs on the trains with manufacturer Alstom, and planned to soon submit data to the Federal Railroad Administration. [The Points Guy, 12-10-24]
'POP-UP' METRO BEING CONSIDERED FOR COUNTY IN IOWA: Officials in Johnson County, Iowa, are poised to signal their support for a 'Pop-Up' metro, a battery-powered commuter train system designed to transfer the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway into a transit option. The estimated startup cost of $5.7-million includes leasing battery-powered trains, manufactured from London underground cars, and adding charging stations. The project faces challenges in securing buy-in from municipalities, private entities and other stakeholders. The cities of Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty, and the University of Iowa are expected to play critical roles in funding and operational decisions. [CBS-2 Iowa, 12-10-24]
BRITAIN'S CLASS 99 LOCOMOTIVE TO RUN ON ELECTRICITY OR RENEWABLE FUELS: Britain's Railfreight has announced its latest locomotive, the Class 99, will operate solely on electricity or renewable fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil. The Class 99 will be the first heavy-haul freight locomotive capable of transporting significant volumes at main line speeds on both electrified and non-electrified portions of the U.K. rail network. [Rail Business Daily, 12-9-24]
BNSF ADVANCES DOUBLE-TRACK PROJECT IN TEXAS: BNSF has completed a new section of double-track on its Fort Worth subdivision. Located in the Saginaw area, the section runs about 3.5 miles, and only about two miles remain in the project. Once completed, it will have two main tracks from Lambert to and across Tower 55 near downtown Fort Worth. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-9-24]
STADLER LANDS TRAIN-CONTROL CONTRACT WITH MARTA: Stadler has announced the award of a $500-million, eight-year contract to supply its NOVA Pro communication-based train control to replace Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit's current metro signaling equipment. [Railway Gazette, 12-9-24]
BLET RATIFIES NEW CONTRACTS WITH TWO GENESEE & WYOMING RAIL LINES: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen members have ratified new contracts with Genesee & Wyoming's Huron & Eastern Railway and Indiana Southern Railroad. [Railway Age, 12-9-24]
RAIL SHOWS POSITIVE OUTLOOK, AAR SAYS: Resilient consumer spending helped intermodal continue to lead all categories in November and year-to-date, according to the Association of American Railroads' freight rail index. Continue strong consumer demand and port activity fueled record intermodal results in November, for three of the top five weeks since AAR started collecting data in 1988. The November freight rail index was up 2.8 pct over October, reaching its highest point since May 2021. [Freight Waves, 12-9-24]
DANISH LOCOMOTIVES TO BE USED IN HUNGARY: Hungary's state railway group MAV-Volan has signed a long-term agreement to least a further 13 diesel locomotives formerly owned by Denmark's DSB from Swedish leasing company Nordic Re-Finance. [Railway Gazette, 12-9-24]
WORLD BANK APPROVES FINANCING TOWARD EASTERN TURKEY MIDDLE CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT: The World Bank board has approved $660-million in financing to support the Eastern Turkey Middle Corridor railway development project. It covers renewal, electrification and capacity enhancement on the 410-mile line between Divrigi and Kars. [Railway Gazette, 12-9-24]
PINSLY CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER JOINS SHORT LINE SAFETY INSTITUTE BOARD: Kristin Bevil, general counsel and chief legal officer at Pinsly Railroad, has joined the board of the U.S. Short Line Safety Institute. [Railway Gazette, 12-9-24]
SUPREME COURT TO HEAR ARGUMENTS OVER UINTA BASIN RWY PROPOSAL: The Supreme Court on Dec. 10 will hear arguments on a proposed Utah railroad that could increase crude oil transport. The 88-mile Uinta Basin Railway would connect Utah oil fields to the national rail network in trains as long as two miles. [Newsweek, 12-9-24]
TWO TRAINS COLLIDE IN TEXAS: Two trains collided late Dec. 6 in east Harris County, Texas. Union Pacific said an estimated 12 rail cars derailed near Baytown, and the initial investigation indicated that one train rear-ended another outside a rail yard. Fire officials said two of the derailed cars ended up in a canal connecting the Trinity and San Jacinto rivers. No injuries were reported. [Fox 27 Houston, 12-7-24]
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR DELAYED BY DISABLED FREIGHT TRAIN IN NEVADA: Amtrak's westbound California Zephyr was more than four and one-half hours late Dec. 7 arriving into Emeryville, having been delayed in Nevada by a disabled freight train blocking the tracks ahead. [Amtrak, 12-7-24]
AMTRAK'S CARL SANDBURG CUT BACK TO CHICAGO-GALESBURG DEC. 9 TO 13: Amtrak's Carl Sandburg trains 381-382 will only run between Chicago and Galesburg December 9-13 because of track work. Buses will be substituted between Galesburg and Quincy. [Amtrak]
SIEMENS AIRO TRAIN SETS TO BE INTRODUCED TO CASCADES SERVICE IN 2026: Cascades service in the Pacific Northwest will get the first of 83 originally-ordered Siemens Airo train sets, kicking off a five-year rollout period. Airo trains will begin replacing Northeast corridor equipment the following year, followed by Palmetto, Adirondack, Carolinian, Downeaster, Empire service, Ethan Allen Express, Keystone service, Maple Leaf, New Haven-Springfield, Pennsylvanian, Vermonter and Virginia service. [Rail Passengers Assn., 12-6-24]
NORTHLANDER SERVICE REVIVAL ADVANCES: The Ontario government on Dec. 6 announced a platform reconstruction contract and revealed an updated train set design as part of its plan to reinstate Northlander service between Timmons and Toronto with a rail connection to Cochrane. [Railway Age, 12-6-24]
FIRSTGROUP ORDERS MORE HITACHI TRAINS: Hitachi Rail has entered into a contract with FirstGroup and Angel Trains Ltd. to lease 14 five-car Hitachi electric or bi-mode trains (70 cars total) at a cost of $638-million, including maintenance, over a 10-year period. The new trains will be used in the U.K. on a newly-announced London-Carmarthen route, and to increase the number of cars on the existing Lume and Hull trains. [Progressive Railroading, 12-6-24]
AMTRAK TRAIN STRIKES TRACTOR-TRAILER NEAR AMSTERDAM, N.Y.: Amtrak's northbound Maple Leaf carrying 133 people collided Dec. 6 with a tractor-trailer that was on the tracks in Palatine Bridge, N.Y., west of Amsterdam. The rig sustained considerable damage, but its driver was not injured. Train passengers were transferred to another train. [Albany Times Union, 12-6-24]
BALLARD TO SUPPLY FUEL-CELL ENGINES TO CPKC: Ballard has signed a long-term supply agreement with CPKC, including the initial supply of 98 fuel-cell engines. Each engine has a nameplate of 200 kilowatts, totaling 20 megawatts of fuel-cell power. All 98 engines are slated to be delivered in 2025. [Progressive Railroading, 12-6-24]
AMTRAK STATION AT WILSON, N.C., RENOVATED: Amtrak's G.K. Butterfield station in Wilson, N.C., received renovations as part of a $4-million project. Passengers have access to a 435-foot long concrete platform and other improvements. Wilson is served by the Carolinian and Palmetto. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-5-24]
MARYLAND ADVANCES BALTIMORE RED LINE LIGHT-RAIL PROJECT: STV, Jacobs and WRA will serve as transit delivery partners for Maryland's Red line, a planned 14-mile light-rail system connecting Baltimore's east-west corridor. [Railway Age, 12-5-24]
HITACHI TO DEVELOP NEXT-GENERATION COMMUNICATION-BASED TRAIN CONTROL: Hitachi Rail is investing $100-million (C) to develop the next-generation of SelTrac communication-based train-control signaling technology at its facility in Toronto. [Railway Gazette, 12-5-24]
HIGH WINDS, DOWNED TREES IMPACT AMTRAK PHILADELPHIA-HARRISBURG SERVICE: Amtrak service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg was suspended for several hours the afternoon and evening on Dec. 5 due to high winds and downed trees. [Amtrak, 12-5-24]
INDIAN RAILWAYS EYES DOMESTIC HIGH-SPEED RAIL STRATEGY: As work continues on the 186-MPH Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed line, Indian Railways has begun the development of indigenous trains suitable for operation on existing corridors. Development of train sets to run at 124 MPH to 155 MPH, with a view to offering end-to-end average speeds of 77 MPH, have been long discussed. Introduction would require extensive infrastructure upgrading. [Railway Gazette, 12-5-24]
CSX ASKS SUPREME COURT TO RENEW ANTITRUST SUIT AGAINST NORFOLK SOUTHERN: CSX has appealed to the Supreme Court to continue its antitrust suit against Norfolk Southern. CSX brought suit in 2018 claiming an excessive switch rate on dock access to the Port of Virginia. A lower court ruled that the allegations were untimely as they were not filed within an allowable four-year window. CSX, in its filing with the Supreme Court, claims continual harm, creating 'new' harm, that renews the statute of limitations. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-5-24]
MICHIGAN PASSES LAW ALLOWING OLD RAILROAD TIES TO BE USED AS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE: Michigan's governor has signed into law a bill allowing old wooden railroad ties to be burned in permitted biomass combustion facilities as an alternative, renewable energy source. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-5-24]
COAST STARLIGHT DELAYED THREE HOURS IN L.A. BY MECHANICAL ISSUES: Amtrak's northbound Coast Starlight on Dec. 4 was delayed more than three hours before departing Los Angeles because of mechanical issues with a sleeping car. [Amtrak, 12-4-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 439,362 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Nov. 30, 2024, down 13.8 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 19.9 pct, and intermodal was down 8.5 pct. This year's week included Thanksgiving, but last year's week did not. [Assn. of American Railroads, 12-4-24]
FENCE TO BE INSTALLED ALONG BNSF LINE IN PAYALLUP, WASHINGTON, TO DETER TRESPASSING: Funding has been approved to install a 678-foot mech security fence along the BNSF line in Puyallup, Washington, to reduce trespassing. The project follows a recent fatality, and will help guide pedestrians toward protected public crossings. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-4-24]
AMTRAK LOGS ALL-TIME RECORD RIDERSHIP: Amtrak logged 32.8 million passenger trips in FY-2024, which ended Sept. 30. This represented a 15 pct increase over the previous year. Ticket revenue of $2.5-billion was up 9 pct, and operating revenue of $3.6-billion was up 7 pct, year over year. [Progressive Railroading, 12-4-24]
ONTARIO TO SHARE COST OF 55 NEW TRAINS FOR TORONTO SUBWAY: The Ontario government will invest $758-million (C) to support the purchase of 55 new trains for the Toronto Transit Line 2 subway. The city, province and federal government will each fund one-third of the purchase cost. [Progressive Railroading, 12-4-24]
HUMP YARD NUMBERS DROPPING: The number of hump yards in North America has dropped over the decades. Today there are 36 active hump yards operated by the big six Class-I systems and terminal/switching railroads. That is down from 59 in 2002, 72 in 1993, 122 in 1985, and 152 in 1975. Some of the reasons for the decline in hump yards are a decline in loose-car railroading, the rise of intermodal and unit trains, mergers of Class-I carriers, pre-blocking cars at origin, block-swapping en route, and the expense of maintaining retarder systems. [Trains Magazine, 12-4-24]
SUNSET LIMITED DELAYED THREE HOURS IN ARIZONA BY MECHANICAL ISSUES: Amtrak's westbound Sunset Limited was delayed west of Yuma, Arizona, more than three hours on Dec. 4 due to mechanical issues. [Amtrak, 12-4-24]
VIETNAM ASSEMBLY APPROVES BUILDING NORTH-SOUTH HIGH-SPEED RAILWAY: The National Assembly of Vietnam has passed a resolution approving a government proposal to build a 957-mile high-speed north-south railway connecting Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh City. [International Railway Journal, 12-4-24]
BRITISH RAIL RETURNING TO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP: Britain's Dept. of Transport has confirmed that former franchises South Western Railway, c2c and Greater Anglia will return to public ownership next year, and that all former franchise contracts will return to the public sector within the next three years. [International Railway Journal, 12-4-24]
MOROCCO TO BEGIN BUILDING HIGH-SPEED RAIL LINE: Work on a 267-mile high-speed rail line in Morocco from Casablanca to Marrakech is moving into the construction phase, following the letting of a series of civil engineering contracts to local and foreign contractors. [Railway Gazette, 12-4-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN UNVEILS LOCOMOTIVE HONORING TENNESSEE, ALABAMA & GEORGIA: Norfolk Southern has unveiled heritage AC44C6M locomotive 4851 in honor of component predecessor Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway. [Railway Age, 12-3-24]
RED DEER RAILWAY ADDED TO GENESEE & WYOMING, SHORT LINE IN ALBERTA: Genesee & Wyoming on Dec. 2 marked the launch of its first railroad in western Canada, Red Deer Railway. It operates between Jackson and Homeglen, Alberta, and uses operating rights over CPKC from Red Deer to Chigwell and Prentiss. [Progressive Railroading, 12-3-24]
SHORTENED ROUTE APPROVED FOR SOUTH SHORE LINE ROUTE TO AIRPORT: The South Shore Line has secured a shorter route into South Bend International Airport after the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation district and the airport authority finalized an agreement. The shorter route will save passengers 12 to 15 minutes to and from Chicago. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-3-24]
MASSACHUSETTS RELEASES NORTHERN TIER PASSENGER RAIL STUDY REPORT: The Massachusetts Dept. of Transportation has released its report of its Northern Tier passenger rail study. It examines the benefits, costs and investments required for service from North Adams to Greenfield and Boston. Six options were developed and assessed. [Progressive Railroading, 12-3-24]
DENVER SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR NEXT PHASES OF DOWNTOWN RAIL PROJECT: Denver's Regional Transportation District is seeking proposals for the next phases of its downtown rail reconstruction project. The first phase was completed in September, and phase 2 is the mid-block reconstruction in the downtown loop. Phases 3 and 4 comprehend the Colfax avenue alignment and the Welton street corridor. [Railway Track & Structures, 12-3-24]
AMTRAK DISRUPTIONS DEC. 3: The eastbound Empire Builder was three hours and 40 minutes late arriving into Chicago Dec. 3. En route delays were due to rail congestion, signal issues and police activity. The northbound Palmetto encountered mechanical issues in South Carolina and was terminated from that point northward. Passengers willing to return to their originating stations were accommodated on the southbound Palmetto. [Amtrak, 12-3-24]
THESSALONIKI METRO OPENS IN GREECE: The Thessaloniki Metro in Greece opened on Nov. 30, some 18 years after construction began. The first phase runs six miles through twin-bore tunnels from Thessaloniki to Nea Elvetia with 13 stations. [Railway Gazette, 12-2-24]
PASSENGER RAIL LINE IN U.K. REOPENING FOR FIRST TIME IN 60 YEARS: Passenger trains will begin running on a U.K. railway Dec. 15 for the first time in 60 years. The Northumberland line will operate between Ashington and Newcastle. [Google News, 12-2-24]
NOVEMBER 2024 AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-six percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in November 2024. The average of all long-distance trains in the survey period was 41 minutes late. The arrival of just those trains that were behind schedule was one hour and 16 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 12-1-24]
PERE MARQUETTE STEAM ENGINE 1225 SIDELINED OVER SUPERHEATER CONCERN: The famed Pere Marquette 1225 steam engine that leads the North Pole Express excursions from Owosso, Michigan, to Ashley's Country Christmas will not be running again this year due to a concern with the locomotive's superheaters. Diesel engines will be substituted. [Lansing State Journal, 11-29-24]
WIND POINT ACQUIRES VELOCITY RAIL SOLUTIONS: Chicago-based private equity firm Wind Point Partners has completed a corporate carveout of locomotive services business Velocity Rail Solutions from Stellex Capital Management's A. Stucki Co. [Railway Gazette, 11-29-24]
AMTRAK'S FLORIDIAN LEFT CHICAGO FOUR HOURS LATE DUE TO EQUIPMENT ISSUE: Amtrak's Floridian left Chicago on its run to Miami four hours late Nov. 29 due to equipment issues. [Amtrak, 11-29-24]
LAKE SHORE LIMITED DELAYED TWO HOURS BY LOCOMOTIVE SWAP: Amtrak's westbound Lake Shore Limited on Nov. 28 was delayed two hours in New York due to a locomotive swap. [Amtrak, 11-28-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 520,798 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Nov. 23, 2024, up 25.6 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. (The 2023 week included Thanksgiving.) Calculated separately, carloads were up 17.6 pct, and intermodal was up 32.8 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-27-24]
EMPIRE BUILDER DELAYED IN N.D. DUE TO LOCOMOTIVE ISSUES: Amtrak's westbound Empire Builder was delayed one and one-half hours Nov. 27 in Minot, N.D., due to locomotive mechanical issues. [Amtrak, 11-27-24]
MBTA'S NEWTONVILLE STATION TO BE REBUILT: Boston's MBTA will rebuild Newtonville station, one of three commuter stations in Newton, and the one serving the highest number of passengers. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-27-24]
AMTRAK NAMES JENNIFER MITCHELL TO STRATEGY & PLANNING POST: Amtrak has announced the appointment of Jennifer Mitchell as executive vice-president of strategy and planning, effective Dec. 2. She will succeed Dennis Newman, who is retiring. [Railway Age, 11-27-24]
CSX SANTA TRAIN COMPLETES 82ND TOUR: The CSX Santa Train completed its 82nd tour on Nov. 13, traveling 110 miles in Kentucky, southwest Virginia and Tennessee to deliver accessories, toys and backpacks to communities. The train featured CSX Clinchfield heritage locomotive 1902. [Progressive Railroading, 11-27-24]
WISCONSIN STUDIES ANOTHER CHICAGO-TWIN CITIES ROUND-TRIP: With ridership running ahead of expectations on Amtrak's new Borealis, the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation is studying whether to add another round-trip between Chicago and the Twin Cities. Through Oct. 31, the Borealis carried 109,826 riders, exceeding projections by 10 to 15 pct each month. Meanwhile, the Empire Builder has not lost riders since the Boealis started, and the number of passengers getting on and off trains in St. Paul during Sept. was more than double the same number from Sept. 2023, when only the Empire Builder was running. [Wisc. Business News, 11-27-24]
RIYADH METRO OPENS THREE METRO LINES: The Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, metro welcomed its first passengers on three of the network's six lines on Nov. 27. [International Railway Journal, 11-27-24]
RHINE-MAIN TRANSPORT TO WITHDRAW 18 ALSTOM HYDROGEN TRAINS OVER TECH ISSUES: Rhine-Main Transport Authority is set to withdraw 18 Coradia iLint hydrogen multiple-units build by Alstom from service in January following repeated technical issues with the hydrogen fuel cells. The trains entered service on the non-electrified Taunus network in Hesse in 2022. [International Railway Journal, 11-27-24]
MEXICO AFFIRMS $7.6-B FUNDING BUDGET FOR RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE: Mexico's president has announced that the government's 2025 budget includes funding for the consolidation of passenger and freight trains, with $7.6-billion allocated for rail infrastructure. [International Railway Journal, 11-27-24]
UGANDA BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF 170-MILE ELECTRIFIED RAIL LINE: Construction began Nov. 21 of the Eastern Railway line, a 170-mile electrified standard-gauge railway project from Kampala to Malaba. [International Railway Journal, 11-27-24]
IMPROVEMENTS TO HUDSON BAY RWY ADVANCE: The Arctic Gateway Group shared the progress of improvements to the Hudson Bay Railway. Construction this year saw a record amount of work, including 2.3 million feet of spot surfacing to level the track for heavy loads. Arctic's CEO Chris Avery said that the railway is in better condition it has ever been, and the plan is that it stays strong, reliable and efficient. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-26-24]
TEX RAIL TO ADD FOUR ADDITIONAL STADLER FLIRT TRAINS: Trinity Metro has ordered four more Stadler Flint diesel multiple-units to add to the eight they already have for the TEX Rail line from Fort Worth to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. TEX Rail has carried more than three million passengers since it opened, and off-peak daytime services have been increased from hourly to every 30 minutes. [Railway Gazette, 11-26-24]
FTA SEEKS STATE SAFETY OVERSIGHT ON RISKS OF STREET-RUNNING RAIL: The Federal Transit Administration has issued a safety advisory asking state safety oversight agencies to direct transit agencies in their jurisdictions to analyze the risk of on-street running rail traffic collisions. [Progressive Railroading, 11-26-24]
UNIFOR MEMBERS AUTHORIZE STRIKE AGAINST CANADIAN NATIONAL: Unifor members at CN have voted in favor of a strike action should a collective agreement not be reached by Jan. 1, 2025. [Railway Age, 11-26-24]
PRESIDENT BIDEN APPOINTS A SECOND EMERGENCY BOARD IN NJT-BLET DISPUTE: President Biden appointed a second Presidential Emergency Board to investigate the ongoing years-long collective bargaining dispute between New Jersey Transit and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen. The earlier report of the board appointed in July was not acceptable to either party, triggering the formation of a second board. [BLET, 11-26-24]
PACIFIC HARBOR LINE AWARDED FEDERAL GRANT TOWARD ZERO-EMISSION LOCOMOTIVES: Pacific Harbor Line, together with the California Air Resources board, has received partial funding for five zero-emission locomotives. Pacific Harbor Line serves the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach complex. The grant comes after a year of testing the Joule battery-electric unit manufactured by Progress Rail. [Freight Waves, 11-26-24]
FLORIDA GULF & ATLANTIC WORKERS RATIFY FIRST CONTRACT WITH BLET: Workers at the Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railway who joined the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen to gain collective bargaining rights have ratified their first-ever labor contract. The railroad operates 430 miles of track between Baldwin and Pensacola with a branch between Tallahassee and Attapulgus, Ga. ]BLET, 11-25-24]
SEPTA POSTPONES PROPOSED 21.5 PCT FARE HIKE: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority on Nov. 22 reported that it will postpone the proposed 21.5 pct fare hike across all modes that would have taken effect Jan. 1, 2025. [Railway Age, 11-25-24]
UNION PACIFIC ADDS TEXAMERICAS CENTER TO NETWORK OF FOCUS SITES: Union Pacific has added the TexAmericas Center in Texas to its network of focus sites, providing current and future suppliers in the center with access to the rail network. Union Pacific will begin providing intermodal service to the center by the end of this year, with additional services to be added in 2025. [Progressive Railroading, 11-25-24]
FEDS GRANT $26.2-M TOWARD TOTAL-ZERO EMISSION DIESEL POWER: OptiFuel Systems announced that two federal grants worth $26.2-million awarded to Colorado State University Pueblo and University of Delaware will help fast-track Federal Railroad Administration concurrence for OptiFuel's TotalZero emission diesel-RNG fuel hybrid switchers and line-haul locomotives. [Progressive Railroading, 11-25-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF ARRIVES INTO L.A. VERY LATE TWO DAYS IN A ROW: Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief due into Los Angeles on Nov. 24 arrived there 18 and one-half hours behind schedule. The train lost an enormous amount of time between Raton, Colorado, and Las Vegas, N.M., due to a collision with a vehicle causing mechanical issues and the resulting need to recrew the train due to the hours of service law. Additionally, an adjustment in equipment was required further west in Albuquerque, causing even more delay. The vehicle collision also delayed the eastbound Southwest Chief, which arrived into Chicago over seven hours late. The westbound train the following day was nearly eight and one-half hours late arriving into Los Angeles. Its principal delays were in Kansas due to crew availability from hours of service requirements. [Amtrak, 11-25-24]
WOODEN PULLMAN CAR DONATED TO PULLMAN HISTORIC SITE: A wooden Pullman rail car built in 1899 is on track to come to the Pullman National Historical Park & State Historic Site. Built for the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific, the car entered service as parlor car 699, running daily on the Rock Island Express between Chicago and Omaha. Being donated by David Hoffman, the car will be located in the north wing of the historic Pullman Factory once funding is secured for environmental remediation of the site. [Historic Pullman Foundation, 11-25-24]
BICYCLIST STRUCK, KILLED BY AMTRAK TRAIN IN VA.: A 59-year-old Richmond man riding a bicycle was struck and killed Nov. 24 in Henrico County, Va., by an Amtrak train. The incident caused delay to several Amtrak trains. [WTVR, 11-24-24]
CSX TRAIN DERAILS ALONG SAGINAW RIVER: A CSX train on the Lake State Railway derailed along the Saginaw River in Michigan on Nov. 24, forcing the closure of all railroad crossings within a mile of the incident. Some of the derailed cars tumbled on the river banks. No injuries were reported. [Detroit News, 11-24-24]
WALK BRIDGE PROJECT IN CONNECTICUT ADVANCES: As construction chugs along to replace the 128-year-old Walk bridge on the Northeast corridor in South Norwalk, Connecticut, officials say the $1-billion project won't face any winter delays. A crew of 85-90 workers has been working at the site, moving cables under the Norwalk River and installing structural supports. Bridges at Fort Point street, Osborne and East avenues are being replaced, as is the superstructure of the Strawberry Hill avenue bridge. The East Norwalk train station is also being upgraded. Project completion is slated by 2029. [The Hour, 11-23-24]
ITALIAN RAILROADS FACE STRIKE NOV. 23-24: Train passengers in Italy face disruption to rail services the weekend of Nov. 23-24 due to a 24-hour strike by railway staff affecting routes across the country. [Wanted in Rome, 11-23-24]
AMTRAK TO RESTORE MOST N.Y.-ALBANY SERVICE CUTS: Amtrak has announced a restoration of most of its Empire service. Beginning Dec. 2, Trains 235 and 238 will be restored, both with a fifth car, and the Adirondack and Maple Leaf will operate as separate trains between New York and Albany. Also, Amtrak will add a fifth car to two other round trip runs. [N.Y. Government, 11-22-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO CONVERT TWO DIESEL PRIME MOVERS TO HYBRID OPERATION: Norfolk Southern is to convert two diesel prime movers to hybrid operation though a partnership with Alstom. The two 50-year-old GP38/40 diesel locomotives will be stripped back to the underframe before being rebuilt with hybrid power units. Batteries will provide propulsion while a smaller Tier-4 diesel engine will run only when needed to charge them. [Railway Gazette, 11-22-24]
SEPTA, TWU REACH LABOR AGREEMENT: SEPTA has reported reaching a tentative one-year contract agreement with the Transportation Workers Local 234, which represents more than 5,300 workers. [Railway Age, 11-21-24]
CSX HONORS PAN AM RAILWAYS WITH HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE: CSX has rolled out its latest heritage locomotive, 1981, honoring Pan Am Railways. [Railway Age, 11-21-24]
METRA TO SHUT DOWN ELECTRIC LINE FOR TWO WEEKENDS IN DECEMBER: Chicago's Metra will shut down its electric line the weekends of Dec. 7-8 and Dec. 14-15 for expansion construction. Service between Millennium and 18th street will be covered by buses. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-21-24]
LIRR PROVIDES PUMPER TANKS TO SUFFOLK COUNTY TO BATTLE BRUSH FIRES: The Long Island Rail Road provided pumper tanks, normally not used at this time of year, to local fire departments in Suffolk County, N.Y., to fight brush fires. The tanks hold about 10,000 gallons of water and were made available to local fire fighters to fill their trucks. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-21-24]
RAIL RESEARCH CENTER FOR SHORT LINES BEING ESTABLISHED: A team led by two Penn State Altoona faculty members will establish the Rail Center for Research Enhancing Short-line Transportation through a $6.87-million federal grant. [Railway Age, 11-21-24]
BRITAIN'S RAILWAYS SET TO RETURN TO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP: Britain's railways are set to come back into public ownership after legislation to renationalize the service was passed by the House of Lords, and now needs Royal assent to go into law. [Rail Business Daily, 11-21-24]
TEXAS EAGLE ANNULLED BY BRIDGE ISSUE: Amtrak's southbound Texas Eagle was annulled Nov. 21 due to an issue involving a bridge along the train's route in Illinois. [Amtrak, 11-21-24]
SEPTA'S AIRPORT LINE PLATFORM UPGRADE PROJECT COMPLETED: To celebrate the completion of the SEPTA Airport line upgrade project, the Philadelphia International Airport held a ribbon-cutting Nov. 15. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-21-24]
CALIFORNIA TO STREAMLINE RAIL ELECTRIFICATION PROJECTS: The governor of California has signed legislation designed to accelerate electrification by exempting zero-emission rail projects on existing lines from requirements of the state's environmental quality act. [Railway Gazette, 11-21-24]
TEXAS EAGLE FOUR AND ONE-HALF HOURS LATE INTO SAN ANTONIO: Amtrak's westbound Texas Eagle due into San Antonio Nov. 21 arrived there four and one-half hours late. There were en route delays resulting from blockage by a disabled freight train in Arkansas, plus mechanical and track issues, speed restrictions and signal problems. [Amtrak]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 516,886 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Nov. 16, 2024, up 3.2 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 5.6 pct, and intermodal was up 11.1 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-20-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN RECOGNIZES GRADUATING MANAGEMENT TRAINEES: Norfolk Southern recently recognized nearly 50 rail transportation management trainees at its Atlanta headquarters who completed the company's training program and have been placed into permanent full-time positions. [Railway Age, 11-20-24]
BOILERMAKERS' UNION MEMBERS RATIFY LABOR AGREEMENT WITH BNSF: International Brotherhood of Boilermakers members have voted to ratify a new five-year collective bargaining agreement with BNSF. [Railway Age, 11-20-24]
BNSF HAS RECORD AGRICULTURAL VOLUME IN OCTOBER: BNSF handles more agricultural product shipments than any other U.S. railroad, and it logged record volume in October 2024 with a 7 pct increase in volume and velocity compared with the same month a year ago. [Progressive Railroading, 11-20-24]
CANDO ACQUIRES TERMINAL OPERATIONS OF AWP INDUSTRIES: Cando Rails & Terminals has acquired the rail terminal operations of AWP Industries in Canada's Northwest Territories. The new terminal serves Canadian National along with existing Cando network customers. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-20-24]
EMPIRE BUILDER ANNULLED WEST OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, DUE TO SEVERE STORM: Amtrak's westbound Empire Builder on Nov. 19 was annulled west of Spokane, Washington, along both routes to Seattle and Portland due to severe weather. The eastbound runs the following day were also annulled between those points. [Amtrak, 11-20-24]
SEAN DUFFY NOMINATED TO HEAD U.S. DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION: President-elect Trump has chosen Sean Duffy, former U.S. representative from Wisconsin and Fox News contributor, to lead the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. [Progressive Railroading, 11-19-24]
CRAIG RICHARDSON TO RETIRE FROM UNION PACIFIC: Craig Richardson, executive vice-president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, will retire from Union Pacific the end of March 2025. Christina Conlin, most recently chief risk officer and associate general counsel with Goodyear, will join Union Pacific Dec. 2 as senior vice-president and deputy general counsel. [Progressive Railroading, 11-19-24]
QUADRA, OCTIUM SOLUTIONS EXPANDING RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE IN QUEBEC: Quadra Group, in partnership with Octium Solutions, is expanding its rail influence in Malartic, Quebec. Quadra, a chemical distributor, and Octium, a storage, transloading provider, will add 2,000 feet of rail capacity to an existing 1,500 feet in Malartic, connecting the existing rail to a main Canadian National line. The companies are also building a warehouse for short- and long-term storage and transloading. [Progressive Railroading, 11-19-24]
BNSF MOVES FORWARD WITH SOUTHERN TRANSCON DOUBLE-TRACK PROJECT: BNSF has nearly completed its Southern Transcon double-track project with the last 3.5 of approximately 51 miles of new double-track cut over about half way across the line. There are but two remaining sections to be installed: about 1.5 miles in Sibley, Missouri, and about 3 miles in Alba, Oklahoma. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-19-24]
COAST STARLIGHT DELAYED OVER SIX HOURS IN CALIFORNIA: Amtrak's northbound Coast Starlight on Nov. 19 was delayed more than six hours north of Dunsmuir, California, by a disabled freight train blocking the tracks, which resulted in a crews' hours of service issue. [Amtrak, 11-19-24]
AMTRAK OPENS TEMPORARY WAITING AREA AT WASHINGTON UNION STATION: As the Thanksgiving travel season begins, Amtrak has unveiled a new temporary waiting area at Washington Union Station. It is strategically located in the former Uniglo site near the ticket counter, staffed by customer service representatives. [Travel & Tour World, 11-19-24]
AAR CONGRATULATES NOMINEE TO LEAD DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION: The Association of American Railroad president congratulated Sean Duffy on his nomination to be Secretary of Transportation. The association looks forward to working with Mr. Duffy, focusing on shared essential priorities to improving safety and strengthening supply chains. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-19-24]
NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD RECOGNIZES BRIGHTLINE AS A 'RAIL CARRIER': The National Mediation Board has formally recognized commuter agency Brightline as a rail carrier. Brightline is now subject to the Railway Labor Act for purposes of forming a union and contract negotiations. [BLET, 11-18-24]
FEDS GRANT $11.2-M TOWARD BUILDING RAIL YARD, TRANSLOAD FACILITY IN INDIANA: The U.S. Maritime Administration has announced a grant of $11,249,000 to the Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon toward construction of a rail yard and transload facility to accommodate 13,000 feet of track for switching and 7,000 feet of track for cargo transfers between truck and rail. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-18-24]
PATH HOBOKEN STATION TO CLOSE 25 DAYS IN FEBRUARY.: Port Authority Trans Hudson's Hoboken station will close for 25 days in Febr. 2025 to allow for track improvements and station rehab. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-18-24]
ROUGH FIRST WEEK FOR AMTRAK'S FLORIDIAN: Amtrak's new train linking Chicago and Miami began running on Nov. 10, arriving at its respective destinations two days later. It may be premature to claim that the new train will perform in a more timely fashion, but in its first week it arrived at its end points behind schedule 100 percent of the time. On its initial northbound run the train arrived into Chicago 30 minutes behind schedule. This, however, was its best performance. Three days later it was late by three hours and 55 minutes. The southbound section's arrivals ranged from 49 minutes to two hours and 46 minutes late. Average arrival during the week for the northbound train was one hour and 36 minutes late, and the average arrival for the southbound train was one hour and 41 minutes late. Combined average arrival for both trains was one hour and 38 minutes behind schedule. Stay tuned! MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 11-18-24]
U.K.'S SOUTH WALES METRO INTRODUCING ELECTRIC TRI-MODE TRAINS: Electric 'tri-mode' trains are being introduced Nov. 18 to passenger services for the first time in the U.K. as part of the South Wales Metro. They will be introduced on the Valley lines. [Rail Business Daily, 1-18-24]
FORMER CALTRAIN LOCOMOTIVES, DOUBLE-DECK COACHES FINDING SERVICE IN PERU: Lima, Peru, is set in 2025 to launch a commuter train service on a rail line between Callao and Chosica using a fleet of diesel locomotives and double-deck coaches retired from service by California's Caltrain. [Railway Track & Structures, 1-18-24]
COAST STARLIGHT ALMOST FIVE HOURS LATE INTO SEATTLE: Amtrak's northbound Coast Starlight due into Seattle Nov. 18 arrived there nearly five hours behind schedule. According to Amtrak, the train had been delayed en route by crew availability and freight train interference. [Amtrak]
SILVER METEOR STRIKES, KILLS PEDESTRIAN IN CHARLESTON: A pedestrian was struck and killed Nov. 16 by Amtrak's southbound Silver Meteor in Charleston, S.C. Investigators said it appeared the individual was attempting to cross the tracks at the time. The incident delayed the train more than three and one-half hours. [WCSC, 11-16-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF DELAYED OVER SEVEN HOURS BY ENGINE TROUBLE: Amtrak's eastbound Southwest Chief lost more than seven hours on Nov. 16 due to engine trouble at Lamy, N.M., resulting in crew availability at its next stop, Las Vegas, N.M. [Amtrak, 11-16-24]
FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILMENT IN JAPAN DISRUPTS PASSENGER SERVICE: A freight train derailed in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido early Nov. 16 with a disruption of passenger service likely for about two days. The accident force the cancellation of 35 express trains per day affecting about 7,000 passengers. [KYODO, 11-16-24]
STB DIRECTS UNION PACIFIC TO CLARIFY DEFICIENCIES IN RAIL LINE CONSTRUCTION REQUEST: The Surface Transportation Board has directed Union Pacific to cure certain deficiencies in its responses to earlier board-ordered document requests related to constructing a rail line in Arizona. At issue are 'anticipatory demolition' and damage of historical properties and desecration of ancestral sacred lands. [Progressive Railroading, 11-15-24]
NEW RAIL YARD TO BE BUILT IN YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO: The Ohio Rail Commission has approved the creation of a new rail yard for the Southeastern Railroad. Lansingville Yard will create 15,000 feet of new track and six turnouts. The rail line, extending 25 miles into Columbiana County, has limited storage capacity, and the yard will allow the line to retrieve rail cars more efficiently. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-15-24]
FEDS GRANT ADDITIONAL $1.5-B TOWARD NORTHEAST CORRIDOR PROJECTS: The Federal Railroad Administration has announced additional funding of nearly $1.5-billion for 19 projects along the Northeast Corridor. Projects will replace aging catenary structures, improve signaling systems, and support planning activities to expand Union Station in Washington, D.C. [Progressive Railroading, 11-15-24]
CALTRAIN MARKS INCREASE IN RIDERSHIP WITH NEW ELECTRIFIED SERVICE: Caltrain's newly-electrified service has attracted new riders. The agency had over 753,000 passengers in October, marking a 54 pct increase from the same month last year. The electrification project was the first undertaking in North America in a generation when diesel trains were transitioned over to electric. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-15-24]
N.C. GRANTS $2-M TO GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS R.R. FOR UPGRADES: The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will receive a North Carolina state grant of $2,080,364 for refurbishment and construction of new sidings, track upgrades, culvert, drainage and retaining walls. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-15-24]
SWITZERLAND PARTNERS WITH INDIA TO ENHANCE INDIAN RAIL PRACTICES: Indian Railways and Switzerland's Dept. of Transport have signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration in technology sharing, track maintenance, management and construction. India's minister of railways said good practices from the Swiss railways can be beneficially replicated in India. [Railway Gazette, 11-15-24]
EMPIRE BUILDER DELAYED BY DEBRIS BLOCKING TRACK: Amtrak's eastbound Portland section of the Empire Builder on Nov. 13 was delayed more than three and one-half hours in Washington state on account of large debris blocking the track. The incident resulted in a very late departure from Spokane of the combined section, and the train arrived into Chicago Nov. 15 nearly five hours behind schedule following additional en route congestion delays. [Amtrak, 11-15-24]
INDIA RWYS SET TO TEST ITS FIRST HYDROGEN-POWERED TRAIN: India Railways will test its first hydrogen-powered train in December. It will be run on a route covering 56 miles at speeds up to 87 MPH. [Times of India, 11-15-24]
CHICAGO TRANSIT PLANS CHANGES TO CLARK/LAKE LOOP ELEVATED STATION: Chicago's CTA has announced plans for changes to its Clark/Lake Loop elevated station. It is one of the agency's busiest serving more than 9,100 patrons on weekdays, connecting six rail lines. Its main entry will be relocated to the northeast corner on Clark street, replacing the entry at Lake street. The plan also includes improvements to the mezzanine finishes and platform improvements. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-14-24]
MBTA COMPLETES RED LINE TRACK WORK, REMOVES FIVE SPEED RESTRICTIONS: Boston's MBTA has completed track work on its Red line, and has removed five critical speed restrictions. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-14-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO EXPAND ITS BOARD TO 14 MEMBERS: Norfolk Southern today announced it will add a new independent director to its board under an agreement with Ancora Holdings Group. The new director will expand the board to 14, and Ancora will withdraw its four proposed board members and support the board's recommendations on any vote of shareholders. [Progressive Railroading, 11-14-24]
NJT TAPS ACI-HERZOG JV TO OPERATE HUDSON-BERGEN LIGHT-RAIL: New Jersey Transit's board has announced it has awarded a contract to ACI-Herzog JV to operate the Hudson-Bergen light-rail system. It encompasses 24 stations running north-south along the Hudson River waterfront for 20.6 miles for more than 48,000 weekday riders. [Railway Age, 11-14-24]
DEVASTATING FLOODS HIT STADLER SUPPLY CHAIN: Stadler says three severe weather disasters in the past five months have made a massive impact on its supply chain, and forced the company to adjust its financial guidance. A new double-deck train set was also lost to flooding. [Railway Gazette, 11-14-24]
VRE TO ACQUIRE 80 MAGNETIC TRANSFER SWITCHES FOR LOCOMOTIVE SYSTEMS: Bohr Electronics has been awarded a contract by Virginia Railway Express to supply 80 magnetic transfer switches to support locomotive maintenance at its facility in Fredericksburg. Magnetic transfer switches manage power distribution within locomotive systems. [Progressive Railroading, 11-14-24]
NEW RAIL HUB IN BARCELONA NEARS COMPLETION: To be served by high-speed, regional, suburban and metro trains, La Sagrera station to the northeast of Barcelona is nearing completion. It is set to become the city's largest multimodal interchange, handling upwards of 100 million passengers a year. [Railway Gazette, 11-14-24]
AMTRAK'S CRESCENT STRIKES TRUCK IN GEORGIA, DRIVER KILLED: A 23-year-old man was killed early Nov. 14 when his truck was struck by Amtrak's northbound Crescent at a crossing in Georgia. The train had damage to its equipment, and it was delayed more than six hours by the incident. [WDUN, 11-14-24]
FEDS AWARD LOUISVILLE & INDIANA R.R. GRANT TO IMPROVE OHIO RIVER LIFT SPAN: Louisville & Indiana Railroad has been awarded a matching $6.49-million federal grant to improve its Clagg lift span in its Ohio River bridge. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-13-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 519,115 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Nov. 9, 2024, up 4.5 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 3.7 pct, and intermodal was up 11.7 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-13-24]
NEW TRAIN SERVICE LINKS WALES, ENGLAND, SCOTLAND: Long-distance operator CrossCountry has announced a new weekday single-train service linking Wales, England and Scotland. The 455-mile run will connect 22 stations between the capitals of Wales and Scotland in what is thought to be the first rail service of its kind. [Rail Business Daily, 11-13-24]
CANADA ACQUIRES HISTORIC QUEBEC BRIDGE FROM CN: The government of Canada has acquired from Canadian National the Quebec Bridge spanning the St. Lawrence River between Ste. Foy and Levis. It is a rail, road and pedestrian bridge. Canada will invest more than $40-million (C) a year over the course of a 25-year rehab program. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-13-24]
TWO NORFOLK SOUTHERN LOCOMOTIVES TO BE CONVERTED TO HYBRID-BATTERY DIESEL: Norfolk Southern will work with Alstom to convert two diesel locomotives to hybrid-battery diesel technology. Norfolk Southern is the first North American railroad to apply Alstom's hybrid technology, which is used extensively in European rail, officials said. [Progressive Railroading, 1-13-24]
READING & NORTHERN PROMOTES TWO IN ITS PASSENGER DEPT.: Reading & Northern has promoted two employees in its passenger department: Jennifer Fredrickson is now director of passenger marketing, retail and community development. Meg Pursel is now assistant vice-president of passenger special projects, office car and special excursions. [Progressive Railroading, 11-13-24]
TIFFANY ROBINSON NAMED DIRECTOR OF VIRGINIA RAIL DEPT.: The Virginia Dept. of Rail and Public Transportation has named Tiffany Robinson its new director. She has nearly 15 years of state and local government experience. Her most recent role was deputy chief of staff in the governor's office. [Progressive Railroading, 11-13-24]
N.Y. GOVERNOR ASKS AMTRAK TO RETHINK REDUCING HUDSON VALLEY RAIL SERVICE: New York's governor has asked Amtrak to rethink plans to reduce Hudson Valley service and other modifications while the carrier undertakes rehab of the East River tunnel. The proposed scheduling will have Amtrak losing three daily round trips. The construction project is expected to limit the number of trains that can travel from the maintenance yard to Penn Station. [Albany Times Union, 11-13-24]
CANADIAN PORT WORKERS ORDERED BACK TO WORK: CPKC and CN are again moving intermodal trains into and out of port terminals. During the past few days, negotiations between port operators and workers have not borne any fruit, so the Canadian labor ministry ordered everyone back to work, and will assist the parties to settle their agreements through final and binding arbitration. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-12-24]
RAILINC RELEASES RATE & ROUTE SOLUTION: Railinc, an Association of American Railroads subsidiary, has released its Rate & Route tool, a solution powered by artificial intelligence that instantly compiles and presents a range of route options tailored to shippers' needs. Shippers can use distance, cost, transit time and fuel surcharge to make best decisions about the most efficient routes. [AAR, 11-12-24]
FREIGHTCAR AMERICA REPORTS 3-Q RESULTS: Railcar America posted a loss of $107-million or $3.57 per share in the third-quarter 2024 and revenue of $113.3-million on deliveries of 961 rail cars, compared to revenue of $61.9-million on 503 rail car deliveries in the same quarter last year. [Freight Waves, 11-12-24]
NATHAN GOODMAN, CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, RETIRING FROM CSX: CSX's executive vice-president and chief legal officer Nathan Goodman will retire, and Michael Burns will transition of senior vice-president and chief legal officer in 2025. [Railway Age, 11-12-24]
VOLKSWAGEN OPENS UNION PACIFIC-SERVED PROCESSING CENTER IN FREEPORT, TEXAS: Volkswagen Group of America has opened a Union Pacific-served vehicle processing center in Freeport, Texas, south of Houston along the Gulf Coast. [Railway Age, 11-12-24]
GRAND CANYON RWY AWARDED FEDERAL GRANT TOWARD CONVERTING CLASSIC DIESEL INTO BATTERY POWER LOCOMOTIVE: The Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona has been awarded a $3.4-million federal grant that will go toward the cost of converting one of its classic diesel locomotives into a zero-emission, battery-powered locomotive. It will operate on a single battery charge and feature regenerative braking. [Progressive Railroading, 11-12-24]
ALSTOM DELIVERS ITS FIRST AUTOMATED METROPOLIS TRAIN TO TAIPEI: Alstom has delivered the first fully-automated, four-car Metropolis train to the rapid transit system in Taipei, Taiwan, for the Wanda-Zhonghe-Shulin line. The 14-mile line will enable seamless connections between Taipei and New Taipei City. [Progressive Railroading, 11-12-24]
EASTBOUND SUNSET LIMITED ANNULLED EAST OF SAN ANTONIO DUE TO EXCESSIVE DELAYS: Amtrak's eastbound Sunset Limited on Nov. 12 was annulled east of San Antonio due to ongoing excessive delays. Bus transportation was provided for passengers between there and New Orleans. [Amtrak, 11-12-24]
SHORT LINE, REGIONAL RAILROADS BENEFIT FROM FEDERAL GRANTS: Thousands of rail right-of-way have been upgraded and emerging technologies have been explored from the Federal Railroad Administration's consolidated rail infrastructure & safety improvement grant program over the past seven years. Among the largest benefactors are first- and final-mile short line and regional railroads. Small railroads have received $2.6-billion for more than 220 projects. This year, the overall program awarded $2.4-billion. Some $1.29-billion of that went to 81 short line projects in 36 states. [Freight Waves, 11-12-24]
WABTEC ACQUIRES FANOX, KOMPOZITUM: Wabtec has acquired Fanox and Kompozitum as strategic investments in its transit business. Fanox will strengthen production of specialized relays for on-board train operations, and Kompozitum will enable improvement in Wabtec's pantograph portfolio. [Progressive Railroading, 11-12-24]
AMTRAK'S FLORIDIAN BEGINS RUNNING: Amtrak's initial runs of its Floridian began operation in each direction Nov. 10 between Miami and Chicago. The departures marked the first time since 1979 that Amtrak's riders could board a train at either end point and travel to the other without changing trains or switching seats. The Floridian replaces both the Capitol Limited and Silver Star in a unified schedule with stops in Jacksonville, Richmond, Washington, Pittsburgh and Toledo, plus others. [Progressive Railroading, 11-11-24]
METRA PAINTS LOCOMOTIVE IN HONOR OF VETERANS: Chicago's Metra today unveiled a locomotive painted to honor U.S. veterans. It features a bald eagle on the front and sides decorated with the American flag and blue camouflage with silhouetted military figures saluting. It will be used in operation across the Metra system. [Progressive Railroading, 11-11-24]
ALAN HELD PROMOTED TO V.P. TRANSPORTATION AT NYS&W: Alan A. Held has been promoted to vice-president of transportation at the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway, which operates in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. [Railway Gazette, 11-11-24]
SCHNEIDER NATIONAL LAUNCHING NEW INTERMODAL SERVICE VIA CSX, CPKC: Schneider National will launch an intermodal service next month providing fast transit between the U.S. Southeast and Mexico. The new lane is made possible by a deal between CSX and CPKC creating a rail connection between the two carriers in Alabama. [Freight Waves, 11-11-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-eight percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Nov. 10, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 23 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 11-11-24]
AMTRAK TO REDUCE NEW YORK-ALBANY EMPIRE SERVICE BEGINNING NOV. 11: Beginning Nov. 11, to accommodate tunnel work in New York City, two Empire Service trains are annulled, and Adirondack is combined with Maple Leaf between New York and Albany. [Amtrak, 11-11-24]
AMTRAK'S BOREALIS PASSES 100,000 PASSENGERS IN JUST 22 WEEKS: Strong public interest in Amtrak's new state-sponsored Borealis service between Chicago and St. Paul has propelled ridership past the 100,000 customer mark in just 22 weeks. [BLET, 11-8-24]
RAIL INDUSTRY CHALLENGES FRA'S INACTION ON WAIVERS: Earlier today, the freight rail industry, under the leadership of the Association of American Railroads, filed litigation in multiple courts challenging the Federal Railroad Administration's failure to act on numerous overdue waiver requests. Railroads are ready to implement advanced operating practices and technologies, such as improved braking and signaling systems, to make operations safer and more efficient, but the FRA is hindering the process, the AAR said. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-8-24]
AUTO TRAINS ANNULLED NOV. 8 TO ADJUST FOR CHRONIC DELAYS: Amtrak's Auto Trains on Nov. 8 were annulled in each direction to adjust for chronic delays en route to destinations impacting timely departures the following day in the other direction. [Amtrak, 11-8-24]
STRIKE DELAYED AT SEPTA: Thousands of transit workers could have gone on strike Nov. 8, shutting down nearly all public transportation in Philadelphia, but the union representing the workers agreed to delay a strike, saying that progress was being made in contract talks. [ABC News, 11-8-24]
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON NEW SHORT LINE IN UTAH: Savage Tooele Railroad on Nov. 7 marked the start of construction of a new short line that will serve the Lakeview Business Park in Grantsville, Utah. When completed, it will be Utah's first new railroad in decades. [Progressive Railroading, 11-8-24]
CALIFORNIA AWARDS $71-M TOWARD VALLEY RAIL PROGRAM: The California Transportation Agency has awarded $71-million toward a series of infrastructure additions and improvements to the Valley Rail program, an initiative to expand and support both the Altamont Commuter Express and Amtrak San Joaquins lines between Sacramento and the San Joaquin Valley. [Progressive Railroading, 11-8-24]
R.J. CORMAN BEGINS WORK TO MODERNIZE CENTRAL KENTUCKY LINES: R.J. Corman Railroad Group has begun work on the Bluegrass multimodal freight improvements project in Frankfort, Ky., a $12.3-million initiative to modernize the company's central Kentucky lines. The project involves building a transload facility in Frankford, rehab of track between Frankfort and Lexington, and improvements to the main yard and transload facility in Lexington. [Progressive Railroading, 11-8-24]
SILVER STAR DELAYED BY FLOODING: The southbound Silver Star due into Miami Nov. 7 was over 14 hours late arriving there. It was delayed en route by flooding, requiring a detour, and further delayed by crew's hours of service issue. The northbound section was also delayed by flooding and was over six hours late arriving into New York. [Amtrak, 11-8-24]
PHASE 4 OF MOBILE PORT EXPANSION BEGINS: The Alabama Port Authority has begun the fourth phase of its container terminal expansion project to double Mobile Port Terminal's capacity to one million 20-foot equivalent units a year. [Progressive Railroading, 11-7-24]
TSA PROPOSES NEW RISK-MANAGEMENT RULES GOVERNING CYBERSECURITY INCIDENTS: The Transportation Security Administration is proposing to impose cyber risk-management requirements on railroads and other transportation entities in reporting such incidents. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-7-24]
NEW MAIN LINE RAIL STATION OPENS IN EGYPT: The Bashteel main line station in Giza, west of Cairo, claimed to be the largest station in the country with a capacity of 250,000 passengers a day, has opened. It features a total of 11 platforms. [Railway Gazette, 11-7-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 516,743 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Nov. 2, 2024, up 6.6 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were up 1.9 pct, and intermodal was up 10.7 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 11-6-24]
CALIFORNIA AWARDS SONOMA-MARIN $81-M TOWARD EXTENSION OF RAIL SERVICE: The Sonoma-Marin Area Transit District has been awarded $81-million from the state of California to extend passenger rail service from Windsor north through Healdsburg to the northern Healdsburg city limits. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-6-24]
SIEMENS CHARGER DUAL MODE SC42-DM LOCOMOTIVE UNVEILED FOR METRO-NORTH: New York's MTA has unveiled the first of Siemens SC42-DM Charger dual mode electro-diesel locomotives. It will enable the use of electric traction on Metro-North's 750v DC third-rail territory extending to Croton-Harmon, Southeast and Pelham. [Railway Gazette, 11-6-24]
FEDS GRANT $18-M TO ABERDEEN CAROLINA & WESTERN TOWARD 30-MILE WELDED-RAIL PROJECT: An $18-million federal grant has been awarded to the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway toward installation of almost 30 miles of welded rail to replace jointed rail laid in the early- to mid-1900's. The grant will be supplemented with $9.8-million each from the state and the carrier. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-6-24]
CARROLLTON R.R. WORKERS VOTE TO JOIN BLET: Workers from the Carrollton Railroad voted to join the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen. Carrollton Railroad is a subsidiary of CSX that operates in western Kentucky and Cincinnati. [BLET, 11-6-24]
RAILWAY AGE NAMES CSX'S JOE HINRICHS RAILROADER OF THE YEAR: Railway Age Magazine has named CSX president and CEO Joe Hinrichs Railroader of the Year. He joined the industry in Sept. 2022. [Railway Age, 11-6-24]
AMTRAK DISRUPTIONS NOV. 6: Northbound Auto Train on Nov. 6 was 10 and one-half hours late arriving into its Lorton destination. The train was nearly four hours late leaving from Sanford, and it incurred further delay en route, including the need to refuel in Rocky Mount, N.C. Northbound Carolinian was three hours late arriving into New York. En route delays included mechanical issues and freight train interference. [Amtrak, 11-6-24]
PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE TO ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, MOVING FORWARD: The Illinois Dept. of Transportation says Rockford is the largest city in the state without a passenger train, but people could soon board one there and get to Chicago in about two hours. The agency plans to break ground on such a service in 2025. Two round trips per day are planned, with stops en route in Elgin, Huntley and Belvidere. [WIFR, 11-6-24]
MBTA COMPLETES ORANGE LINE WORK, LIFTS NINE SPEED RESTRICTIONS: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has completed track work on the Orange line, lifting nine speed restrictions. The agency says the Orange line is now completely free of speed restrictions for the first time since 2010. [Mass Transit Magazine, 11-6-24]
WINTER PARK EXPRESS TO BEGIN IN DECEMBER: Amtrak's Winter Park Express in Colorado will start earlier and run more often this season. The trains will begin running the last two weekends in December, and the service will expand to five days weekly after Jan. 1, 2025. With 59 round trips this season, 29 more than last the season, the Winter Park Express will serve skiers traveling from Denver to the Fraser Valley. The trains will serve both the Winter Park Resort and neighboring Fraser. [Progressive Railroading, 11-5-24]
QUANTICO, VA., STATION IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED: Virginia Railway Express and the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority have completed a $27.5-million improvement at the Quantico passenger train station. The project called for construction of a pedestrian bridge, a center platform, and an extension of an existing platform. [Progressive Railroading, 11-5-24]
WORK STOPPAGE AT B.C. PORTS: Most British Columbia ports have been locked down by employers due to the threat of a strike by longshore and warehouse union workers. Meanwhile, two terminals at the Port of Montreal are shut down by a strike that began late last month. The backlog created will grow commensurately with the length of the shutdowns. Rail traffic will be impacted. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-5-24]
FUNDS AWARDED TOWARD EASTERN MAINE RAILWAY UPGRADES: The Maine Dept. of Transportation has been awarded $53.3-million for freight rail upgrades along two Eastern Maine Railway main lines in Penobscot, Aroostook, Washington and Piscataquis counties. The funding will also be used to rehab currently dormant tracks to the One North Bio-Industrial Park in Millinocket. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-5-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-seven pct of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Nov. 3, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 16 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 11-4-24]
BNSF PROFIT INCREASES IN 3-Q: BNSF's profits, revenue and volume all increased in the third-quarter 2024. Quarterly operating income increased 13.4 pct, revenue grew 2.8 pct, and overall volume was up 8.3 pct. The railway's operating ratio was 65 pct, a 3.4-point improvement compared with a year ago. [Freight Waves, 11-4-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO SERVE NEW RECYCLING CENTER IN CEDARTOWN, GA.: Solarcycle has announced it will open a 5-gigawatt recycling center in Cedartown, Ga., which will be directly served by Norfolk Southern. [Progressive Railroading, 11-4-24]
HEAVY DUTY MAINTENANCE FACILITY OPENS AT PUEBLO PLEX: MxV Rail has opened its new heavy-duty maintenance facility at Pueblo Plex. The facility offers indoor space for the service of locomotives, components and cars. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-4-24]
SEPTA, UNION HAVE NOT REACHED A LABOR AGREEMENT: Railway Track & Structures reported this morning that SEPTA had reached an agreement with the Transport Workers Union to avert a strike. This report was in error. SEPTA has not reached an agreement with the union, and the latest reporting is that the current contract expires on Nov. 7, after which the union has voted to authorize a strike. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-4-24]
NJT UNVEILS ITS FIRST MULTILEVEL-III EMU: The first of New Jersey Transit's new Multilevel-III double-deck electric multiple-unit coaches was unveiled Oct. 30. Entry into service is planned beginning mid-2025, replacing single-deck Arrow-III cars dated from the late 1960's. [Railway Gazette, 11-1-24]
STRIKE LIKELY NOV. 4 AT BRITISH COLUMBIA PORTS: Most British Columbia port terminals will likely shut down Nov. 4 amid a labor dispute between the Longshore & Warehouse Union and the B.C. Maritime Employers Association. The work stoppage would have an immediate impact on CN and CPKC traffic volumes in Canada. [Freight Waves, 11-1-24]
FEDS AWARD AMTRAK $126-M TOWARD SAFETY, EFFICIENCY, RELIABILITY: Amtrak has been awarded nearly $126-million in funding from the Federal Railroad Administration's consolidated rail infrastructure & safety improvements grant program. Many Amtrak partners also received funding. A number of the grants will also benefit host carriers or commuter lines over which Amtrak trains operate. [Railway Track & Structures, 11-1-24]
CSX DESIGNATES RAILPORT LOGISTICS PARK IN MOBILE AS PLATINUM SELECT SITE: CSX has designated the RailPort Logistics Mobile Park in Alabama as a 'Platinum CSX Select Site.' Platinum sites must meet criteria in infrastructure and utility availability, environmental reviews, zoning, serviceability and proximity to highways. [Progressive Railroading, 11-1-24]
AMTRAK DISRUPTIONS NOV. 1: Westbound Southwest Chief was seven and one-half hours late arriving into Los Angeles, having been delayed en route by severe weather and freight train interference. Southbound Coast Starlight was delayed more than four and one-half hours north of Redding, California, after the train struck a boulder causing damage to its locomotive. The incident also caused a delay of about two hours to the northbound train, held for its turn to use the track that was blocked. Southbound Silver Star was eight hours late arriving into Miami, having been delayed by locomotive trouble in New York, and a vehicle incident in Florida. [Amtrak, 11-1-24]
FEDS AWARD $54.5-M TOWARD CONSTRUCTION OF CALIFORNIA'S MADERA HSR STATION: Federal funding of $54.5-million will support construction of the Madera Amtrak station, transforming it into the Madera HSR station. It will serve Madera and northern Fresno counties as part of the early high-speed rail segment between Merced and Bakersfield. [Progressive Railroading, 11-1-24]
RRTA ANNUITIES TO INCREASE IN 2025: Most Railroad Retirement annuities will increase in 2025. The tier I portion will increase by 2.5 pct, and tier 2 portion will go up by 0.8 pct. [BLET, 11-1-24]
OCTOBER 2024 AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-two percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their final scheduled destination on time or earlier in October 2024. The average arrival of all long-distance trains in the survey period was 43 minutes late. The average arrival of just those trains that were behind schedule was one hour and 15 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 11-1-24]
DIRECT AMSTERDAM-LONDON RAIL SERVICE TO RESUME FEBR. 10: Direct trains between Amsterdam and London, which were suspended in June 15 due to issues at Eurostar's cross-channel terminal, will resume Febr. 10, 2025, following capacity improvements. [Railway Gazette, 11-1-24]
CANOPY OF RAIL STATION IN SERBIA COLLAPSES, KILLING 14: On Nov. 1, 2024, a concrete canopy of the main railway station in Novi Sad, Serbia, collapsed onto the pavement below, killing 14 people and injuring three others. [Wikipedia, 11-1-24]
FRA PROPOSES NEW RULE AFFECTING PTC: The Federal Railroad Administration has proposed a new rule focusing on situations when positive train-control systems need to be shut down, either intentionally or not, establishing uniform processes when the occasion develops. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-31-24]
CSX CELEBRATES CLINCHFIELD RAILROAD WITH HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE: CSX on Oct. 30 rolled out its newest heritage locomotive, no. 1902, that celebrates the Clinchfield Railroad. [Railway Age, 10-31-24]
FEDS GRANT $18.2-M TO GRENADA R.R. FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS: Grenada Railroad will receive a federal grant toward modernizing its rail line between Canton to Southaven, Mississippi. [Progressive Railroading, 10-31-24]
SEOUL TO PLACE MOST SURFACE RAIL LINES UNDERGROUND: The Seoul city government has announced an $18.5-billion project to place underground 94 pct of the railway lines currently running on the surface. [International Railway Journal, 10-31-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 519,415 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Oct. 26, 2024, up 4.2 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were up 0.9 pct, and intermodal was up 6.9 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 10-30-24]
SOUND TRANSIT COMPLETES 500-FOOT BRIDGE, ITS LONGEST FOR LIGHT-RAIL SYSTEM: Seattle's Sound Transit has completed its longest bridge in light-rail work. Trains are expected to travel along the 7.8 mile Federal Way-SeaTac segment in 2026. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-30-24]
CSX BEGINS DOUBLE-STACK SERVICE FROM BALTIMORE TO MIDWEST: CSX has launched double-stack intermodal operations between the Port of Baltimore and the Midwest. Double-stacking containers will help the port grow its business by about 160,000 containers annually. [Progressive Railroading, 10-30-24]
FEDS ANNOUNCE $545-M LOAN TO BART FOR 775 NEW PASSENGER RAIL CARS: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has announced a $545-million loan to the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District toward 775 new passenger rail cars. [Progressive Railroading, 10-30-24]
PACIFIC HARBOR LINE GETS PARTIAL FUNDING FROM STATE FOR FIVE ZERO-EMISSION LOCOMOTIVES: Pacific Harbor Line has received partial funding from the California Air Resources Board to purchase five zero-emission locomotives at a cost of $34.2-million. [Progressive Railroading, 10-30-24]
CONCEPT FOR HIGH-CAPACITY SLEEP-IN-MOTION RAIL CARS UNVEILED: A concept for high-capacity overnight trains has been unveiled by Skoda Group designers in Austria. The Sleep-in-Motion proposal features a double-deck rail car with pairs of single-berth cubicles stacked one above the other on each side of a corridor on the lower deck, with a further set of cubicles below the roof on the upper deck. The cubicles are just 35.4 inches high with mattresses shaped to fit the cubicles 78.7 inches long and up to 33.4 inches wide. [Railway Gazette, 10-30-24]
S.F. MUNI TO UPDATE TRAIN-CONTROL SYSTEM, RID ITSELF OF FLOPPY DISKS: Floppy disks were developed in the late 1970's and 1980's, and have since been mostly replaced by internal and external hard drives. But not yet by MUNI. The state of California will provide a grant that will enable MUNI to update its automatic train-control system to modern standards, and get rid of the floppies. After a new system is installed in the underground subway, the next phase of the project will be to integrate the system with street-running trains. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-29-24]
STEELMAKER EXPRESSES INTEREST IN ACQUIRING TALGO: Steelmaker Sidenor has expressed interest in a total or partial acquisition of rolling stock manufacturer Talgo. After evaluating the Oct. 16 proposal, Talgo's board decided to enter into discussions. The proposal would ensure Talgo remains a Spanish company. [Railway Gazette, 10-29-24]
DELTA RAILROAD SERVICES EXPANDS FOOTPRINT WITH OFFICES IN N.Y. CITY: Delta Railroad Services has expanded its footprint with offices in New York City. Its East Coast headquarters in Queens is now open. Some of the projects Delta has worked on in New York for the past two decades include the Culver line, Queens boulevard, Staten Island, Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-29-24]
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR HUDSON RIVER RAIL TUNNEL GROUND STABILIZATION PROJECT: International engineering consulting group COWI has been awarded a contract for the Hudson River ground stabilization project to strengthen the seabed on the east side of the river for construction of the new twin-tube tunnel between New York and New Jersey. [Rail Business Daily, 10-29-24]
UNIFOR OPENS BARGAINING WITH VIA RAIL: Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100, representing more than 2,500 workers at VIA Rail Canada, have opened negotiations on key issues affecting the work place. [Railway Age, 10-29-24]
FRA OFFERS GRANTS TO 122 RAIL PROJECTS IN 41 STATES, D.C.: A total of 122 rail projects in 41 states and the District of Columbia have been named recipients in a Federal Railroad Administration grant toward infrastructure and safety improvements. The selected projects will receive more than $2.4-billion. The awards require a non-federal match, usually of 20 percent. [Freight Waves, 10-29-24]
AMTRAK CRESCENT STRIKES PEDESTRIAN IN VA.: Amtrak's northbound Crescent was involved in a collision with a trespasser Oct. 28 in North Springfield, Va. Authorities did not release details or the condition of the victim, but the train was delayed more than two and one-half hours because of the incident. [Fox5 DC, 10-28-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-five percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Oct. 27, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 11 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 10-28-24]
AMTRAK ADVANCES ELECTRICAL UPGRADE ON PHILADELPHIA-PAOLI LINE SEGMENT: Amtrak has awarded a construction contract with HNTB for the 18-mile section of track between Zoo in Philadelphia and Paoli, Pa., to upgrade the electrical transmission line system. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-28-24]
DART BREAKS GROUND ON NEW SILVER LINE MAINTENANCE FACILITY: Dallas Area Rapid Transit on Oct. 24 broke ground for its rolling stock maintenance depot for its future Silver line commuter route. Revenue service on the 26-mile line from Plano to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport is about a year away. [Railway Gazette, 10-28-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN FORMS CUSTOMER ADVISORY BOARD: Norfolk Southern has formed a customer advisory board which will meet regularly to discuss current initiatives, identify means for improvement, and explore new opportunities. [Railway Gazette, 10-28-24]
HYDROGEN-POWERED TRAIN TO BEGIN TESTING ON METROLINK'S ARROW LINE: ZEMU, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered FLIRT H2 train from Stadler, will begin testing Nov. 2 on Metrolink's Arrow line between San Bernardino and Redlands, California. [Railway Age, 10-28-24]
BNSF REACHES TENTATIVE LABOR AGREEMENT WITH ELECTRICAL WORKERS: BNSF and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have reached a tentative agreement on a five-year contract. [Freight Waves, 10-28-24]
GEORGIA CENTRAL EMPLOYEES VOTE TO JOIN BLET: Employees at the Georgia Central Railway have voted to join the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen. [Railway Age, 10-28-24]
AMTRAK ASKS STB TO DISMISS ITS REQUEST TO FORCE OPERATION OF GULF COAST SERVICE: In light of a settlement on the issue, Amtrak has asked the Surface Transportation Board to officially dismiss its request to force CSX and Norfolk Southern to allow the planned Gulf Coast service between Mobile and New Orleans. The opening date for service has not yet been announced. [Progressive Railroading, 10-28-24]
SEPTA FACES POSSIBLE STRIKE IN EARLY NOVEMBER: SEPTA's largest local of the Transport Workers Union may strike in early November, with talks over a new contract currently stalled. Members of the local comprise about 5,000 trolley, bus and subway operators, mechanics, custodians and maintenance people. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-28-24]
SOUND TRANSIT SELECTS ROUTE, STATION LOCATIONS FOR WEST SEATTLE LINK EXTENSION: Seattle's Sound Transit has selected the route and station locations along the future West Seattle Link Extension. The project may now move toward the final design phase, with construction to begin in 2027. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-28-24]
AUTO TRAIN DEPARTURE TIMES TO ADVANCE ONE HOUR ON NOV. 10: Beginning Nov. 10, Amtrak's Auto Train departure times will advance by one hour. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m., and closes at 2 p.m. for motorcycles, and 2:30 p.m. for all other vehicles. [Amtrak]
SHUNTING ISSUE SLOWS VIA TRAINS ON MONTREAL-WINDSOR ROUTE: Passenger trains on VIA Canada's heavily-used Montreal-Windsor route will now experience slower rides for their recently-arrived Siemens equipment in response to host carrier CN requiring that the trains lower their speed at public crossings. At issue is that the axle count of 24 on the new trains is below the safe count of 32, which could create shunting issues with the signal systems and crossing protection if they run at maximum speed. Short trains need to travel at lower speeds to maintain shunt, according to CN. [Rail Passengers Assn., 10-25-24]
AMTRAK'S CITY OF NEW ORLEANS DELAYED BY ISSUE WITH TRAIN'S HORN: Amtrak's southbound City of New Orleans on Oct. 25 was delayed move than three hours south of McComb, Mississippi, due to a mechanical issue with the train's horn. [Amtrak, 10-25-24]
ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED AT AMTRAK'S WESTPORT, N.Y., STATION: Accessibility improvements have been completed to the Amtrak station in Westport, N.Y., have been completed following a $3-million project. The station serves Adirondack customers along the New York-Montreal route. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-25-24]
AMTRAK'S NEW BOREALIS TRAIN PASSES 100,000-PASSENGER MARK: Ridership on Amtrak's new state-sponsored Borealis service between Chicago and St. Paul passed the 100,000-passenger mark this year. [Progressive Railroading, 10-25-24]
NORTH CAROLINA R.R. GETS FEDERAL GRANT FOR IMPROVEMENTS: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded the North Carolina Railroad a $105.6-million grant toward Carolinian and Piedmont passenger and freight improvements. [Progressive Railroading, 10-25-24]
TWO SHIPPING COMPANIES AGREE TO PAY $102-M FOR BALTIMORE BRIDGE COLLAPSE: The two shipping companies involved in the deadly March 26 collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key bridge by the containership Dali have agreed to settle a lawsuit with the federal government for $102-million. [Freight Waves, 10-25-24]
SEPTA'S CEO TO STEP DOWN: Leslie Richards on Nov. 29 will step down as CEO and general manager of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Her contract had been to expire in 2027. [Railway Age, 10-25-24]
UNION PACIFIC REPORTS 3-Q RESULTS: Union Pacific today reported 2024 third-quarter net income of $1.7-billion or $2.75 per diluted share. This compares with $1.5-billion or $2.51 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. Operating income of $2.4-billion increased 11 pct. [BLET, 10-24-24]
METRA TO REOPEN 147TH STATION FOLLOWING UPGRADE: Chicago's Metra 147th/Sibley station will reopen Oct. 28 after a $20.8-million, two-year project. It has been completely rebuilt and upgraded. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-24-24]
STADLER LANDS FIRST U.S. LIGHT-RAIL VEHICLE ORDER: Stadler has announced its first U.S. light-rail vehicle order. It covers the supply of up to 80 Citylink cars tailored for Utah's TRAX service in Salt Lake City. [Railway Gazette, 10-24-24]
FRA PROPOSES NEW RULE FOR TRACK SAFETY INSPECTIONS: The Federal Railroad Administration has published a notice of proposed rulemaking calling for improving track safety by pairing automatic inspection technology with human inspections. The changes would require certain railroads to supplement visual inspections by operating a track geometry measurement system at specified minimum frequencies on certain types of track. The rule would also set timeframes for railroads to remediate any defects identified. [Progressive Railroading, 10-24-24]
NORWAY'S ARCTIC CIRCLE EXPRESS DERAILS, ONE KILLED, SEVERAL INJURED: Norway's Arctic Circle Express running along the Northern Coast derailed Oct. 24 killing at least one person and injuring several others. The train was traveling with up to 70 people on board to the town of Bodoe, just north of the Arctic Circle, when it was struck by a large rock. [Newsweek, 10-24-24]
UGANDA TO BUILD 170-MILE ELECTRIFIED RAIL LINE: Uganda has signed a contract for a Turkish firm to build an electrified standard-gauge railway running 170 miles from Malaba on the Kenyan border to Kampala. [Railway Gazette, 10-24-24]
GROUND BROKEN ON NEW AMTRAK STATION IN MOBILE: Amtrak yesterday broke ground on its new train station that will serve riders on its future Gulf Coast service. The site is next to the Mobile Convention Center. [Progressive Railroading, 10-23-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 510,730 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Oct. 19, 2024, up 1.1 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 4.6 pct, and intermodal was up 6.0 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 10-23-24]
METRO-NORTH'S WATERBURY BRANCH TO RESUME SERVICE OCT. 28: Service on Metro-North's Waterbury branch in Connecticut will resume Oct. 28 following damage sustained to the line this past August. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-23-24]
CPKC REPORTS 3-Q RESULTS: Canadian Pacific Kansas City said third-quarter 2024 revenues and earnings improved on freight volumes that were slightly higher than the year-ago quarter. Revenues were up 6 pct to $2.53-billion with diluted earnings per share of 65 cents and core adjusted combined diluted EPS of 72 cents. [Freight Waves, 10-23-24]
EGYPT OPENS FIRST PASSENGER RAIL LINE IN MORE THAN 50 YEARS: The first passenger rail service in more than 50 years ran Oct. 7 on the line linking Al Ismailia on the Suez Canal with Bir-al-Abd in the north of the Sinai peninsula. [Freight Waves, 10-23-24]
CN REPORTS 3-Q EARNINGS: Canadian Nation saw modest revenue gains as wildfires and a work stoppage slowed operations in the third-quarter. Revenue was $2.97-billion in the quarter ending Sept. 30, up 3 pct from the year-ago quarter. Operating income of $1.1-billion was unchanged from a year ago, and operating ratio was 63.1 pct. Earnings of $1.24 per share were up 2 pct. [Freight Waves, 10-22-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN REPORTS 3-Q RESULTS: Norfolk Southern announced adjusted third-quarter earnings of $1.1-billion on revenues of $3.05-billion, with an adjusted operating ratio of 63.4 pct. Adjusted earnings per share of $3.24 were up 23 pct from the same quarter last year, and revenue was up 3 pct. [Freight Waves, 10-22-24]
CLASS-I RAIL EMPLOYMENT LOWER IN SEPT.: Class-I railroads in the U.S. employed 120,399 workers in Sept. 2024, a decrease of 0.18 pct compared with the previous month, and down 1.69 pct from Sept. 2023, according to the Surface Transportation Board. [Progressive Railroading, 10-22-24]
GEORGIA PACIFIC LOCATES FACILITY AT CSX SELECT SITE: Through its Select Site program, CSX recently helped Atlanta-based Georgia Pacific locate a new $425-million Dixie paper products manufacturing facility in Jackson, Tennessee. [Progressive Railroading, 10-22-24]
ONE DEAD, 15 INJURED IN TWO-TRAIN COLLISION IN WALES: One man died and 15 others were taken to a hospital after a low-speed collision involving two trains in Powys, Wales, late Oct. 21. [Rail Business Daily, 10-22-24]
EXTENSIVE DELAYS TO SOUTHWEST CHIEF: Both east- and westbound sections of Amtrak's Southwest Chief arrived into their respective Oct. 21 destinations more than 12 hours behind schedule. The trains had been delayed by a boulder upon the tracks in New Mexico and associated safety inspection of the track involved. They were also delayed by severe weather and crew availability en route. The westbound section the following day was 11 hours late arriving Los Angeles, the result of crew availability, rail congestion and speed restrictions. [Amtrak, 10-22-24]
STB APPROVES CSX, CPKC ACQUISITIONS OF MERIDIAN & BIGBEE LINES TO CREATE DIRECT SERVICE: The Surface Transportation Board has approved applications from CSX and CPKC to create a new direct interchange in Alabama by acquiring lines operated by Meridian & Bigbee Railroad, eliminating the need for it to serve as an intermediate carrier. CSX will operate the line east of Myrtlewood to Burkeville, Alabama, and CPKC will acquire and operate between Meridian, Mississippi, and Myrtlewood, Alabama. Meridian & Bigbee will continue to provide local service between Meridian and Myrtlewood. [Railway Gazette, 10-21-24]
CSX ORDERED TO PAY TWO EMPLOYEES WRONGFULLY DISMISSED IN BLUE FLAG INCIDENT: A U.S. Dept. of Labor judge has ordered CSX to pay a total of $453,510 to an engineer and a conductor who were wrongfully terminated for refusing to move their train when a blue flag was displayed. The incident occurred in Nov. 2017 in a rail yard in Waycross, Ga. Blue flags are applied whenever a particular class of workers determine that it is unsafe to move a train, such as when work is being done somewhere on or beneath the train. [BLET, 10-21-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-two pct of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Oct. 20, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 18 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 10-21-24]
STADLER TO SUPPLY 12 ELECTRIC BATTERY LOCOMOTIVES TO PARIS METRO FOR MAINTENANCE: Paris transport operator RATP has placed an order with Stadler for supply of 12 custom-designed electric battery locomotives for maintenance and repair trains across the metro network. [Railway Gazette, 10-21-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF 16 HOURS LATE INTO DESTINATION: The eastbound Southwest Chief due into Chicago Oct. 20 as 16 hours late arriving there the following morning. According to Amtrak, the train, which had left Los Angeles Oct. 18 on time, was delayed due to mechanical issues at Lamy, N.M., after the train had struck a boulder on the track, and the locomotive had to be replace with another one. Further delays en route involved crew availability, traffic congestion and weather issues. [Amtrak, 10-21-24]
BLET MEMBERS RATIFY AGREEMENT FOR METRA'S TAKEOVER OF SERVICE: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen members have ratified an implementing agreement related to Chicago's Metra taking over services from Union Pacific. A new operating entity known as Northeast Illinois Commuter Railroad will handle those operations, which Union Pacific had operated since is purchase of Chicago & Northwestern in the mid-1990's. [BLET, 10-18-24]
BMWED MEMBERS RATIFY LABOR AGREEMENT WITH NORFOLK SOUTHERN: Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division members working for Norfolk Southern have ratified a new labor agreement with the company in advance of the next collective bargaining round. [Progressive Railroading, 10-17-24]
NORTHERN CENTRAL RWY PROMOTES JENNIFER KRIEG TO OPERATIONS MANAGER: The Northern Central Railway tourist line in New Freedom, Pa., has promoted Jennifer Krieg to operations manager. She will oversee and maintain the railroad's historic locomotives and passenger cars. [Progressive Railroading, 10-17-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 505,033 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Oct. 12, 2024, up 2.6 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 1.3 pct, and intermodal was up 5.9 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 10-16-24]
GROUND BROKEN ON LONG BRIDGE PROJECT: A groundbreaking was held Oct. 15 for the $2.3-billion Long Bridge project, which is designed to boost passenger rail capacity over the Potomac River between Washington, D.C., and Virginia. [Railway Age, 10-16-24]
UPGRADE IN STORE FOR PIERRE & EASTERN R.R. IN S.D.: More than 16 miles of track and 34 structures will be upgraded on the Pierre & Eastern Railroad's main line to improve operations, safety and economic growth along the Upper Black Hills of South Dakota. [Progressive Railroading, 10-16-24]
CSX REPORTS 3-Q EARNINGS: CSX reported third-quarter 2024 operating income of $1.35-billion compared with $1.27-billion in the prior year period. Net earnings were $894-million or 46 cents per diluted share, compared with $828-million or 41 cents per diluted share in the same period last year. Total volume of 1.59 million units was 3 pct higher than the third-quarter last year. [CSX, 10-16-24]
SEVENTEEN AMTRAK EMPLOYEES QUIT FOLLOWING HEALTH CARE FRAUD INVESTIGATION: Seventeen Amtrak employees at New York Penn Station or in New Jersey have resigned following an investigation of alleged health care fraud. The investigation found that the employees participated in an $11-million health care fraud scheme beginning in 2019 and continuing until June 2022. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-16-24]
GREYHOUND TO CONTINUE USING DOWNTOWN CHICAGO TERMINAL: Greyhound will continue operating out of its downtown Chicago terminal, at least for now. Fix North America, owner of Greyhound, says the company is negotiating a month-to-month lease to remain at its current site. Previously it was proposed that Greyhound might use Union Station as a temporary terminal if it had no other place to exchange its passengers, something Amtrak was opposed to due to capacity issues. [Block Club Chicago, 10-16-24]
PORTS OF INDIANA LAUNCHES CARGO OPERATION ON OHIO RIVER: Ports of Indiana has launched a new business venture called 'Indiana River & Rail Terminals,' the largest general cargo operation on the Ohio River. The business will manage all the general cargo facilities at the Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon ports, including rail transload facilities. Ports of Indiana is also building two new rail yards and adding a $3-million heavy-lift crane, arriving in 2025. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-15-24]
RAIL-SERVED LOGISTICS CENTER TO BE ADDED IN ELWOOD, ILLINOIS: CJ Logistics America has broken ground on a new logistics center in Elwood, Illinois, the company's second distribution in Elwood. It will access key infrastructures, including BNSF and Union Pacific. [Progressive Railroading, 10-15-24]
ONE KILLED, 20 INJURED AS NJT TRAIN STRIKES FALLEN TREE: A New Jersey Transit train operator was killed and at least 20 passengers were injured early Oct. 14 when the train their train into a fallen tree on the River line in Mansfield, N.J. [Progressive Railroading, 10-14-24]
NORTHEAST CORRIDOR TRAFFIC DISRUPTED BY FIRE: Amtrak at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 14 alerted customers to expect delays between Philadelphia and Wilmington due to fire department activity. [Amtrak, 10-14-24]
CPKC OPENS KANSAS CITY OPERATIONS CENTER: Canadian Pacific Kansas City has opened its new U.S. operations center at Knoche yard in Kansas City, Missouri. The building now houses the company's U.S. network operations, yard operations, police offices and a training center. [Progressive Railroading, 10-14-24]
UNION PACIFIC, FERROMEX SUSPEND GRAIN SHUTTLE PERMITS DUE TO DERAILMENT: Union Pacific and Ferromex on Oct. 12 suspended issuance of future permits for some grain shuttles due to a derailment south of Eagle Pass, Texas. The suspension will remain until the current lineup is cleared and trains are able resume. [Progressive Railroading, 10-14-24]
TRAINS BEGIN USING BELFAST'S GRAND CENTRAL STATION: Rail services have begun using Belfast's Grand Central Station, now the largest transport facility on the island of Ireland. It has eight rail platforms and capacity to serve 20 million passengers a year, and it replaces the previous Great Victoria Street rail and Europa bus stations. [Railway Gazette, 10-14-24]
AMTRAK TRAIN STRIKES, KILLS MAN IN ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN: A 44-year-old Pontiac man was struck and killed by an Amtrak train early Oct. 12 in Royal Oak, Michigan. Police said the man disregarded crossing signals and attempted to hurry across the tracks as the train approached. [Click on Detroit, 10-12-24]
EMPIRE BUILDER CURTAILED BY FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILMENT: Sections in both directions of Amtrak's Empire Builder were suspended Oct. 12 with a bus bridge utilized between Whitefish and Shelby, Montana, due to a freight train derailment. [Amtrak, 10-12-24]
'INNOVATIVE ART AT AMTRAK' ON DISPLAY AT CHICAGO UNION STATION: Amtrak's innovative Art at Amtrak series is now on temporary display at Chicago Union Station featuring works by three acclaimed contemporary artists who live and work in the city. [Amtrak, 10-11-24]
AMTRAK OFFERS OPENING STATEMENT IN STB HEARING OVER SUNSET LIMITED PERFORMANCE: In its opening statement Oct. 7 to the Surface Transportation Board, Amtrak blamed Union Pacific's individual dispatching decisions along with its systems, policies and practices for delays on the Sunset Limited. Amtrak said freight train interference made nearly two-thirds of westbound passengers more than an hour late, and eastbound trains with more than half of passengers delayed. The agency gave host carriers until Dec. 23 to reply, and non-party replies being due Jan. 22, 2025. [Rail Passengers Assn., 10-11-24]
PATRONAGE AT N.Y. PENN THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN ITS DESIGN: The rail partners working on what comes next for New York's Penn Station have ruled out alternatives that fail to expand the station's physical footprint, but admit that through-running is a key component, remaining very much on the table. The existing station was sized for about 200,000 people per day, but some 600,000 currently flow through it each day. [Rail Passengers Assn., 10-11-24]
UNION PACIFIC EARNS HERITAGE AWARD FOR PRESERVING, RUNNING BIG BOY LOCOMOTIVE: The National Railway Historical Society along with Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures magazines have awarded Union Pacific's heritage program their second annual historic preservation award recognizing a North American railroad for a historically significant preservation project. It is in recognition of the railroad's ongoing commitment to preserving and operating historic locomotives, the centerpiece being Big Boy steam locomotive 4014. [Progressive Railroading, 10-11-24]
PATRIOT RAIL NAMES ROBERT TURNAUCKAS TO HEAD SCENIC RAIL EXCURSIONS: Robert Turnauckas, chief commercial officer of Patriot Rail, will assume a new position as president of scenic rail excursions. In addition to its excursions to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, Patriot last year acquired a scenic franchise in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and plans to re-establish tourist trains out of Gettysburg, Pa. [Progressive Railroading, 10-11-24]
AMTRAK DISRUPTIONS OCT. 11: Northbound Vermonter arrived St. Albans the morning after it was due to arrive and was three hours and 43 minutes behind schedule. Amtrak blamed most of the train's delay on mechanical issues, including a reverse move from north of Philadelphia to replace a locomotive. Westbound Empire Builder was delayed over three hours west of Spokane by a disabled freight train blocking the track. Southbound Texas Eagle was five and one-half hours late into San Antonio with principal delays due to a disabled freight train in Texas and subsequent congestion en route. [Amtrak, 10-11-24]
CPKC'S ANNUAL HOLIDAY TRAIN TO BEGIN NOV. 21: Canadian Pacific Kansas City's annual holiday train will begin rolling across Canada and the U.S. Nov. 21 with stops at more than 160 communities, ending Dec. 20. [Progressive Railroading, 10-10-24]
AMTRAK'S HARRISBURG LINE TRACK RENEWAL PROJECT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: Amtrak's Harrisburg line track renewal project is progressing ahead of schedule, with the last day of replacement bus service now planned for Nov. 7, two weeks ahead of when planned. The project began in March, with 43 track miles of rail replaced, and nearly 114,000 concrete ties installed to date. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-10-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN'S ASHEVILLE-NEWPORT LINE TO BE OUT OF SERVICE UNTIL AT LEAST LATE JANUARY: Norfolk Southern says its storm-damaged rail line between Asheville, N.C., and Newport, Tn., will be out of service until at least late January, while assessment of the route between Asheville and Old Fort, N.C., is ongoing. [Freight Waves, 10-10-24]
NEW R211S SUBWAY CARS ENTER STATEN ISLAND SERVICE: New R211S subway cars have entered service on the Staten Island Railway in New York. They are six times more reliable than the older cars in the fleet. [Progressive Railroading, 10-10-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 486,187 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Oct. 5, 2024, down 2.5 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 3.5 pct, and intermodal was down 1.7 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 10-9-24]
FIRM PILOTING IDLE REDUCTION SYSTEM ON NORFOLK SOUTHERN LOW-HORSEPOWER LOCOMOTIVES: ASC Railroad Solutions is piloting an idle reduction system on Norfolk Southern's low-horsepower locomotives. The system performs all the functions of typical automated start/stop systems, but also utilizes a lithium-ion energy module to keep systems operational, even when the unit is shut down, thus reducing emissions and saving fuel. [Progressive Railroading, 10-9-24]
HILLARD ENTERPRISES TO PURCHASE SPECIALIZED DIESEL PARTS INC.: Hillard Enterprises Inc. in Arkansas has agreed to purchase Specialized Diesel Parts Inc. SDP offers aftermarket components for the rail, marine and power generation industries. [Progressive Railroading, 10-9-24]
STADLER TO SUPPLY 14 FLIRT BATTERY TRAIN SETS FOR DENMARK: Local Denmark railway operator Lokaltog has signed a contract for Stadler to supply 14 Flirt Akku battery train sets for 2028 delivery. [Railway Gazette, 10-9-24]
ALSTOM TO MODERNIZE 1,100-MILE SIGNALING NETWORK IN CHILE: Alstom has signed a contract to modernize the signaling network on over 1,100 miles of track for the EFE Trenes de Chile. Alstom will install a control center and on-board signaling equipment on passenger and freight trains. [Progressive Railroading, 10-9-24]
RAILS PREP IN FLORIDA AHEAD OF HURRICANE: Railroads operating in Florida issued service advisories Monday and Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's anticipated landfall of hurricane Milton. Passenger railroads are suspending some service. Amtrak has modified its schedule for Silver and Auto Train routes starting today. SunRail commuter service is suspended. Brightline will stop operations beginning Wednesday between West Palm Beach and Orlando. [Progressive Railroading, 10-8-24]
MBTA RESUMES GREEN LINE SERVICE FOLLOWING OCT. 1 DERAILMENT: Boston's MBTA has resumed service between North Station and Union Square, and between North Station and Medford/Tufts, which had been suspended by a derailment on Oct. 1. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-8-24]
CN INTERMODAL HUB CONSTRUCTION IN TORONTO GAINS COURT APPROVAL: Canadian National has won approval from a Canadian court to proceed with the construction of a large intermodal hub which would bring four freight trains and 800 diesel trucks daily. Approval had been on hold due to concerns over air quality. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-8-24]
RAIL MODAL GROUP REPORTS 100TH TRAIN PASSING THROUGH SINCE OPENING: Rail Model Group has reported the 100th train has passed through its now four-year-old intermodal facility in Minot, N.D. The facility opened in Oct. 2020, and since shipped more than 20,000 containers. [Progressive Railroading, 10-8-24]
NJT ADDS CONRAIL SCHEME TO HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE: New Jersey Transit has introduced its latest heritage locomotive, GP40PH-2B No. 4208, freshly painted in Conrail livery. [Railway Age, 10-7-24]
AMTRAK BREAKS GROUND ON NEW HEAVY MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN PHILADELPHIA: Amtrak on Oct. 4 kicked off construction of a new $462-million heavy maintenance facility at Penn Coach yard in Philadelphia. [Railway Age, 10-7-24]
SMART-MD RATIFIES AGREEMENTS WITH BNSF, CSX, NS: The International Association of Sheet Metal, Rail and Transportation Railroad, Mechanical and Engineering Dept. members employed on BNSF, CSX and Norfolk Southern have voted to ratify respective collective bargaining agreements. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-7-24]
TRAIN, ENGINE SERVICE EMPLOYEES OF CEDAR PORT R.R. VOTE TO JOIN BLET: Train and engine service employees at Transglobal Solutions/TGS Cedar Port Railroad in Baytown, Texas, have voted to join the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen. [BLET, 10-7-24]
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON SOUND TRANSIT'S KENT STATION PARKING IMPROVEMENTS: Seattle's Sound Transit has begun heavy construction on the Kent station parking and access improvements project. It is expected to be completed in 2027, and includes a $62-million garage for riders of the Sounder S line, Sound Transit Express and King County Metro. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-7-24]
EMPIRE BUILDER NEARLY 12 HOURS LATE DUE TO HIGH WIND WARNINGS, DAMAGING TRACK FIRE: Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder arrived into its destination Chicago nearly 12 hours late Oct. 7 (the morning after it had been due to arrive) having been delayed en route by high wind warnings, speed restrictions, and a fire along the right-of-way ahead causing track damage. [Amtrak, 10-7-24]
AMTRAK SERVICE DISRUPTIONS OCT. 6: Southbound Crescent was delayed in Washington by mechanical issues with the need to add a locomotive, and was four hours late leaving its next station Alexandria. Southbound Silver Meteor was delayed about an hour and 15 minutes south of Baltimore due to equipment issues. Westbound California Zephyr was over an hour late leaving Chicago due to equipment issues. Westbound Empire Builder was delayed three hours west of Fargo due to mechanical problems. Sections in both directions of the Texas Eagle were annulled between Little Rock and Texarkana with buses provided as a transit bridge due to a disabled freight train blocking the route. [Amtrak, 10-6-24]
VERMONTER DELAYED NEARLY FIVE HOURS IN NEW HAVEN DUE TO MECHANICAL TROUBLE: Amtrak's southbound Vermonter on Oct. 5 was delayed nearly five hours in New Haven due to mechanical issues. [Amtrak, 10-5-24]
PORT STRIKE ENDS WITH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT: The International Longshoreman's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance have reached a tentative agreement, and agreed to extend their master contract until Jan. 15, 2025, and then return to the table to negotiate other issues. Ports along the East and Gulf coasts had been dealing with a work stoppage since Oct. 1. [Progressive Railroading, 10-4-24]
TRAIN DISPATCHERS RATIFY AGREEMENTS WITH BNSF, NS: Members of the American Train Dispatchers Association have ratified labor agreements with BNSF and Norfolk Southern. [Progressive Railroading, 10-4-24]
GENESEE & WYOMING ACQUIRES CENTRAL GULF RAILCAR SERVICES: Genesee & Wyoming now independently owns Central Gulf Railcar Services, a repair shop in Mobile. It is G&W's third dedicated equipment and maintenance repair operation in North America, joining facilities in Ontario and Alberta. [Progressive Railroading, 10-4-24]
BALTIMORE METRO TO CLOSE OCT. 4-7 FOR TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM TESTING: The Maryland Transit Administration will close its Metro subway system Oct. 4 to early Oct. 7 to allow for testing of a new communications-based train-control system to support new rail cars beginning service in mid-2025. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-4-24]
GROUND BROKEN ON NEW STREET ENTRANCE TO LIRR GRAND CENTRAL MADISON CONCOURSE: Ground has been broken on a new accessible street entrance to the Long Island Rail Road Grand Central Madison concourse at 45th street and Madison avenue, expected for completion in 18 months. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-4-24]
BRIDGE REPAIR IN LOUISIANA CAUSES SUSPENSION OF AMTRAK'S CRESCENT SOUTH OF ATLANTA: A bridge issue on the Norfolk Southern main line near Slidell, Louisiana, has suspended Amtrak Crescent service south of Atlanta through at least Oct. 3. The southbound Crescent on Sept. 30 was terminated in Meridian, Mississippi, and subsequent southbound trains were terminated at Atlanta. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-3-24]
STUDY ANALYZES POTENTIAL CONCEPTS TO DOUBLE CAPACITY AT N.Y. PENN STATION: A feasibility study has been released analyzing the potential of four concepts to double train capacity at New York Penn Station during peak period, and expand Amtrak Empire Service without expanding the current station's footprint. The study, however, concludes none of the four concepts can achieve this capacity goal. Amtrak's CEO said in response that to meet the needs of the region, the station must expand beyond its existing footprint to deliver the capacity promised by the Gateway program. [Progressive Railroading, 10-3-24]
ALSTOM TO SUPPLY 12 AVELIA HORIZON DOUBLE-DECK HSR TRAINS TO PROXIMA: European high-speed rail startup Proxima has signed a $938-million order for Alstom to supply 12 Avelia Horizon double-deck high-speed trains for its planned open access services between Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes, Angers and Paris. [Railway Gazette, 10-3-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 507,537 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Sept. 28, 2024, up 1.6 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 3.5 pct, and intermodal was up 6.2 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 10-2-24]
CALIFORNIA INCREASES AUTHORITY TO TRANSPORTATION DEPT. TO MANAGE LOSSAN CORRIDOR: California's governor has given its state Dept. of Transportation more authority in managing efforts to remediate the troubled LOSSAN corridor, much of which runs along the California coast and has suffered from geologic changes, erosion and landslides. The corridor serves Amtrak Surfliner, commuter trains of different agencies, and freight trains of Union Pacific and BNSF. The corridor is the only rail line connecting San Diego with the nation's rail system. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-2-24]
BNSF BEGINS EXPRESS CARLOAD SERVICE FROM PACIFIC N.W. TO DENVER, SALT LAKE CITY: BNSF has begun a new express carload service from the Pacific Northwest to the Denver and Salt Lake City markets. The service is designed to cut transit time in half compared with traditional rail, including three-day transit from Spokane to Denver. [Progressive Railroading, 10-2-24]
KEOLIS SEEKS ELECTRIC M.U. ROLLING STOCK FOR MBTA CATENARY, BATTERY OPERATION: Keolis, operating partner for Boston's MBTA, will request proposals in December to procure new, modern, multiple-unit rolling stock capable to operate under overhead catenary and/or on-board batteries. [Progressive Railroading, 10-2-24]
AMTRAK LACKS SUFFICIENT PLANNING FOR NEW BALTIMORE TUNNEL, INSPECTOR GENERAL FINDS: Amtrak has not completed all necessary planning for Baltimore's Frederick Douglas Tunnel program despite the approach of major construction, increasing the risk of cost overruns and delays, a report by Amtrak's office of inspector general has found. [Railway Age, 10-2-24]
UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS HOLDINGS ACQUIRES PARSEC: Universal Logistics Holdings has acquired Parsec LLC, Parsec Intermodal of Canada and OB Leasing. Parsec is a terminal management services provider to North American railroads with nearly 2100 employees at over 20 rail yards, and provides crane and intermodal equipment repair, drayage and container stacking. [Progressive Railroading, 10-2-24]
AMTRAK ADVANCES SEATTLE RAIL YARD UPGRADES: Amtrak will soon begin major rail upgrades in Seattle. A new maintenance facility and yard improvements will support the existing fleet and prepare for future state-of-the-art trains. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-2-24]
FEDS MAKE $1-B AVAILABLE FOR PASSENGER RAIL PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF NEC: Tapping funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law, the Federal Railroad Administration has made $1-billion available for passenger rail projects that are not within the Northeast corridor. The funding address infrastructure needs, reduces congestion, and expands access to reliable transportation options for people lining in underserved regions. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-2-24]
EMPIRE BUILDER DELAYED OVER FOUR HOURS BY BROKEN RAIL: Amtrak's westbound Portland section of the Empire Builder left Spokane Oct. 2 on time, but was delayed over four hours shortly after departure due to a broken rail. [Amtrak, 10-2-24]
FEDERAL FUNDING APPROVED FOR PROPOSED NEW YORK-SCRANTON AMTRAK SERVICE: Federal funding has been announced for a proposed Amtrak line stretching from New York Penn Station to Scranton, Pa. It would make three daily round trips with stops in several New Jersey cities including Newark, Montclair, Morristown and Dover. The line will primarily utilize existing tracks. [News12 N.J., 10-2-24]
CHINA UNVEILS PROTOTYPE HYDROGEN-POWERED TRAIN SET: China's CRRC has unveiled a Cinova H2 new energy intelligent prototype, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered intercity train set which it believes could replace diesel trains on non-electrified railways worldwide. [Railway Gazette, 10-2-24]
SEPTEMBER 2024 AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Fifty-three percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in September 2024. The average arrival of all long-distance trains was 35 minutes late. The average arrival of just those trains that were behind schedule was one hour and 15 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 10-1-24]
UNION PACIFIC REPORTS SUCCESSFUL SURGE HANDLING IN WEST COAST CONTAINER VOLUME: Union Pacific says it is already successfully handling the surge in container volume at West Coast ports, which began weeks ago as shippers sought to dodge a potential strike at ports on the East and Gulf Coasts. The company's year-over-year West Coast volumes rose 40 pct in September. [Freight Waves, 10-1-24]
PRESIDENT BIDEN ACCUSES MARITIME EMPLOYERS OF HOARDING PROFITS: President Biden broke his silence on the labor dispute between the International Longshoremen and the U.S. Maritime Alliance by accusing employers of hoarding profits. He said that executive compensation and dividends have grown in line with soaring profits, and it is only fair that workers, who had put themselves at risk during the pandemic, should see a meaningful increase in their wages. [Freight Waves, 10-1-24]
NORTHERN CENTRAL RAILWAY ACQUIRES GE 80-TON DIESEL: The Northern Central Railway in New Freedom, Pa., is adding a GE 80-ton diesel locomotive to its roster. It was purchased from McHugh Locomotive Equipment and is being numbered 32. It was previously used at the Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Pa. Locomotives of this type were produced in the 1940's through the end of the second World War. [Progressive Railroading, 10-1-24]
MBTA COMPLETES TRACK WORK ON BRAINTREE BRANCH: Boston's MBTA has completed track work on its Red line Braintree branch, and removed 37 speed restrictions. Across 18 miles of track, crews were able to bring the infrastructure to a state of good repair and improve travel time. [Railway Track & Structures, 10-1-24]
GULF INLAND LOGISTICS PARK ACQUIRES ACREAGE IN DAYTON, TEXAS: Gulf Inland Logistics Park has acquired 1.149 acres of industrial real estate in Dayton, Texas. It is within 100 miles of five Texas ports and has dual access to BNSF and Union Pacific. [Progressive Railroading, 10-1-24]
DOCKWORKERS STRIKE EAST, GULF COAST PORTS: Union dockworkers of the International Longshoreman's Association began striking against employers at ports across the U.S. East and Gulf coast ports early Oct. 1. The strikes are expected to cost the U.S. $5-billion per day and stunt supply chains. [Freight Waves, 10-1-24]
AMTRAK OCT. 1 LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN DISRUPTIONS: The westbound Empire Builder on Oct. 1 was three hours and 50 minutes late into Seattle, and four hours and 10 minutes late into Portland, having been delayed en route by police activity in Minnesota, and added delays due to freight train interference and adverse weather. The southbound Crescent was terminated in Meridian, Mississippi, with passengers bused to further destinations due to an issue with the Pearl River bridge. The northbound Auto Train had left its Sanford terminal almost two and one-half hours late due to mechanical issues and a locomotive swap, and was further delayed en route by more mechanical issues, arriving Oct. 1 into Lorton almost six and one-half hours late. [Amtrak, 10-1-24]
FORMER CLINCHFIELD MAIN LINE EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED BY HURRICANE: Aerial photos reveal CSX's former Clinchfield main line has been extensively damaged from hurricane Helene's flood. High waters are prohibiting officials from gaining access to many of the communities, and some bridges have been compromised or destroyed. More than 20 inches of rain fell across much of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. [Freight Waves, 9-30-24, from Trains Magazine]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN IMPACTED BY HURRICANE DAMAGE: Some of Norfolk Southern's rail lines remain out of service following damage from hurricane Helene. They include: Macon to Brunswick, Ga., 70 miles of trees to remove; Asheville, N.C., routes west and east due to flooding; Bluefield, W.Va., to Norton, Va., downed power line; Augusta to Millen, Ga., downed power lines; and Augusta, Ga., to Columbia, S.C., downed power lines. [Railway Track & Structures, 9-30-24]
SAN DIEGO'S COPPER LINE EAST COUNTY CONNECTOR OPENS: San Diego's Metropolitan Transit system Copper Line East County Connector, which replaces San Diego Trolley Green and Orange line service north of El Cajon Transit Center has entered revenue service. [Railway Age, 9-30-24]
UNION COUNTY INDUSTRIAL R.R. TO SERVE $58-M FEED MILL IN PA.: Ceremonial ribbon was cut Sept. 27 on a $58-million Country View Family Farms' feed mill in Union County, Pa. North Shore Railroad subsidiary Union County Industrial Railroad, which interchanges with Norfolk Southern, will serve the facility. [Progressive Railroading, 9-30-24]
UNIFOR FILES NOTICE OF DISPUTE IN LABOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH C.N.: Canadian National announced Sept. 27 that Unifor has filed a notice of dispute three days after the beginning of negotiations. Also known as 'conciliation,' the notice of dispute is sent to Canada's labor minister and typically results in the appointment of a conciliation officer to assist the parties in reaching an agreement. [Progressive Railroading, 9-30-24]
AMTRAK'S CRESCENT OVER EIGHT HOURS LATE ARRIVING DESTINATION: Amtrak's Crescent arrived into its destination New York eight hours and nine minutes late the early morning of Sept. 30. The train had begun is journey from New Orleans Sept. 28 on time, but was delayed more than two hours in Atlanta on availability of a crew. Other delays en route were due to signal problems, and later by yet another availability of crew issue in Virginia. [Amtrak, 9-30-24]
AMTRAK'S CITY OF NEW ORLEANS DELAYED BY SIGNAL, COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEMS: Both the north- and southbound sections of Amtrak's City of New Orleans were significantly delayed Sept. 30 arriving into their respective destinations because of communications and signal issues. The northbound section arrived into Chicago three hours and 17 minutes late, and the southbound section arrived into New Orleans four hours and 31 minutes late. [Amtrak, 9-30-24]
BRIDGE FIRE DISRUPTS SOUTHWEST CHIEF: Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief was six hours late Sept. 30 into Los Angeles. It had been delayed with equipment issues in Albuquerque and by fire department activity west of Needles. The eastbound Southwest Chief was annulled later that same day from Los Angeles to Albuquerque due to a freight train incident resulting in the bridge fire. [Amtrak, 9-30-24]
CSX TRAIN DERAILS IN NEWPORT NEWS, TWO AMTRAK TRAINS CANCELED: A CSX freight train derailment caused delays and the cancellation of two Amtrak trains late Sept. 28 in Newport News, Va. The CSX train derailed after it struck two trees on the main line tracks. Amtrak posted the cancellation of trains 99 and 124, both traveling between Richmond and Newport News, both as a result of the derailment. [WAVY, 9-28-24]
JUDGE APPROVES $600-M SETTLEMENT FOR PEOPLE IMPACTED BY 2023 DERAILMENT IN OHIO: In what is believed to be the largest settlement of its kind in U.S. history, a federal judge approved a $600-million settlement, to be paid by Norfolk Southern, on behalf of thousands of people impacted by the Febr. 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment and fire. The settlement compensates households and businesses within a 20-mile radius. Those within 10 miles could opt in to a separate personal injury program and claim additional funds. [Pittsburgh Post-Dispatch, 9-28-24]
SEPT. 27 NOT A GOOD DAY FOR AMTRAK: Amtrak experienced four long-distance train delays causing them to arrive at their destination well into the morning following their respective Sept. 27 scheduled arrival. Eastbound Southwest Chief was 10 hours and 50 minutes late into Chicago from mechanical issues, mandatory crew change, signal problems and freight train interference. Southbound Coast Starlight, which had originated at Portland rather than Seattle, was 10 and one-half hours late into Los Angeles from equipment and mechanical issues. Eastbound Cardinal was nine hours and 53 minutes late into New York from severe weather conditions along with a vehicle blocking the tracks. Northbound Carolinian was eight hours and 20 minutes late into New York from a disabled freight train ahead that had collided with a downed tree, plus ongoing speed restrictions. [Amtrak, 9-28-24]
AMTRAK ANNOUNCES SERVICE ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO HURRICANE HELENE: Amtrak's Auto Train, northbound Crescent, northbound Silver Star and Piedmont trains are annulled Sept. 27 due to hurricane Helene. Other Silver service trains are annulled between Jacksonville and Miami. Palmetto is annulled between Washington and Savannah. [Amtrak, 9-27-24]
BRIAN BARR NAMED CHIEF MECHANICAL OFFICER OF NORFOLK SOUTHERN: Norfolk Southern has named Brian Barr vice-president and chief mechanical officer. He began his rail career in 1998 at Conrail, and later CSX. [Railway Track & Structures, 9-27-24]
RAIL SAFETY COALITION TO ADDRESS SAFETY LAUNCHED IN FLORIDA: The Florida Dept. of Transportation has crafted a coalition of rail industry representatives to address rail safety concerns in the state. The goal is to develop strategic solutions and infrastructure enhancements, innovative technology and behavioral science research to reduce rail collisions, fatalities and injuries. [Progressive Railroading, 9-27-24]
TRIMET APPROVES FOUR-YEAR LABOR AGREEMENT WITH AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION: TriMet's board has approved a four-year labor agreement with the Amalgamated Transit Union covering 2700 employees at the Portland, Oregon, agency. [Progressive Railroading, 9-27-24]
ANNE REINKE NAMED PRESIDENT OF INTERMODAL ASSN. OF NORTH AMERICA: The Intermodal Association of North America's board has announced that Anne Reinke will be joining he organization as president and CEO upon the retirement of Joni Casey at the end of the year. [Progressive Railroading, 9-27-24]
COAST STARLIGHT OVER EIGHT HOURS LATE INTO SEATTLE: Amtrak's northbound Coast Starlight due into Seattle Sept. 26 arrived into that location over eight hours behind schedule, having been delayed en route by a system-wide positive train-control issue, and later by a disabled freight train and resulting crew change. [Amtrak, 9-27-24]
RAIL PASSENGERS ASSN. APPLAUDS PLAN TO JOIN CAPITOL LIMITED, SILVER STAR: When earlier this week Amtrak shared its plan to combine the Capitol Limited and Silver Star into a new, temporary route called 'Floridian,' one of the main benefits is freeing up sorely needed Superliners for service elsewhere on the national network. Superliners are in short supply. Shifting the Capitol's equipment around while responding to the East River tunnel project's disruptions is a smart move, said the president of the Rail Passengers Assn. The schedule got a few tweaks in order to bring the two timetables together, but for many stations the new plan will be an improvement. The Silver Meteor will still run between New York and Miami, and the Floridian will maintain the current connections such as Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Richmond and Raleigh, plus all of the ADA accommodations. [Rail Passengers Assn., 9-27-24]
NEW GEORGIA LAW INCREASES PUNISHMENT FOR ASSAULT, BATTERY AGAINST RAIL WORKERS: A new law in the state of Georgia increases the punishment for assault and battery against railroad workers. Penalty is possible incarceration of one to three years and a fine of $5,000, depending on the severity of the case. [BLET, 9-27-24]
AMTRAK LAUNCHES DATA INTEGRATION WITH GOOGLE: Amtrak has joined forces with Google to help riders search for the most up-to-date departure times, trip durations and fares directly on the Google search results page. Once passengers select a train, they can click through to the Amtrak website to complete the booking without needing to re-enter their trip details. [Progressive Railroading, 9-26-24]
PATH TO INSTALL COMPOSITE TIES IN RAIL TUNNEL: Next month, Port Authority Trans-Hudson will install 12,250 composite ties along more than two miles of track in one of the tunnels between Grove street and Newport in Jersey City. Composite ties are better used in tunnels where they are protected from the weather, and their life expectancy is about 50 years. [Progressive Railroading, 9-26-24]
NEW SWITCHING COMPANY AT INDIANA PORT TO BE NAMED MOUNT VERNON RAILROAD: The Ports of Indiana and OmniTRAX have reported the name of their new switching railroad serving customers at the southwest Indiana Port is Mount Vernon Railroad. [Railway Age, 9-26-24]
PALMETTO DELAYED BY COLLISION WITH VEHICLE IN S.C.: Amtrak's northbound Palmetto was five hours and 25 minutes late arriving into New York in the early morning of Sept. 26. According to Amtrak, the bulk of the train's en route delay was in a collision with a vehicle in South Carolina. [Amtrak, 9-26-24]
STADLER TO SUPPLY UP TO 129 ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES TO SWITZERLAND: SBB Cargo and Stadler have signed an agreement covering the supply of up to 129 multi-system electric locomotives, with a firm order for an initial 36. They will replace the aging Re420 locomotives and support a plan to modernize and standardize the Swiss freight fleet by 2050. [Railway Gazette, 9-26-24]
CHEMICAL SPILL FROM OPEN VALVE OF RAIL CAR CAUSES EVACUATION: A chemical spill in Hamilton, Ohio, led to an emergency evacuation Sept. 24. The spill was caused by an a valve that had been left open on a train car which leaked styrene, and forced an immediate evacuation for anyone within a half-mile radius. No injuries were reported. [KFBK, 9-25-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 522,112 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Sept. 21, 2024, up 6.0 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 0.6 pct, and intermodal was up 12.0 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 9-25-24]
STRIKE POSSIBLE AT EAST, GULF COAST PORTS OCT. 1: East and Gulf Coast ports and some railroads have begun notifying customers that they are preparing for a potential work stoppage that could begin Oct. 1 by the International Longshoreman's Association.[Progressive Railroading, 9-25-24]
AMTRAK'S CARDINAL DELAYED FOUR AND ONE-HALF HOURS IN N.J. BY MECHANICAL ISSUES: Amtrak's westbound Cardinal was delayed about four and one-half hours Sept. 25 south of Newark, N.J., due to mechanical issues and the need for a rescue locomotive to get the train moving. [Amtrak, 9-25-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN NAMES TWO TO TOP MANAGEMENT POSITIONS: Norfolk Southern has named Jason A. Zampi as executive vice-president, chief financial officer and Treasurer; and Jason M. Morris as senior vice-president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary. [Railway Age, 9-25-24]
OHIO APPROVES GRANT, LOAN TOWARD CINCINNATI EASTERN R.R. FOR TIE REPLACEMENT: The Ohio Rail Development Commission has approved a $1-million grant and a $750,000 loan to Regional Rail for the Cincinnati Eastern Railroad toward a tie replacement project spanning multiple counties in Ohio. [Railway Track & Structures, 9-25-24]
AMTRAK TO LAUNCH CHICAGO-MIAMI SERVICE BY JOINING CAPITOL LIMITED WITH SILVER STAR: Amtrak will begin a temporary daily round-trip run between Chicago and Miami Nov. 10. The new 'Floridian' route will combine the existing Capitol Limited and Silver Star while construction begins on the upcoming East River Tunnel project in New York. The project will require one tube to be closed at a time, which impacts the Silver Star. The schedule will be similar to the existing routes of the two trains. [Progressive Railroading, 9-24-24]
FEDS AWARD $472.3-M GRANT TOWARD BOSTON'S DRAW ONE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded a $472.3-million grant toward replacement of the North Station Draw One bridge spanning Charles River between Boston and Cambridge. The project will replace and modernize the drawbridge and replace its control tower. [Railway Track & Structures, 9-24-24]
FLORIDA AWARDS GRANTS TOWARD RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS: CSX will use a $3.9-million state grant to help fund the design and construction of a new aggregate terminal in Plant City to accommodate 20 acres of storage capacity and 250,000 additional tons of aggregate annually. Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad will use $3.7-million toward a new aggregate terminal in Lake City to accommodate 200,000 additional tons. The Jacksonville Port Authority will use $2.6-million to increase rail capacity and an additional 240,000 tons annually, and the Port of Tampa Bay will use $6.2-million to construct the Berth 218 aggregate terminal adding 500,000 tons of limerock annually. [Progressive Railroading, 9-24-24]
DAILY ICE TRAIN TO RUN BETWEEN PARIS AND BERLIN BEGINNING DEC. 16: A direct, daily ICE train between Paris and Berlin will begin running Dec. 16. Both standard and first-class service will be offered, and the journey will be around eight hours with stops at Strasbourg, Karlsruhe and Frankfurt. [Railway Gazette, 9-24-24]
AMTRAK'S VERMONTER TERMINATED EN ROUTE BY MECHANICAL ISSUES: Amtrak's southbound Vermonter on Sept. 24 was terminated at Philadelphia, short of its destination, due to mechanical issues. [Amtrak, 9-24-24]
COAST STARLIGHT DELAYED BY ROCKET LAUNCH, OTHER FACTORS: Amtrak's southbound Coast Starlight arrived into Los Angeles three and one-half hours late Sept. 24 having been delayed by freight train interference and mechanical issues en route, and then by a scheduled Space X rocket launch south of Santa Barbara. [Amtrak, 9-24-24]
GROWTH OF RAIL INDUSTRY 'INTENTIONALLY STYMIED' BY MANAGEMENT, BLET V.P. SAYS: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen first vice-president Mark Wallace did not mince his words when he testified at the Surface Transportation Board's public hearing that focused on the lack of growth and poor service in the freight rail industry. He said that the growth of the industry has been intentionally stymied by rail management through implementation of the precision scheduled railroading model. He added that the major carriers will not change voluntarily, and that is why the board should continue to held them accountable and act when necessary. [BLET, 9-24-24]
CLASS-I RAIL EMPLOYMENT DROPS SLIGHTLY IN AUGUST: As of mid-August, Class-I railroads employed 120,611 people, down 0.39 pct since mid-July, and down 1.78 pct compared with the year-ago level, according to the Surface Transportation Board. [Progressive Railroading, 9-23-24]
LIRR BEGINS UPGRADE TO BABYLON STATION: An accessibility upgrade and renovation project at Long Island Rail Road's Babylon station has begun. Phase 1 closed the western end of the platform, and the project will enter phase 2 in Sept. 2025 when the western end will reopen and the eastern end will close. [Railway Track & Structures, 9-23-24]
ANITA ANAND APPOINTED CANADIAN MINISTER OF TRANSPORT: Anita Anand has been appointed Canadian Minister of Transport. She succeeded Pablo Rodriquez, who stepped down after two months on the job. [Railway Age, 9-23-24]
FIRST TRAIN SET FOR MEXICO'S TREN MAYA PROJECT DELIVERED: Alstom on Sept. 20 reported delivering the first of three long-distance train sets for Mexico's Tren Maya project. [Railway Age, 9-23-24]
SEPT 23-29 IS 'TRACKS, THINK TRAIN WEEK': Tracks, Think Train Week, Sept. 23-29, aims to enhance public safety by raising awareness of the critical importance of staying safe around railroad tracks. More than 95 pct of all rail-related deaths involve drivers going through grade crossings, or a person on the tracks struck by a train. Every three hours in the U.S. a person or vehicle is hit by a train. [Assn. of American Railroads, 9-23-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Fifty (50) percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Sept. 22, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and nine minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 9-22-24]
NATIONAL ACADEMIES RELEASES STUDY ON EXTRA-LONG FREIGHT TRAINS: A National Academies study on the problems created by extra-long freight trains has called on regulators to impose substantial financial penalties on host carriers who do not build sidings long enough to accommodate their long freight trains to clear a route for Amtrak trains to pass. [Rail Passengers Assn., 9-20-24]
CANDO TO DOUBLE SIZE OF STURGEON TERMINAL: Cando Rails & Terminals plans to double the size of its Sturgeon multipurpose rail terminal in Albert. The company purchased 320 acres west of the existing terminal and plans to involve an investment of up to $200-million (C). Start of construction is planned in second-quarter 2025. [Progressive Railroading, 9-20-24]
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR OVER EIGHT HOURS LATE ARRIVING EMERYVILLE: Amtrak's westbound California Zephyr was four hours and 45 minutes late leaving Chicago Sept. 17 due to equipment issues. The train was further delayed en route by rail congestion, speed restrictions, police activity and downed power lines, finally arriving into Emeryville eight hours and 18 minutes late in the early morning of Sept. 20. [Amtrak, 9-20-24]
CPKC COMPLETES FIRST PHASE TEST OF HYDROGEN-POWERED LOCOMOTIVE: CP-1200, Canadian Pacific Kansas City's high-horsepower hydrogen locomotive, reached a milestone earlier this month when it successfully completed its first phase of testing by hauling both loaded and empty bulk trains. It and its dedicate fuel tender joined a consist that included three diesel locomotives and 152 loaded gondolas from Sparwood to Golden, B.C., and then assisted the return of 152 empty gondolas back to Sparwood. [Progressive Railroading, 9-19-24]
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, AWARDED $3.2-M FEDERAL GRANT FOR RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS: The U.S. Dept. of Commerce has awarded a $3.2-million grant to Columbia, Missouri, toward improving the commercial freight rail corridor in the region. The grant is matched by $800,000 in local funds. [Railway Track & Structures, 9-19-24]
NEW YORK MTA PROPOSES $68.4-B FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN: The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority has released its proposed 2025-2029 capital plan that would invest $68.4-billion in rebuilding, improving and expanding its system of subways, buses, commuter railroads, bridges and tunnels. [Railway Age, 9-19-24]
NJT APPROVES CONTRACT FOR STORAGE, INSPECTION FACILITY IN NEW BRUNSWICK: New Jersey Transit's board has approved a contract to begin construction of the future Delco Lead Storage and Inspection facility project in New Brunswick along the Northeast corridor. It is designed to create a safe haven for storing locomotives and rail cars during extreme weather events. [Progressive Railroading, 9-19-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 522,557 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Sept. 14, 2024, up 6.8 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were flat, and intermodal was up 13.0 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 9-18-24]
MBTA TO 'PARTIALLY' REOPEN WINCHESTER CENTER STATION SEPT. 30: Boston's MBTA will partially reopen its Winchester Center Station on its Lowell commuter rail line Sept. 30. The 'partial' reopening means the south end of the station will be accessible, and passengers can ride both inbound and outbound. According to MBTA, the station is scheduled to be fully open in winter 2025. [Railway Track & Structures, 9-18-24]
CPKC ADDS HERNANDEZ TO BOARD: Arturo Gutierrez Hernandez has been added to the board of directors of Canadian Pacific Kansas City. He is CEO of the second largest Coca-Cola bottler in Latin America. [Railway Age, 9-18-24]
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR NEXT PHASE OF SAN DIEGO'S PARK BLVD. GRADE CROSSING PROJECT: Balfour Beatty has been awarded a $9-million contract for the next phase of San Diego's Park boulevard grade crossing project near Petco Park. The crossing is located within rail rights-of-way of BNSF, San Diego & Imperial Valley Railroad, and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. [Progressive Railroading, 9-18-24]
LIGHTER, SMALLER BATTERY PACK TO BE CREATED FOR U.K. COMMUTER, SUBURBAN TRAINS: Hitachi Rail is leading a public-private partnership to create a new battery pack that is lighter and smaller so it can be installed on commuter and suburban trains in the United Kingdom. [Progressive Railroading, 9-18-24]
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR NINE HOURS LATE ARRIVING EMERYVILLE: Amtrak's westbound California Zephyr arrived nine hours late into its destination Emeryville on Sept. 18. According to Amtrak, the train was extensively delayed in Denver due to mechanical issues. Other en route delays included waiting for a re-crew in Glenwood Springs, signal problems and rail congestion. [Amtrak, 9-18-24]
EMPIRE BUILDER CONSIDERABLY DELAYED BY COLLISION WITH VEHICLE: Amtrak's eastbound section of the Empire Builder was involved in an accident with a vehicle Sept. 18 east of Vancouver, Washington. According to Amtrak, the train had to return to Portland due to damage to the locomotive, which needed to be replaced. Eventually the train departed once again, but it was seven hours behind schedule when it finally arrived in Spokane to connect up with the section from Seattle. [Amtrak, 9-18-24]
FREIGHT TRAINS ARE SAFE AT ANY LENGTH, TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD SAYS: The Transportation Research Board has released a study on operating freight trains longer than 7,500 feet, and the study does not demonstrate data supporting any claims that manifest trains exceeding 7,500 feet pose additional operational safety risks. Despite the extensive review, the study arbitrarily focuses on trains exceeding 7,500 feet, despite acknowledging a lack of consensus on the definition of a 'long train.' Additionally, the report notes the committee was unable to draw conclusions about potential community impacts of emission reductions or from occupied crossings by longer trains. [Assn. of American Railroads, 9-17-24]
METROLINK TO INCREASE TRAIN SERVICE: Southern California's Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, a nearly 23 pct increase in service, to its schedule beginning Oct. 21. The new schedule will also make connections between lines more streamlined. [Progressive Railroading, 9-17-24]
NEW CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE ACCESS TUNNEL COMING TO MBTA'S RED LINE: Boston's MBTA will install a construction vehicle access tunnel as a way to improve Red line service. The access point for construction vehicles will reduce the number of affected stations during maintenance, and the project is expected to be finished in 2028. [Progressive Railroading, 9-17-24]
EMPIRE BUILDER DELAYED BY FREIGHT INTERFERENCE, WEATHER ISSUES: Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder arrived into its Chicago destination three and one-half hours late Sept. 17, with most of its en route delays blamed upon freight train interference and weather issues. [Amtrak, 9-17-24]
LIRR TO ADD THIRD TRACK AT PORT WASHINGTON: Long Island Rail Road is acquiring land for a third track at its Port Washington station to bolster service. Currently there are 4.5 miles of single track between Great Neck and Port Washington, thereby limiting the number of trains that can run on this segment. [Railway Track & Structures, 9-17-24]
SANCTIONS STOP CHINESE LOCOMOTIVE DELIVERIES TO BELARUS: Chinese manufacturer CRRC Datong has decided not to deliver 15 class BKG2 electric locomotives ordered by Belarus Railway as a result of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and E.U. in response to the Belarusian government's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. [Railway Gazette, 9-17-24]
STB DETERMINES BNSF, CSX, UP ARE 'REVENUE ADEQUATE': The Surface Transportation Board has determined that three Class-I railroads were 'revenue adequate' in 2023. The revenue adequate Class-I carriers in 2023 and their respective rates of return were: BNSF, 10.63 pct; CSX, 14.27 pct; Union Pacific, 15.98 pct. For 2023, the STB determined that the railroad industry's cost of capital was 9.87 pct. [Progressive Railroading, 9-16-24]
OKLAHOMA & KANSAS R.R. PLANS TO LEASE, OPERATE 37-MILE LINE IN OKLAHOMA, KANSAS: Oklahoma & Kansas Railroad has filed to lease and operate a 37-mile rail line owned by the Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation and Blackwell Industrial Authority. The line extends from Blackwell, Oklahoma, to Wellington, Kansas, where it interchanges with BNSF. [Progressive Railroading, 9-16-24]
PALMETTO DELAYED ON RUN TO SAVANNAH: Amtrak's southbound Palmetto was almost three hours behind schedule arriving into its destination Savannah Sept. 16, having been delayed for an hour in Washington due to Mechanical problems, and further delayed en route by signal trouble, track maintenance, rail congestion and a downed tree. [Amtrak, 9-16-24]
TWO RIDING ATV'S KILLED WHEN STRUCK BY AMTRAK TRAIN IN MD.: Two adult males on an all terrain vehicle were struck and killed by a southbound Amtrak train late Sept. 15 along the Northeast corridor in Rosedale, Md. The incident resulted in considerable disruption to several trains. [Eldersburg Patch, 9-16-24]
TEXAS EAGLE DELAYED BY MECHANICAL ISSUES IN TEXAS: Amtrak's eastbound Texas Eagle was delayed more than four hours Sept. 15 between Longview and Marshall, Texas, because of mechanical issues. [Amtrak, 9-15-24]
FATAL TRAIN COLLISION IN EGYPT: At least three people were killed and 49 others wounded in a collision between two passenger trains in Zagazig city northeast of Cairo, Egypt's health ministry said Sept. 14. The railway authority said that one of the trains was heading from Zagazig to Ismailia, while the other was on its way from Mansoura to Zagazig. [Reuters, 9-14-24]
NEW NORFOLK SOUTHERN CEO PRIORITIZES OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE: Norfolk Southern, which has struggled to maintain consistent and reliable service in recent years, will no longer tolerate mediocre operational performance, new CEO Mark George says. "The tolerance for poor performance inside of rails has always bothered me," said he Sept. 13 in his first public remarks since replacing Alan Shaw as chief executive two days earlier. He added that the company will be glad to put controversy in the rear view mirror so that the railroad can focus on moving forward. [Freight Waves, 9-13-24]
ALL AMTRAK BOARD CANDIDATES BACK LONG-DISTANCE SERVICE: The Senate Commerce Committee on Sept. 11 considered and questioned four potential new members for Amtrak's board, and all four pledged their support for Amtrak expansion, fleet replacement, improving the passenger experience, and strengthening long-distance service. [Rail Passengers Assn, 9-13-24]
COST CUTS AT BNSF ARE RISKY, UNIONS WARN: Recent cutbacks totaling $105-million in BNSF's 2024 capital maintenance plan have raised major safety and service concerns from the railroad's unions. In a statement filed with the Surface Transportation Board, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Division of the Teamsters contends that BNSF's decision to defer maintenance and infrastructure projects is being done in pursuit of a lower operating ratio. As part of the cutbacks, BNSF was furloughing two track undercutter gangs and two surface tamping gangs. [Freight Waves, 9-13-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN'S CEO TERMINATED: Norfolk Southern's president and CEO Alan Shaw was terminated Sept. 11 by the company's board. The termination was in connection with preliminary findings from an investigation that he had violated company policies by engaging in a consensual relationship with the company's chief legal officer, who was also fired. Mark George, executive vice-president and chief financial officer, has been appointed president and CEO effective immediately. [Progressive Railroading, 9-11-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 479,179 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Sept. 7, 2024, up 7.3 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were up 2.2 pct, and intermodal was up 12.1 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 9-11-24]
BRIGHTLINE WEST'S TRAIN SET MODEL UNVEILED: Brightline West and Siemens Mobility have unveiled a scale model and renderings of the American Pioneer 220 high-speed train sets designed to operate on the planned line linking Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, east of Los Angeles. The new trains will have an ultra wide body based on an empty tube concept, with a capacity of 434 to 450 passengers, depending on the final interior configuration. Features will include large seats and 'party car.' The most accessible high-speed rail vehicle on the market will enable passengers with wheelchairs to move throughout the entire train set. [Railway Gazette, 9-11-24]
CSX SANTA TRAIN TO MAKE ITS RUN NOV. 23: CSX's annual Santa Train will make its 2024 run on Nov. 23 from Shelbiana, Ky., to Kingsport, Tn. The festive train will deliver more than 15 tons of toys, backpacks and winter clothing to families along the route. [Progressive Railroading, 9-11-24]
CHARLOTTE FINALIZES PURCHASE OF NORFOLK SOUTHERN'S O-LINE: The city council in Charlotte, N.C., finalized Sept. 10 the purchase of the O-line from Norfolk Southern for he Charlotte Area Transit System. The agreement allows Norfolk Southern to continue its existing freight service on the line. [Progressive Railroading, 9-11-24]
AMTRAK SERVICE AT NEW ORLEANS SUSPENDED DUE TO STORM: Due to hurricane conditions, Amtrak service at New Orleans is suspended Sept. 11 and 12. [Amtrak, 9-11-24]]
SILVER STAR OVER NINE HOURS LATE INTO MIAMI SEPT. 11: Amtrak's southbound Silver Star was more than nine hours behind schedule when it arrived into its destination Miami on Sept. 11. According to Amtrak, the train was delayed en route due to an overhead power issue, rail congestion, damage to equipment, an adjustment to its consist and calendar inspection. [Amtrak, 9-11-24]
POWER OUTAGE IN N.J. IMPACTS NORTHEAST CORRIDOR RAIL: Amtrak on Sept. 10 alerted customers of a 'brief' power outage in New Jersey, with trains on the Northeast corridor having expected delays of up to one hour. [Amtrak, 9-10-24]
SIEMENS PICKS LOCATION FOR U.S. HIGH-SPEED TRAIN FACTORY: Siemens Mobility has selected a site at Horseheads in upstate New York to produce American Pioneer 220 high-speed train sets for the Brightline West project to link Las Vegas with southern California. [Railway Gazette, 9-10-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN BOARD PROBES ALLEGED WORKPLACE MISCONDUCT OF ITS CEO: Norfolk Southern's board has opened a probe into its CEO Alan Shaw having an alleged affair with an employee, and the Wall Street Journal reported that Shaw was expected to step down, possibly within a week. [Reuters, 9-9-24]
L.A. METRO GETS FEDERAL GRANT TOWARD VAN NUYS BLVD LIGHT-RAIL PROJECT: A U.S. $893-million grant will go toward Los Angeles Metro's construction on the East San Fernando Valley light-rail transit project to be built on Van Nuys Boulevard. [Railway Track & Structures, 9-9-24]
BNSF LAUNCHES PROGRAM EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHORT LINES: BNSF has launched a program that expands opportunities for short lines. Being called 'Shortline Select,' it combines the customized service of short lines with BNSF's network, and Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway is the first to participate. [Progressive Railroading, 9-9-24]
PORT OF INDIANA-BURNS HARBOR OPENS NEW DOCK: Officials last week marked the opening of a new dock, Berth 5, at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, to handle bulk shipments from ocean vessels, lake carriers and barges, and transfer the cargo to rail cars, trucks, other barges and storage areas. [Progressive Railroading, 9-9-24]
EASTBOUND SOUTHWEST CHIEF OVER FIVE HOURS LATE INTO CHICAGO: Amtrak's eastbound Southwest Chief was over five hours behind schedule arriving into Chicago Sept. 9. According to Amtrak, its en route delays included flash flood warnings, crew issues, rail congestion and freight train interference. [Amtrak, 9-9-24]
EL INSURGENTE TRAINS REACH MEXICO CITY: Mexico's El Insurgente passenger train service linking Zinacanepec and Toluca to Lerma was extended Aug. 31 a further 18 miles to Santa Fe on the western edge of Mexico City. The 35-mile double track, electrified line was planned to link an interchange with the Mexico City metro at Observatorio and run west to Zinacantepec, serving five intermediate stations. The first section opened in Sept. 2023. [Railway Gazette, 9-9-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Sixty-one percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Sept.8, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and six minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 9-8-24]
SANDERSVILLE R.R. ALLOWED TO CONDEMN LAND FOR SPUR LINE IN GEORGIA: The Georgia Public Service Commission has voted to allow Sandersville Railroad to acquire land under eminent domain for its planned 4.5-mile Hanson rail spur in Sparta. [Progressive Railroading, 9-6-24]
PORT OF L.A. PIER 300 TO IMPROVE CAPACITY: The Los Angeles Harbor Commission has finalized plans for a $52-million improvement to the on-dock rail capacity at the port's pier 300. Five loading/unloading tracks will be added in the intermodal yard, plus other improvements. [Freight Waves, 9-5-24]
JOHN THOMPSON, RAIL JOURNALIST, PHOTOGRAPHER, HISTORIAN DIES: Well-known railway journalist, photographer, rail transit expert and historian John Delano Thompson, for many years a Railway Age Canadian contributing editor, died Sept. 2. He was 78. [Railway Age, 9-5-24]
OMNITRAX ACQUIRES CENTRAL ARIZONA COMMERCE PARK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE: OmniTRAX has acquired Central Arizona Commerce Park's rail infrastructure and remaining park acreage marking the infrastructure developer's third rail transaction in the past six months. [Railway Age, 9-5-24]
GROUND BROKEN ON THREE ONTARIO LINE STATIONS: The government of Ontario has broken ground on Ontario line's King-Bathurst, Queen-Spadina and Moss Parks stations. [Railway Track & Structures, 9-5-24]
GATTHARD BASE TUNNEL REOPENS: Switzerland's Gotthard Base Tunnel has fully reopened, 389 days after a derailed freight train caused extensive damage to the slab track in the western bore of this, the world's longest railway tunnel. [Railway Gazette, 9-5-24]
VIETNAM PLANS RAIL REFORM, REVIVES HSR LINE PLANS: The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport has put forward proposals for rail reforms which aim to better meet needs when planning transport for 2030 and beyond to 2050. Planning has also restarted for a north-south 217-MPH high-speed line. [Railway Gazette, 9-5-24]
GENESEE & WYOMING DISPATCHERS VOTE TO JOIN AMERICAN TRAIN DISPATCHERS ASSN: The National Mediation Board has announced that train dispatchers from Genesee & Wyoming Railroad have voted to unionize with the American Train Dispatchers Association. Based in St. Albans, Vt., the G&W dispatchers control rail traffic in 43 states over 13,000 miles of short line track. [ATDA, 9-4-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 516,632 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Aug. 31, 2024, up 8.4 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were up 1.0 pct, and intermodal was up 15.3 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 9-4-24]
SACRAMENTO ADDS 20 NEW S700 LOW-FLOOR LIGHT-RAIL TRAINS TO GOLD, GREEN LINES: Sacramento's 20 new S700 low-floor light-rail trains began serving the Gold and Green lines this week. Siemens Mobility was contracted to produce 76 total of the new S700 trains. [Progressive Railroading, 9-4-24]
SCOTRAIL TO REPLACE AGING HSR TRAINS: Scotland's ScotRail is to procure trains to replace its aging high-speed train fleet for routes between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness. The trains will have amenities and levels of comfort expected by long-distance travelers. [Railway Gazette, 9-4-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF DELAYED BY LOCOMOTIVE, MECHANICAL ISSUES: Amtrak's eastbound Southwest Chief was eight and one-half hours late when it arrived into Chicago Sept. 3. According to Amtrak, the train was delayed when a freight locomotive was added at Winslow, had mechanical issues at Gallop, and added a locomotive at Albuquerque. [Amtrak, 9-3-24]
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR VALLEY METRO'S CAPITOL LIGHT-RAIL EXTENSION: Valley Metro's board has awarded Southwest Transit Partners a construction contract for the Capitol light-rail 0.8-mile extension. Construction is slated to begin in 2026. [Progressive Railroading, 9-3-24]
CN RENAMES WOODCREST SHOPS TO HONOR ED HARRIS, FORMER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER: Canadian National has renamed its Woodcrest Shops in Homewood, Illinois, to honor former chief operating officer Ed Harris, whose more than 40-year railroading career began at the shops. He was vice-president at Illinois Central when it was acquired by CN in 1998. He retired from CN in 2007. [Progressive Railroading, 9-3-24]
PERSON STRUCK, KILLED BY CSX TRAIN IN CHILLI, N.Y.: A pedestrian died after being struck by a CSX train early Sept. 3 in Chilli, N.Y. The incident caused a three-hour delay to Amtrak's eastbound Lake Shore Limited stopped behind the affected CSX train. [WXXI, 9-3-24]
RUSSIA TO ACQUIRE 41 HIGH-SPEED TRAIN SETS FOR MOSCOW-ST. PETERSBURG LINE: Russia will acquire 41 high-speed train sets for use on the proposed Moscow-Tver-Veliky Novgorod-St. Petersburg line. Their design speed will be 248 MPH with operating speed of 224 MPH. [Railway Gazette, 9-3-24]
CSX COAL TRAIN DERAILS IN VIRGINIA: Nineteen loaded cars of a CSX coal train derailed Aug. 31 along the James River line near Gladstone, Va., but no injuries were reported. Traffic was moving once again on Sept. 1. [CBS-News, 9-2-24]
KNORR-BREMSE COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF ALSTOM'S NORTH AMERICAN SIGNALING BUSINESS: Knorr-Bremse has completed its $690-million acquisition of the conventional rail signaling business of Alstom Signaling North America, with 800 employees in six locations. [Railway Gazette, 9-2-24]
AUGUST 2024 AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Thirty-eight percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their final destination on time or earlier in August 2024. The average arrival of all long-distance trains in the survey period was 51 minutes late. The average arrival of just those trains that were behind schedule was one hour and 22 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 9-1-24]
EMPIRE BUILDER 14 HOURS LATE ARRIVING INTO CHICAGO: Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder arrived into its Chicago destination 14 hours late Sept. 1. Earlier in its journey, while still in Washington State, the train developed engine trouble, for which it was extensively delayed awaiting a rescue engine from a freight train, and the issue of mechanical issues were exacerbated over the balance of the trip. [Amtrak, 9-1-24]
COAST STARLIGHT TERMINATED EN ROUTE BY FREIGHT TRAIN FIRE: Amtrak's Coast Starlight was terminated en route in both directions Sept. 1 (southbound at Klamath Falls, and northbound at Sacramento) due to a freight train carrying lithium batteries catching fire. [Amtrak, 9-1-24]
CANADIAN TEAMSTERS CHALLENGE GOVERNMENT'S BINDING ARBITRATION ORDER: Canadian Teamsters have filed challenges to the government's order for binding arbitration ending the work stoppage of the nation's two largest freight railroads. The union argues its constitutional charter rights were violated, and is asking for a ruling to be made. [Freight Waves, 8-30-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN REACHES TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH FIVE MORE UNIONS: Norfolk Southern has reached tentative, five-year collective bargaining agreements with five unions, in addition to the four announced last week. Together, the nine agreements cover 55 pct of the company's unionized work force. [Progressive Railroading, 8-30-24]
MBTA WORKS ON RED LINE, REMOVES SIX SPEED RESTRICTIONS: Boston's MBTA from Aug. 19 to Aug. 26 continued work on the Red line and was able to remove six speed restrictions while replacing more than 9750 feet of rail. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-30-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO DEPLOY NEW INTERMODAL RESERVATION SYSTEM: Norfolk Southern is ready to deploy a new reservation system at its intermodal terminals. Called 'Thoroughbred Resource Planning,' the system will improve efficiency and reliability by standardizing train sizes and smoothing out volume fluctuations throughout the week. [Progressive Railroading, 8-30-24]
TRIMET OPENS MAX RED LINE EXTENSION: Portland's TriMet in Oregon has opened its MAX Red line extension ten stations west into Hillsboro, the largest light-rail project for the agency in nearly a decade. [Progressive Railroading, 8-30-24]
WORK COMPLETED ON SOUND TRANSIT'S LYNNWOOD LINK EXTENSION: Work is now complete on Seattle's Sound Transit Lynnwood Link extension. The line connects Northgate to Lynnwood and marks the first light-rail extension to Snohomish County. The multiyear project incorporated four new stations, three parking garages, and 8.5 miles of track. [Progressive Railroading, 8-30-24]
BID TO ACQUIRE TALGO WITHDRAWN: Ganz-Mavag Europe has withdrawn its bid to buy Talgo after the acquisition was blocked by the Spanish government. It may, however, consider resubmitting a bid 'depending on the evolution of the circumstances.' [Railway Gazette, 8-30-24]
FRA DENIES WAIVER REQUEST OVER PTC UNPLANNED OUTAGES: The Federal Railroad Administration has denied a joint waiver request by five railroads seeking to change rules in the event of unplanned positive train-control outages. The railroads sought to increase speed limits during such outages. The agency ruled that the request was 'overly broad and indefinite.' [BLET, 8-30-24]
PINSLY R.R. TO ACQUIRE HONDO RAILWAY: Pinsly Railroad has agreed to acquire Hondo Railway, a short line in Hondo, Texas, just west of San Antonio. Over the past two years, Pinsly has purchased four railroads, bringing its rail holdings to six. [Progressive Railroading, 8-29-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF DELAYED BY FREIGHT TRAIN INTERFERENCE, CREW ISSUES: Amtrak's eastbound Southwest Chief arrived into Chicago four hours and 55 minutes behind schedule Aug. 29. According to Amtrak, the train's en route delays involved freight train interference and crew issues. [Amtrak, 8-29-24]
AMTRAK'S CAROLINIAN OVER TWO HOURS LATE INTO CHARLOTTE: Amtrak's southbound Carolinian arrived into its destination Charlotte two hours and 11 minutes late Aug. 29, having been delayed en route by signal issues, rail congestion, police activity and heat-related speed restrictions. [Amtrak, 8-29-24]
PITTSBURGH'S RED LINE TO RESUME SERVICE SEPT. 1: Pittsburgh Regional Transit will resume service on its Red line Sept. 1 after a summer of reconstruction. Since June 16, workers replaced light-rail track and rebuilt four grade crossings. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-29-24]
NTSB OPENS DOCKET INTO FATAL 2023 CSX WALBRIDGE RAIL YARD ACCIDENT: The National Transportation Safety Board has opened its docket into a fatal accident that occurred in the CSX rail yard in Walbridge, Ohio, on Sept. 17, 2023. A car department employee was walking across multiple tracks to prepare for inspections and was struck by remote-controlled locomotives. [Progressive Railroading, 8-29-24]
CHANNEL TUNNEL TO INTRODUCE AUTOMATED ENTRY-EXIT SYSTEM TO REPLACE MANUAL STAMPING OF PASSPORTS: A Channel Tunnel concessionaire has completed a three-year program of changes to its shuttle train terminals ahead of the introduction of the entry-exit system for non-EU nationals. It will replace manual stamping of passports, and is scheduled to be implemented in November. [Railway Gazette, 8-29-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 516,807 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Aug. 24, 2024, up 9.5 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were up 1.2 pct, and intermodal was up 17.1 pct. Meanwhile, grain movements were up by more than 41 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 8-28-24]
GATX ACQUIRING 156 LOCOMOTIVES FROM PROGRESS RAIL: GATX has acquired 156 locomotives from Progress Rail, bringing its North American fleet to more than 650 units of various types. [Railway Age, 8-28-24]
VIRGINIA ADVANCES AGREEMENT FOR PURCHASE OF MANASSAS LINE, ACCESS TO N-LINE: The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority has voted to advance an agreement with Norfolk Southern for the purchase of the Manassas line and access to the N-line as part of a plan to expand passenger rail. The agreement will enable to agency to extend service to the New River Valley sooner and at a lower cost than originally planned, and to increase VRE service along the Manassas line with weekend options. [Progressive Railroading, 8-28-24]
CHARLOTTE TO SPEND $91-M FOR TRACK, LAND FROM NORFOLK SOUTHERN FOR COMMUTER RAIL: Charlotte, N.C., is planning to spend $91-million to purchase tracks and land from Norfolk Southern for the city's proposed Red line commuter rail project. Twenty-two miles of the O-line and 1.6 acres near the Gateway station would be acquired. [Progressive Railroading, 8-28-24]
SEPTA TO INCREASE REGIONAL RAIL SERVICE: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will increase regional rail service, adding 99 weekend trains and 24 weekday trains to its schedule effective Sept. 8. The agency currently has 189 engineers, and is on track to meet its goal of 213 engineers by next spring. [Progressive Railroading, 8-28-24]
FRA REPORTS ON BNSF'S SAFETY CULTURE: According to an assessment by the Federal Railroad Administration, BNSF is generally striving to improve safety, but that message does not always reach the front-line workers who often feel uncomfortable reporting safety concerns for fear of being disciplined. The review also found that BNSF continues to be held back by some of the same issues that have been common across the industry for years. Some managers still prioritize keeping the trains moving ahead of safety, FRA said. [AP News, 8-28-24]
COAST STARLIGHT HAS MECHANICAL ISSUES, LATE LEAVING SEATTLE: Amtrak's southbound Coast Starlight on Aug. 28 was delayed one hour and 50 minutes because of mechanical issues before departing its origin point Seattle. [Amtrak, 8-28-24]
TWO KILLED AS TRAIN CRASHES INTO TRUCK IN MISSISSIPPI: Two people were killed Aug. 28 when a freight train crashed into a truck south of Hazlehurst, Mississippi. The accident caused Amtrak's southbound City of New Orleans to be delayed about two hours behind the affected train. [various reports, 8-28-24]
DISABLED FREIGHT TRAIN DELAYS CAPITOL LIMITED IN INDIANA: Amtrak's westbound Capitol Limited was delayed about two hours Aug. 28 by a disabled freight train blocking the tracks ahead in Indiana. [Amtrak, 8-28-24]
CSX APPLIES SEABOARD AIR LINE SCHEME TO HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE: CSX has revealed its latest heritage locomotive, a tribute to the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, fresh from the CSX paint shop in Waycross, Ga. It is numbered 1900, formerly CSX unit 3065. [Railway Age, 8-27-24]
SIGNAL ISSUES IMPACT NORTHEAST CORRIDOR SERVICE IN N.Y.: Amtrak on Aug. 27 cautioned passengers of potential delays along the Northeast corridor due to signal issues in its north tube leading to New York's Penn Station. [Amtrak, 8-27-24]
STB EXTENDS DATA REPORTING DEADLINE FOR RECIPROCAL SWITCHING RULE: The Surface Transportation Board has granted a request by the Association of American Railroads for an extension of an initial deadline for implementing new regulations involving reciprocal switching agreements, a regulation that provides for the prescription of agreements as a means to promote adequate freight rail service through access to an additional line-haul carrier. The rule was to have begun Sept. 4. [Progressive Railroading, 8-27-24]
STB TO HOLD HEARING ON FREIGHT RAIL GROWTH: The Surface Transportation Board will have a public hearing Sept. 16-17 to gather information about how the freight rail industry has grown, and intentions to grow further. The board will explore how industry participants are strategizing and innovating to achieve such growth, along with shippers' plans or desire for future rail use. [BLET, 8-27-24]
SILVER STAR DELAYED BY MECHANICAL ISSUES IN FLORIDA: Amtrak's northbound Silver Star was three and one-half hours late arriving into New York Aug. 27, having been delayed the evening earlier in Tampa due to mechanical issues and an engine swap. Further en route delays included freight train congestion. [Amtrak, 8-27-24]
NEWPORT NEWS TRANSPORTATION CENTER OPENS: The Newport News Transportation Center has opened for Amtrak-Virginia passengers. It features a 3450-square-foot waiting area, vending machines, restrooms and ticket counter. The project also included construction of a maintenance facility. [Progressive Railroading, 8-26-24]
D.C. METRO TO REOPEN FOUR RED LINE STATIONS: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will reopen its Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen and Silver Spring stations Sept. 1 following rehabilitation work as part of a new Purple line mezzanine at Silver Spring, Md. [Progressive Railroading, 8-26-24]
DELTA RAILROAD SERVICES NAMES LINDA LAURELLO CEO: Delta Railroad Services has appointed Linda Laurello CEO, succeeding Larry Laurello, who will remain with the company's business development efforts. [Progressive Railroading, 8-26-24]
BLET ACCUSES FIVE RAILROADS OF ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE PTC RULES IMPROPERLY: The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen has called out five railroads (BNSF, Norfolk Southern, Caltrain, New Mexico Rail Runner and South Florida Transportation) for an attempt to make changes to positive train-control rules without going through proper regulatory channels. The railroads are seeking to increase speed limits during PTC outages without any evidence that such increases are safe, among other applications for requested waivers. The union has urged the Federal Railroad Administration to deny their requests, saying the changes would impact safety in the event of unplanned PTC outages. [BLET, 8-26-24]
SILVER METEOR STRIKES VEHICLE IN VA.: Amtrak's Silver Meteor arrived into its Miami destination nine hours and 25 minutes behind schedule Aug. 25. The major part of the train's en route delay was striking a vehicle near Doswell, Va., causing damage to a locomotive. [Amtrak, 8-25-24]
TEXAS EAGLE ALMOST SIX HOURS LATE INTO CHICAGO: Amtrak's eastbound Texas Eagle arrived into its destination Chicago five hours and 50 minutes behind schedule Aug. 24. It had been delayed four and one-half hours leaving San Antonio the day before because of late arrival of inbound equipment, and further delayed en route by rail congestion. [Amtrak, 8-24-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN, BNSF REACH TENTATIVE CONTRACTS WITH SOME OF THEIR UNIONS: Norfolk Southern and BNSF have reached tentative, five-year collective bargaining agreements with a number of their unions. The pacts come four months before the opening of the next bargaining round and cover about 30 pct of Norfolk Southern members and 15 pct of BNSF members. [Freight Waves, 8-23-24]
CANADA ORDERS CN, CPKC TO ARBITRATION, ENDING STRIKE: Freight trains in Canada could be running again within days after the government forced the country's two major railroads, CN and CPKC, into arbitration with their labor union. The government's action came more than 16 hours after the two carriers locked out workers over a labor agreement impasse. Both railroads said they would work to get trains moving again as soon as possible. [AP News, 8-23-24]
NEW RAIL PASSENGER STATION PROPOSED IN PORTLAND, MAINE: A new rail passenger station has been proposed in Portland, Maine, and would serve as a future stop for the Amtrak Downeaster. The site would subsequently eliminate 20 train movements daily and share 15 minutes off Downeaster's northbound and southbound trips. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-23-24]
SUNSET LIMITED DELAYED BY DISABLED FREIGHT TRAIN IN TEXAS: Amtrak's eastbound Sunset Limited was delayed more than four and one-half hours Aug. 23 west of Del Rio, Texas, by a disabled freight train blocking the track ahead. [Amtrak. 8-23-24]
UNION PACIFIC ADDS PEAK SURCHARGES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: Citing surging demand for its fleet of domestic containers, Union Pacific will assess peak season surcharges out of southern California. The surcharges are $300 per shipment for shippers under the standard mutual commitment program, and $500 under the aggregate mutual commitment program. [Freight Waves, 8-23-24]
AMTRAK, NJ TRANSIT TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE, FLEET SYSTEMS IN NORTHEAST CORRIDOR: Amtrak and New Jersey Transit are taking steps to improve infrastructure and fleet systems following recent disruptions in the Northeast corridor affecting the area. Key efforts include comprehensive inspections and maintenance of the electric traction system, catenary, signals and switches. N.J. Transit, meanwhile, is focusing on its pantograph systems. [Amtrak, 8-23-25]
BNSF TRAIN DERAILS IN BOULDER, COLORADO, LEAKS FUEL: Two crew members had minor injuries when a BNSF train derailed late Aug. 22 in Boulder, Colorado, damaging a bridge and causing a small amount of fuel to be released. The injured employees were taken to a hospital, treated and released. [N.Y. Times, 8-23-24]
SILVER METEOR COLLIDES WITH SEMI IN FLORIDA: Two people had minor injuries Aug. 22 after a crash involving Amtrak's Silver Meteor and a semi-truck, resulting in a fire to the truck, in Indiantown, Florida. The train was significantly delayed. [TC Palm, 8-22-24]
CLASS-I RAIL EMPLOYMENT DROPS IN JULY: As of mid-July, Class-I railroads in the U.S. employed 121,085 workers, down 0.5 pct compared with the previous month, and down 1.41 pct from the July 2023 level, according to the Surface Transportation Board. [Progressive Railroading, 8-22-24]
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR NINE HOURS LATE INTO CHICAGO: Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr on Aug. 22 arrived into its destination Chicago nine hours behind schedule. According to Amtrak, its en route delays includes debris on the track, commercial power lines down causing fire along the track, and police activity. [Amtrak, 8-22-24]
CSX REACHES CONTRACT AGREEMENTS WITH THREE UNIONS: CSX has reached five-year contract agreements with the Transportation-Communications Union, the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and SMART-TD, subject to ratification by members. [Freight Waves, 8-21-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 516,819 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Aug. 17, 2024, up 8.0 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were up 1.0 pct, and intermodal was up 14.3 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 8-21-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF DELAYED BY EQUIPMENT ISSUES IN CHICAGO: Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief was delayed an hour and one-half before leaving Chicago Aug. 21 due to equipment issues. [Amtrak, 8-21-24]
TEXAS EAGLE DELAYED ON RUN TO SAN ANTONIO: Amtrak's westbound Texas Eagle on Aug. 20 arrived into its destination San Antonio four and one-half hours late. According to Amtrak, the train had en route delays due to a disabled freight train ahead, rail congestion, and heat-related speed restrictions. [Amtrak, 8-20-24]
STB SETS SCHEDULE FOR SUNSET LIMITED PROCEEDING: The Surface Transportation Board has issued a decision to establish a procedural schedule, address several motions and filings, and provide other directives regarding its investigation into the on-time performance of Amtrak's Sunset Limited. [Progressive Railroading, 8-20-24]
METRO-NORTH RECOVERING FROM STORMS: After damage sustained from storms, Metro-North worked to restore full scheduled service on the Danbury branch. Rainfall caused a mudslide between Seymour and Ansonia along the Waterbury branch, and the agency provided bus service for passengers. Metro-North's Harlem, Hudson and New Haven lines were running normally. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-20-24]
TUNISIA-ALGERIA PASSENGER TRAIN RESTARTS: Three-day-a-week passenger trains between Tunisian capital to Annaba, Algeria, have restarted almost 30 years after being suspended. Each train has two first-class and two second-class coaches, giving a capacity of 300 passengers. The 222-mile journey takes seven hours. [Railway Gazette, 8-20-24]
FLOODING HALTS AMTRAK SERVICE BETWEEN N.Y. & PHILA.: Thunderstorms late Aug. 18 inundated New York City and caused flooding in Newark, N.J., forcing Amtrak to suspend rail service for much of the evening between New York and Philadelphia. [N.Y. Daily News, 8-19-24]
STRIKE, LOCKOUT NOTICES ISSUED FOR RAIL STRIKE IN CANADA: The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference has served a 72-hour strike notice to Canadian Pacific Kansas City, and Canadian National has served a 72-hour notice to institute a lockout, both notices required under Canadian law. Accordingly, a work stoppage may commence Aug. 22, barring a late-minute labor agreement. [Freight Waves, 8-19-24]
CONTRACTOR SELECTED FOR CHICAGO RED LINE EXTENSION PROJECT: Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners has been selected to design and build Chicago Transit's $2.9-billion Red Line Extension project. The extension is 5.6 miles from 95th street to south of 130th street with four new stations. Completion is slated for 2030. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-16-24]
CSX-SERVED SODIUM-ION BATTERY PLANT TO BE BUILT IN ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.: Natron Energy will spend an estimated $1.4-billion to bring a sodium-ion battery plant to Rocky Mount, N.C., which will be served by CSX. [Railway Age, 8-16-24]
VIA RAIL SELECTS CONTRACTOR FOR INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE: PNR RailWorks has won a five-year contract from VIA Rail Canada to perform maintenance work on track, signals, bridges and right-of-way infrastructure on VIA Rail-owned Alexandria, Beachburg, Brockville, Chatham and Smith Falls subdivisions, and Ottawa station. [Progressive Railroading, 8-16-24]
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR HONOLULU CITY CENTER GUIDEWAY, STATIONS PROJECT: Tutor Perini Corp. has obtained a nearly $1.7-billion contract from Honolulu Rapid Transit for the city center guideway and stations project. Included are six rail stations and about three miles of elevated rail guideway. [Progressive Railroading, 8-16-24]
MBTA TO ADD 41 BI-LEVEL COACHES: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority on Aug. 14 exercised an option with Hyundai Rotem for an additional 41 bilevel coaches for commuter rail service. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-15-24]
GROUND BROKEN FOR TRANSLOAD FACILITY IN LONGVIEW, TEXAS: Logistics firm Custom Inc. on Aug. 14 broke ground for a transload facility in Longview, Texas, to be served by Union Pacific. [Railway Age, 8-15-24]
CANADA REJECTS CN'S REQUEST TO INTERVENE IN LABOR DISPUTE: Canada's Labor Ministry has rejected Canadian National's request to intervene in the ongoing labor dispute between the company and the union representing rail employees. A strike or lockout could begin as early as Aug. 22. [CTV News, 8-15-24]
RAIL STRIKE POSSIBLE IN CANADA AUG. 22: A railroad strike on Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City could begin as early as Aug. 22. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board is monitoring the potential impact the strike could have on the U.S. The board is aware that embargoes have already been issued and could expand in the coming days. [Progressive Railroading, 8-15-24]
CN RAIL BRIDGE IN ONTARIO COLLAPSES: A Canadian National bridge that provides a connection to Thunder Bay, Ontario, has collapsed. The collapse has made the Rainy River waterway impassable to marine traffic. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-15-24]
CN LINE IN NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, ALBERTA DISRUPTED BY WILDFIRE: Service on Canadian National's line near the N.W.T.-Alberta border is disrupted due to damage inflicted by a wildfire. The railroad is beginning repairs immediately and will continue as long as safety permits. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-15-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 496,509 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Aug. 10, 2024, up 5.2 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 0.9 pct, and intermodal was up 10.6 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 8-14-24]
BLET, NTSB JOINTLY INVESTIGATE THREE RAIL ACCIDENTS: The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen has received party status from the NTSB to assist with investigations into three serious incidents. They are a BNSF hazmat derailment and fire in Carrington, N.D.; a Union Pacific employee fatality in Melrose Park, Ill.; and a Norfolk Southern amputation injury in Norfolk, Va. [BLET, 8-14-24]
GREYHOUND MAY MOVE TO CHICAGO UNION STATION: Greyhound is being booted from its Chicago West Loop terminal in about a month. The city has proposed that Greyhound might use Chicago Union Station as a terminal, at least temporarily, which would involve about 50 buses a day. Amtrak owns Union Station, and its president has expressed significant concerns over its ability to accommodate that many buses and their traveling customers at the already crowded station and its Great Hall. Moreover, Amtrak should be compensated for any additional costs associated with Greyhound's use of the facility. [Chicago Sun-Times, 8-14-24]
HIGH WIND WARNINGS DISRUPT SOUTHWEST CHIEF, CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR: High wind warnings in Kansas and Colorado caused extensive delays to Amtrak trains. The westbound Southwest Chief arrived into Los Angeles nine hours and 20 minutes late Aug. 14, and the eastbound California Zephyr arrived into Chicago six hours and 18 minutes late the same date. The eastbound Southwest Chief on Aug. 13 arrived into Chicago five hours and 42 minutes late, with its major delay for the same reason. [Amtrak]
VRE, MARC AGREE TO TICKET TRANSFER BETWEEN THEIR SYSTEMS: Passengers with multiple-ride tickets purchased on VRE or MARC systems may now use that ticket to transfer to the other system at Washington and continue their trip at no additional cost. [Progressive Railroading, 8-13-24]
CSX IMPACTED BY FLOODING ON ALBANY, ST. LAWRENCE SUBS FROM TROPICAL STORM DEBBY: After flooding caused from storm Debby, CSX has updated its operations on the Albany and St. Lawrence subdivisions. Customers should anticipate delays of up to a week, the company said. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-13-24]
BNSF WRAPS UP MAINLINE UPGRADE IN BECKER, N.M.: BNSF has announced the completion of its multi-year mainline improvement project in Becker, N.M. The project was adjacent to the railroad's Belen facility which serves as the primary hub for fueling and inspections between Los Angeles and Chicago. The upgrade is expected to improve total train capacity through the Southern transcon route by 30 pct. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-13-24]
SUNRAIL EXPANDS SERVICE NORTH TO DELAND, FLORIDA: Florida's SunRail has opened its station in DeLand, the northernmost stop on the system. The agency operates 40 trains Monday-Friday connecting communities from DeLand to Poinciana. [Progressive Railroading, 8-13-24]
FREIGHTCAR AMERICA REPORTS 2-Q RESULTS: FreightCar America reported second-quarter 2024 revenue of $147.4-million on 1,159 rail car deliveries, an increase of 66 pct compared with $88.6-million on 760 rail car deliveries in the same quarter last year. Adjusted net income was $6.3-million or 5 cents per diluted share. [Progressive Railroading, 8-13-24]
PEDESTRIAN STRUCK, KILLED BY TRAIN NEAR PRINCETON JCT., N.J.: A pedestrian was struck and killed early Aug. 13 near Princeton Jct., N.J., causing a lengthy suspension of service between Princeton Jct. and Trenton. [West Windsor Patch, 8-13-24]
CALTRAIN BEGINS ELECTRIC TRAIN SERVICE ALONG S.F. PENINSULA: Aug. 10 saw the beginning of Caltrain's new electric trains along the San Francisco peninsula. They will replace the diesel-powered trains from now through Sept. 21. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-12-24]
AMTRAK INVESTING $260-M IN NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS THIS SUMMER: Amtrak is investing $260-million in infrastructure improvements along the Northeast corridor this summer. These improvements are a 109 pct increase from last summer's work, and comes as part of Amtrak's goal of doubling its annual ridership to 66 million by 2040. Included is replacing 75,500 railroad ties and 32 track miles of rail, improving the stability of more than 170 miles of track, and renewing more than 35 switches. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-12-24]
CONSTRUCTION ADVANCES ON BLUE RIDGE CONNECTOR IN GA.: Construction continues on the Georgia Port Authority's Blue Ridge Connector, which will expand intermodal rail service between the state's northeast logistics corridor and the Port of Savannah. When completed in 2026, the $127-million, 104-acre site near Gainesville will host six tracks totaling 18,000 feet for intermodal trains with annual capacity of 200,000 containers. Norfolk Southern will provide five-day-a-week service to the site. [Freight Waves, 8-12-24]
WOMAN STRUCK, KILLED BY AMTRAK TRAIN IN CONNECTICUT: A woman who was on the tracks in Clinton, Connecticut, died after being struck by New York-bound Amtrak train 169 late Aug. 10. [Courant, 8-11-24]
AMTRAK'S CRESCENT DELAYED IN WASHINGTON OVER TWO HOURS DUE TO EQUIPMENT ISSUES: Amtrak's southbound Crescent was delayed over two hours Aug. 11 in Washington because of equipment issues. [Amtrak, 8-11-24]
UNION PACIFIC RENEGES ON PROMISES TO MAKE SCHEDULES MORE PREDICTABLE FOR CREWS, UNION SAYS: Union Pacific is holding back on its promises to make schedules more predictable for train crews to address concerns that nearly caused a nationwide strike two years ago, says the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen. Union Pacific told the union that the company is not getting enough work from its engineers under the new schedule, and has to hire more workers than it had planned, so it wants to change the schedule agreement it signed and touted last year. [KOLN, 8-10-24]
AMTRAK'S CRESCENT DELAYED BY EQUIPMENT ISSUES: Amtrak's northbound Crescent on Aug. 10 arrived into Washington on time, but left there an hour and 39 minutes behind schedule. Its delay in Washington was due to equipment issues, according to Amtrak. [Amtrak, 8-10-24]
IAN CHOUDRI APPOINTED CEO OF CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY: California's High-Speed Rail Authority's board has appointed Ian Choudri CEO, currently senior vice-president for HNTB. He will succeed Brian Kelly, who is retiring. [Progressive Railroading, 8-9-24]
NUMEROUS AMTRAK TRAINS DELAYED AUG. 9: Southbound Silver Star arrived into Miami four and one-half hours late Aug. 9, delayed en route by an emergency medical issue and striking a fallen tree. Westbound Southwest Chief was five hours and 49 minutes late into Los Angeles, delayed en route by crew change, rail congestion, speed restrictions and an emergency passenger issue. Eastbound Southwest Chief arrived into Chicago four hours late due to mechanical and signal issues. Westbound California Zephyr arrived into Emeryville five hours and 44 minutes late due to adding a locomotive in Denver, mechanical issues, rail congestion and speed restrictions. Northbound Silver Meteor arrived into New York four hours and 11 minutes late, delayed en route by emergency services, crew issue, fallen tree, inclement weather, rail congestion and speed restrictions. [Amtrak, 8-9-24]
BNSF TRAIN WITH ETHANOL DERAILS IN MINNESOTA: Eight cars of a BNSF train carrying ethanol derailed, four on their side and four upright, in Willmar, Minnesota, late Aug. 7. No injuries were reported, and the cars were not compromised, BNSF said. [WCCO, 8-8-24]
CAROLINIAN ARRIVES INTO N.Y. OVER SIX HOURS LATE: Amtrak's northbound Carolinian arrived into its New York destination more than six hours late Aug. 8. Amtrak said the train was delayed en route by severe weather, fallen trees, a tornado warning, rail congestion and speed restrictions. [Amtrak, 8-8-24]
COAST STARLIGHT FIVE AND ONE-HALF HOURS LATE INTO SEATTLE: Amtrak's northbound Coast Starlight arrived into its destination Seattle five and one-half hours late Aug. 8. Amtrak said the train had en route delays from equipment and signal issues, speed restrictions, rail congestion, and waiting for a relief crew. [Amtrak, 8-8-24]
JULY 2024 U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 2,393,009 carloads and intermodal units in July 2024, up 3.4 pct compared with the same month last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 2.1 pct., and intermodal was up 8.4 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 8-7-24]
SARATOGA CORINTH & HUDSON RWY ACQUIRES TWO ALCO RS-3 LOCOMOTIVES: GVT Rail Systems has sold two historic Alco RS-3 locomotives 4103 and 4118 to tourist line Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway. [Railway Age, 8-7-24]
AMTRAK CLEARS HURDLE TO OPERATE GULF COAST SERVICE: The city council of Mobile has approved a pact with Amtrak and the Alabama State Port Authority that will help enable the return of passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast city for the first time in nearly 20 years. With funding in place, the train will run 'soon,' with twice-daily service between Mobile and New Orleans. [Progressive Railroading, 8-7-24]
EXPANSION OF CENTRAL RAIL YARD AT NORFOLK COMPLETED: The Port of Virginia on Aug. 6 celebrated the completion of its $83-million project to expand the central rail yard at Norfolk International Terminals. The expansion increases its rail capacity by 31 pct. [Railway Age, 8-7-24]
KEOLIS TO MANAGE DISPATCHING FOR MBTA SOUTH COAST TERRITORY: The dispatching responsibilities for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's South Coast rail territory have been transferred to its railroad's operations division, and soon will be managed by Keolis Commuter Services. [Progressive Railroading, 8-7-24]
CHINA SUCCESSFULLY TESTS MAGLEV TRAIN WHICH CAN REACH 621 MPH: China has successfully tested a new ultra-high-speed maglev train, which can reach speeds up to 621 MPH, making it the fastest train in the world. The technology floats the train using levitation and places it in a low-pressure tube eliminating friction. [Newsweek, 8-7-24]
AMTRAK SERVICE IMPACTED BY TROPICAL STORM DEBBY: Effective Aug. 6, Amtrak service of Auto Train, Silver Star, Silver Meteor and Palmetto will be disrupted by tropical storm Debby. Auto Train is annulled Aug. 6 and 7, Silver service trains will run in Florida only Aug. 6 and 7, and Palmetto will run only New York-Washington Aug. 6, 7 and 8. [Amtrak, 8-6-24]
CSX REPORTS 2-Q EARNINGS: CSX reported second-quarter 2024 net earnings of $963-million and operating income of $1.45-billion, compared to $984-million and $1.47-billion, respectively, in the same period a year ago. The company posted earnings per share of 49 cents. [Progressive Railroading, 8-6-24]
FTA COMMITS $5-B TO FINAL PHASE OF SILICON VALLEY BART EXTENSION: The Federal Transit Authority has committed a grant totaling more than $5-billion for the final phase of the Silicon Valley Bay Area Rapid Transit extension project. This is the second largest investment that the federal government has made in a single transportation project in the country's history. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-6-24]
WATCO BEGINS OPERATING NEW TRANSLOAD FACILITY FOR NYS&W IN N.J.: Watco has started operating a new transload facility for the New York Susquehanna & Western Railway in North Bergen, N.J.. The terminal connects with Norfolk Southern and CSX. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-6-24]
D.C. METRO GETS SAFETY AUDIT OF METRORAIL ROADWAY WORKER PROTECTION: The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission has issued a safety audit of D.C. Metro's roadway worker protection program. It detailed 13 findings of practices, compiled after interviews, observations and collected data in Nov. and Dec. of last year, with follow-ups in Jan. and Febr. of this year. Some of the findings show the agency had not been following existing safety rules, training, or providing correct information for non-English speaking contractors in training. Metrorail is required to propose corrective plans no later than 30 days from the date of the report. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-5-24]
BNSF REPORTS 2-Q RESULTS: BNSF reported second-quarter 2024 net income of $1.2-billion, down 3 pct from the same period last year. Quarterly earnings were negatively impacted by cost accruals primarily related to a recent judgment in an ongoing legal case. Operating income of $1.8-billion was a 1 pct increase. Operating ratio of 68.2 pct was unchanged from a year ago. [Progressive Railroading, 8-5-24]
POWER PROBLEMS IMPACT AMTRAK'S SUNNYSIDE YARD IN N.Y.: Overhead power problems at Amtrak's Sunnyside yard in New York delayed the movement of outbound trains from Penn Station the afternoon of Aug. 5. Especially impacted were Crescent, Lake Shore Limited and Silver Meteor, all of which were significantly behind schedule once they departed. [Amtrak, 8-5-24]
NEW SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RULE TARGETS RAIL YARD POLLUTION: The South Coast Air Quality Management District has adopted a freight rail yard indirect source rule requiring rail yard operators in southern California to take actions to meet specific emission reduction targets. The rule aims to reduce nitrogen oxides emissions by more than 10 tons per day between 2027 and 2050. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-5-24]
CSX TRAIN STRIKES JEEP IN SUMTER COUNTY, FLA.: A CSX freight train moving through Sumter County, Florida, early Aug. 3 struck a disabled Jeep Wrangler at a crossing driven by a 57-year-old. The driver was unable to move the vehicle, but she escaped from it before being struck by the train. [Click Orlando, 8-3-24]
UNION PACIFIC SEEKS MEDIATION TO FINALIZE CONTRACT WITH METRA: Union Pacific is seeking mediation through the Surface Transportation Board to resolve issues of track access and maintenance fees that have become sticking points in forging a new contract with Chicago's Metra. [Railway Age, 8-2-24]
INDIANA & OHIO TRAIN DERAILS IN SPRINGFIELD, OHIO: Ten cars of an Indiana & Ohio Railroad train derailed in Springfield, Ohio, early Aug. 2. Two of the cars were carrying hazardous materials, but remained intact and did not leak. No injuries were reported. [WHIO, 8-2-24]
TRAIN DERAILS IN ADRIAN, MICHIGAN: Cleanup is underway after a train derailed early Aug. 2 in Adrian, Michigan, blocking some streets. Authorities say one of the train cars leaked pressurized carbon dioxide, but there was no threat to the surrounding community. [WTVG, 8-2-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF ARRIVES INTO DESTINATION NEARLY EIGHT HOURS LATE: Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief arrived into its destination Los Angeles seven hours and 50 minutes late on Aug. 2. According to Amtrak, the train was delayed en route by freight train interference, rail congestion and severe weather conditions. [Amtrak, 8-2-24]
CSX SUPPORTS NEW FLYOVER FOR RAIL CROSSING IN WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASS.: Funding has been made available for the construction of a flyover across the Front street rail crossing in West Springfield, Massachusetts. The project seeks to convert two grade crossings to a railroad-under grade separation. CSX will contribute $2-million to the $20-million project. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-2-24]
PLANS OUTLINED TO ELIMINATE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR SERVICE DISRUPTIONS IN N.J.: Leaders from the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak and N.J. Transit met this week to outline plans to solve the underlying cause of this summer's series of service disruptions, which have clustered along the New Jersey portion of the Northeast corridor. The meeting and tour came in the wake of a Congressional inquiry into those service failures. Meanwhile, Amtrak says it will apply for $94-million in federal grants to upgrade its power transmission infrastructure. [Rail Passengers Assn., 8-2-24]
JULY 2024 AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Thirty-two percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in July 2024. The average arrival of all long-distance trains in the survey period was one hour and nine minutes late. The average arrival of just those trains that were behind schedule was one hour and 40 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 8-1-24]
FREIGHTCAR AMERICA ADDS TANK CAR REBUILDS TO PORTFOLIO: FreightCar America has entered into a multi-year agreement to rebuild and upgrade more than 1000 legacy DOT-111 tank cars to current DOT-117R standards. The conversion, which by federal law must be completed by 2029 for cars transporting certain materials, includes a new exterior tank jacket, thermal protection, full-height head shields, top fittings protection and upgraded bottom outlet valves. [Railway Track & Structures, 8-1-24]
DISABLED FREIGHT TRAIN DISRUPTS AMTRAK SERVICE IN VA., N.C.: Both northbound and southbound sections of Amtrak's Carolinian and southbound section of Palmetto were seriously delayed by more than an hour to as much as two and three-quarters hours Aug. 1 from a disabled freight train and congestion between Petersburg and Rocky Mount which incurred from an earlier freight train derailment. [Amtrak, 8-1-24]
INDIANA RAIL ROAD NAMES JOSEPH GIOE PRESIDENT, CEO: The Indiana Rail Road has named Joseph Gioe president and CEO effective Aug. 12. He replaces Dewayne Swindall, who left the company May 31. [Railway Age, 8-1-24]
U.S. SUES NORFOLK SOUTHERN OVER DELAYS TO AMTRAK'S CRESCENT: The U.S. Dept. of Justice on July 30 sued Norfolk Southern for allegedly delaying Amtrak's Crescent. Norfolk Southern controls 1140 miles of the Crescent's 1377-mile route. The suite alleges that Norfolk Southern regularly fails to give preference to Amtrak trains, leading to widespread delays, inconvenience to passengers, and negatively affecting Amtrak's financial performance, DOJ officials said. [Progressive Railroading, 7-31-24]
CPKC REPORTS 2-Q RESULTS: Canadian Pacific Kansas City reported second-quarter 2024 revenue of $3.6-billion (C), up from $3.2-billion a year ago. Operating ratio decreased to 64.8 pct from 70.3 pct, and core-adjusted operating ratio decreased to 61.8 pct from 64.6 pct. [Progressive Railroading, 7-31-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 508,496 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending July 27, 2024, up 5.3 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 0.5 pct, and intermodal was up 10.5 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 7-31-24]
AMTRAK'S HARRISBURG LINE RENEWAL PROJECT REACHES 50 PCT COMPLETION: Amtrak's Harrisburg line track renewal project has moved to phase four, reaching the 50 pct completion mark. Crews are replacing wooden ties with concrete ties. Keystone and Pennsylvanian trains are not expected to be affected in the work. [Progressive Railroading, 7-31-24]
RINGNECK & WESTERN R.R. TRACK RESTORATION IN S.D. ADVANCES: Heavy rains and flooding in South Dakota impacted Ringneck & Western Railroad's Chamberlain subdivision where water carried away ballast and ties or carved into the shoulder of the railbed. Repair work began June 25 and more work is needed, but it should be completed in early August. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-31-24]
FEDS INVESTIGATING ACCIDENTS FROM IMPROPER MAKEUP, EXCESSIVE LENGTH: The Federal Railroad Administration is investigating accidents related to improper train makeup and excessive length. Its administrator Amit Bose said the number of long trains is increasing, and the FRA is paying close attention. He said the National Academy of Sciences is currently conducting a study into the safety of long trains, adding that the railroads themselves claim there is no data to regulate long trains, but the agency is collecting such data and plans to use them in an effective way. [BLET, 7-31,24]
WABTEC TO SUPPLY EVOLUTION SERIES LOCOMOTIVES TO GUINEA: Wabtec has announced a $277-million order for Evolution series ES43ACmi locomotives for a joint venture in the Republic of Guinea. The order will provide a locomotive fleet to serve the Simandou high-grade iron ore project. [Progressive Railroading, 7-31-24]
WESTBOUND SOUTHWEST CHIEF ANNULLED K.C. TO L.A. DUE TO FREIGHT DERAILMENT: Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief from Chicago was terminated July 31 between Kansas City and Los Angeles, with no alternate transportation provided, due to a freight train derailment. [Amtrak, July 31, 2024]
AMTRAK TAKES OVER WASHINGTON D.C. UNION STATION: Amtrak is beginning a program to revitalize Union Station in Washington, D.C., following a U.S. District Court decision to grant Amtrak the right to take control of the management and operations at the facility. Amtrak plans to initiate work to address the safety, security, repair and maintenance of the station, and manage the leasing of retail, office and advertising space. [Progressive Railroading, 7-30-24]
PITTSBURGH'S MOUNT WASHINGTON TUNNEL TO CLOSE FOR FIVE-MONTH REHAB NEXT YEAR: Beginning March 1, 2025, Pittsburgh's Mount Washington Transit Tunnel will close for work to replace its concrete deck, embed new tracks, replace its catenary, and repair the tunnel's lining. The light-rail line will be closed between South Hills Jct. and Station Square, with trains being rerouted to the Allentown line to downtown via. the Panhandle Bridge. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-30-24]
CSX REMOTE-CONTROLLED LOCOMOTIVE DERAILS INTO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD: A CSX remote-controlled locomotive on July 22 overran a wye at the end of the company's rail yard in Niagara Falls, N.Y., where it derailed into a residential neighborhood destroying a garage and spilling up to 2000 gallons of diesel fuel. No injuries were reported. Railroads have been expanding their remote operations, running remote trains both inside rail yards but also between them. [BLET, 7-30-24]
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR DELAYED PRIOR TO CHICAGO DEPARTURE BY EQUIPMENT ISSUES: Amtrak's westbound California Zephyr left Chicago two hours and 46 minutes behind schedule July 30 due to equipment issues, also for commissary restock incurred from excessive temperatures. [Amtrak, 7-30-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF TERMINATED EN ROUTE BY BLOCKED DERAILED FREIGHT TRAIN: Amtrak's eastbound Southwest Chief was terminated in Albuquerque July 30 due to a freight train derailment ahead. [Amtrak, 7-30-24]
UNION PACIFIC TRAIN STRIKES UPS TRUCK IN MISSISSIPPI: Officials with the city of Clinton, Mississippi, said a UPS truck was struck by a Union Pacific train July 30 and was pushed down the track more than half of a mile. The driver had to be extracted from the vehicle and taken to a hospital by ambulance. [WJTV, 7-30-24]
TWO KILLED, OVER 20 INJURED AS TRAIN DERAILS IN INDIA: A passenger train derailed in Jharkhand State, India, near the station at Barabamboo, early July 30, killing two and injuring more than 20. [Crisis 24, 7-30-24]
PATRICK OTTENSMEYER DIES, FORMER PRESIDENT, CEO OF KCS: Patrick Ottensmeyer, who was president and chief executive of Kansas City Southern when the company merged with Canadian Pacific in April 2023, has died. He was 67. [Morningstar, 7-29-24]
BLUE RIDGE SCENIC RWY DEDICATES STATION TO FORMER PATRIOT RAIL CEO JOHN FENTON: Blue Ridge Scenic Railway officials have honored former Patriot Rail CEO John Fenton with a dedication ceremony to rename the railroad's Blue Ridge, Ga., depot to Fenton Station. [Progressive Railroading, 7-29-24]
INDIANA & OHIO RWY GETS $1-M GRANT TOWARD VERTICAL CLEARANCE PROJECT: The Ohio Rail Development Commission has approved a $1-million grant to Indiana & Ohio Railway toward addressing vertical clearance concerns allowing double-stack intermodal trains through Springfield, Ohio. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-29-24]
SENATOR SANDERS FAULTS RAILROADS FOR PUTTING PROFITS OVER SAFETY: Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called out America's railroad industry for putting profits over safety in an address to members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen on July 29. He said that railroads have slashed over 20 pct of its work force since 2010, while at the same time they spent $225-billion on stock buybacks and dividends. He cited precision scheduled railroading as forcing workers to do more with less, while safety takes a back seat to corporate profits. [BLET, 7-29-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Thirty-six percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending July 28, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 52 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 7-28-24]
EMPIRE BUILDER SUBSTANTIALLY DISRUPTED BY DELAYS IN N.D.: Amtrak's westbound Empire Builder was delayed three and three-quarters hours at its stop in Minot, N.D., July 28 because of mandatory crew rest. Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder on July 28 arrived into Chicago six hours and 47 minutes late. According to Amtrak, the train had been significantly delayed en route the day before in North Dakota by a disabled freight train blocking the route. Then, the westbound section of the Empire Builder, due to leave Chicago that same day, was annulled over its entire run. [Amtrak, 7-28-24]
HISTORIC FLYING YANKEE STREAMLINER TO BE MOVED TO CONWAY SCENIC RAILROAD: The Flying Yankee diesel streamliner, built in 1934 by the Budd Company for the Boston & Maine, will be moved within the near future from its current location at the Granite State Scenic Railway to the Conway Scenic Railroad in Conway Village, N.H. [Valley News, 7-27-24]
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR PASSENGERS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS BUSED BETWEEN DENVER AND GRAND JCT. DUE TO TRACK WORK: Amtrak's California Zephyr passengers on July 26 and 27 were bused in both directions between Denver and Grand Junction, Colorado, due to track work. [Amtrak, 7-27-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF OVER SEVEN AND ONE-HALF HOURS LATE INTO LOS ANGELES: Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief arrived into Los Angeles seven and one-half hours behind schedule July 27. Amtrak said the train was significantly delayed en route by rail congestion, freight train interference and signal issues. [Amtrak, 7-27-24]
COAST STARLIGHT DELAYED BY DISABLED FREIGHT TRAIN: Amtrak's southbound Coast Starlight, due into Los Angeles July 26, arrived there seven and one-half hours late. Most of the train's en route delay was prior to arrival in Chico, California, waiting for a disabled freight train to clear the track ahead. Meanwhile, the northbound section of the Coast Starlight was delayed en route for the same reason, finally arriving into Portland 14 hours behind schedule, at which point the train was terminated and passengers heading further north were provided with alternate transportation. [Amtrak, 7-27-24]
SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES $2.63-B FOR AMTRAK OPERATIONS: The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its FY-2025 transportation budget which includes $2.63-billion for Amtrak operations, a $210-million increase over the prior year level and $530-million more than the House version. The bill still needs to be approved by the full Senate. [Rail Passengers Assn, 7-26-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN REPORTS 2-Q EARNINGS: Norfolk Southern reported second-quarter 2024 income from railway operations of $1.1-billion, an operating ratio of 62.8 pct, and diluted earnings per share of $3.25. After adjusting the results to exclude the impact of the Febr. 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, restructuring and other charges, plus advisory costs from the recent proxy contest, the company posted $1.1-billion in railway operating income, an operating ratio of 65.1 pct, and diluted EPS of $3.06. Railway operating revenue grew 2 pct to $3-billion compared with the same period last year. [Progressive Railroading, 7-26-24]
MBTA APPROVES ADDING BATTERY-ELECTRIC TRAINS TO FAIRMOUNT LINE: The board of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has approved a $54-million plan to bring battery-electric multiple-unit train service to the Fairmount commuter rail line. [Railway Age, 7-26-24]
ARSONISTS ATTACK FRANCE'S HIGH-SPEED RAIL NETWORK: Arsonists attacked France's high-speed rail network early July 26, setting fires that paralyzed train travel to Paris for some 800,000 people across Europe. The fires were predominantly set in pipes containing signaling cables. Fires were reported before dawn on three separate lines. Another arson attempt was thwarted by rail employees who scared off suspects. There were no reports of injuries. [AP News, 7-26-24]
SEPTA TO PURCHASE 200 RAIL CARS TO REPLACE MARKET-FRANKFORD FLEET: Hitachi Rail will supply 200 modern rail cars to SEPTA to replace the aging fleet on the Market-Frankford line. SEPTA has the option to order up to 40 more. [Progressive Railroading, 7-26-24]
AMTRAK'S PALMETTO COLLIDES WITH VEHICLE IN S.C., BALANCE OF RUN CANCELED: Amtrak's northbound Palmetto on July 26 collided with a vehicle on the tracks in the Sellers area of Marion County, S.C. There were no injuries to the 121 passengers and crew, but the train was annulled following the incident. [WMBF, 7-26-24]
PORTLAND SECTION OF EMPIRE BUILDER SERIOUSLY DELAYED BY HOURS OF SERVICE ISSUES: Amtrak's westbound Portland section of the Empire Builder left Spokane an hour late July 26, but was extensively delayed en route to Portland due to having to await the arrival of relief crews due to hours of service requirements. The train finally arrived into Portland ten hours and 22 minutes behind schedule. [Amtrak, 7-26-24]
WABTEC, INDIAN RAILWAYS BEGIN LOCOMOTIVE SERVICE IN ANDHRA PRADESH: Wabtec and Indian Railways recently marked the start of locomotive service operations at the Gooty Maintenance Shed in Andhra Pradesh, India. [Progressive Railroading, 7-26-24]
UNION PACIFIC REPORTS 2-Q RESULTS: Union Pacific reported 2024 second-quarter net income of $1.7-billion or $2.74 per diluted share, compared with $1.6-billion or $2.57 per diluted share in the year ago period. Operating revenue rose 1 pct to $6-billion, operating income climbed 9 pct to $2.4-billion, and operating ratio of 60 pct was down from 63 pct. [Progressive Railroading, 7-25-24]
NORTH CAROLINA TO MATCH $1.8-M FUNDING TO RAIL IMPROVEMENTS OF THREE SHORT LINES: North Carolina's Dept. of Transportation will invest $1.8-million to match funding to improve rail infrastructure on there short lines. Aberdeen Carolina & Western gets $762,148 toward track and bridge upgrades, construction of sidings, and transloading infrastructure. Alexander Railroad gets $338,320 toward main line track upgrading; and R.J. Corman Railroad gets $666,764 for corridor and branch improvements. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-25-24]
HART TO AWARD CONTRACT TO BUILD ELEVATED RAIL LINE THROUGH HONOLULU: Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit plans in August to award a contract to build a three-mile, six-station elevated rail line through Honolulu's city center. The estimated cost in 2023 was between $1.1-billion and $1.4-billion, but the cost of materials and labor have likely gone up since then. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-25-24]
CN SHUTS DOWN LINE THROUGH JASPER NATIONAL PARK DUE TO FIRE: Canadian National has shut down service through the Jasper National Park region due to a major wildfire in the park. A significant backlog has been growing over the past 48 hours. [Railway Age, 7-25-24]
NJT TO PURCHASE 36 ADDITIONAL MULTI-LEVEL III RAIL CARS: New Jersey Transit's board has approved the purchase of an additional 36 multi-level III rail cars. [Railway Age, 7-25-24]
EASTBOUND EMPIRE BUILDER ANNULLED JULY 25 DUE TO SERVICE DISRUPTION: Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder from Seattle and Portland was annulled July 25 due to disrupted operations of its westbound section. [Amtrak, 7-25-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 480,083 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending July 20, 2024, up 1.4 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 3.4 pct, and intermodal was up 5.8 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 7-24-24]
CN REPORTS 2-Q RESULTS: Canadian National has reported second-quarter 2024 revenue of $4.3-billion (C), a 7 pct increase compared with the same quarter last year. Operating income of $1.6-billion was a 3 pct decrease. Operating ratio of 64 pct compared with 60.6 pct a year ago. [Progressive Railroading, 7-24-24]
PRESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY BOARD APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE BLET, NJT BARGAINING DISPUTE: President Biden has appointed a presidential emergency board to investigate the collective bargaining dispute between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen and New Jersey Transit. The report is due on August 23. [BLET, 7-24-24]
AMTRAK, MOBILE REACH AGREEMENT TO RESTORE AMTRAK SERVICE TO GULF COAST: An agreement between Amtrak and the city and port of Mobile has been reached to restore passenger trains to the Gulf Coast. Scheduled for final approval in early August, the agreement centers on a three-year funding plan and land-use agreement. The city and port would contribute some funding to help cover Alabama's share of the operations budget the first three years of service. A timeline for introduction of the service has not been determined. [Rail Passengers Assn., 7-24-24]
FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILS IN COLORADO, AMTRAK SERVICE HALTED: A freight train derailment July 24 in Charleston, Colorado, west of Dodge City, canceled Amtrak's Southwest Chief in both directions. There were no injuries and no threats to the public. [KSN, 7-24-24]
LEGISLATORS HIGHLIGHT NEW RAIL SAFETY BILL: Legislators on July 23 used a House subcommittee hearing on railroad safety to highlight a new rail safety bill. It would require all Class I carriers to join the confidential close-call reporting system for two years, require states to notify first responders of the AskRail app about train consists, to authorize an additional $1-billion for the railroad grade crossing elimination program, to authorize $100-million annually for a grant program to install rail car telematics systems and gateway devices on cars with hazardous materials, and retains the two-person crew requirement. [Freight Waves, 7-23-24]
CSX HONORS C&EI WITH HERITAGE SCHEME LOCOMOTIVE: CSX has repainted locomotive 3060 into a special paint scheme honoring predecessor line Chicago & Eastern Illinois. The unit has been renumbered 1877 to correspond to the year of C&EI's founding. [Robert Michaels, 7-23-24]
TEENAGER ACCUSED OF DERAILING TRAIN IN NEBRASKA: A 17-year-old boy who claimed to be a 'railroad enthusiast' is accused of intentionally causing a train derailment earlier this year in Bennet, Nebraska. BNSF investigators said in an affidavit that the individual recorded the derailment in April and included it on social media. Two locomotives and five rail cars were involved, and the incident caused an estimated $350,000 in damage. [KLKN-TV, 7-23-24]
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS IN SACRAMENTO FOR WATT/I-80 TRANSIT CENTER IMPROVEMENT: Sacramento's Regional Transit District has begun construction on the Watt/I-80 Transit Center improvement project. Its investment in the center includes upgrading two elevators, and it will invest $26-million in additional improvements over the next couple of years. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-23-24]
BLET CRITICIZES AMTRAK OVER BONUSES FOR TOP OFFICIALS IN LIGHT OF SERVICE PROBLEMS: The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen has criticized Amtrak management for its 'misplaced priorities.' There have been a number of service issues this summer blamed on power outages, malfunctioning circuit breakers, catenary failures, mechanical problems and canceled trains. Meanwhile, it was revealed that Amtrak's top executives took in over $9-million in bonuses in 2023. Instead of 'padding the pockets of executives through bonuses,' Amtrak should put systems in place to make sure such service failures do not continue to occur, said the union's general chairman for Amtrak. [BLET, 7-23-24]
MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO REPLACING STEAM ENGINE TRAIN WITH DIESELS: The last steam engine is leaving the Milwaukee County Zoo in the fall. Number 1924 is moving to the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society in Wisconsin Dells. There it will join the other steam engine, number 1916, which left the zoo in April. The zoo plans to replace the steam engines with custom-built diesel engines. [Wisconsin Public Radio, 7-23-24]
PRECONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT: Work on Amtrak's $2.7-billion Susquehanna River bridge on the Northeast corridor in Maryland has begun with preconstruction work that includes removal of remnant bridge piers from the river and utility upgrades in Perryville. The work sets the stage for start of actual bridge construction later next year. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-22-24]
JULY 22 WAS A TOUGH DAY FOR AMTRAK'S LONG-DISTANCE TRAINS: Amtrak's southbound Silver Star was more than nine hours late arriving Miami July 22. Its en route delays included crew issues, speed restrictions, and track and signal problems. The westbound Empire Builder terminated at Spokane that same day with its passengers bused to Seattle and Portland, as the train was six and one-half hours behind schedule arriving into that location. Its eastbound counterpart originated at Spokane that evening with its passengers from Seattle and Portland bused to Spokane. The westbound Southwest Chief arrived into Los Angeles over 10 and one-half hours late, having been delayed by mechanical problems before it even left Chicago, and later by rail congestion, severe weather warnings, and track and signal issues while en route. Both northbound and southbound sections of the Vermonter continued their ongoing suspension of more than a week between Springfield and Saint Albans due to storm damage. The southbound Palmetto, following a one-hour equipment delay leaving New York, arrived in Savannah four hours behind schedule, delayed en route by a fallen tree, an engine swap and rail congestion. [Amtrak,7-22-24]
CLASS-I RAIL EMPLOYMENT DROPS SLIGHTLY IN JUNE: As of mid-June 2024, Class-I railroads in the U.S. employed 121,697 people, down 0.7 pct from mid-May's level, and down nearly 1 pct from June 2023, according to data from the Surface Transportation Board. [Progressive Railroading, 7-22-24]
FRA ISSUES FINAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON EAST PALESTINE DERAILMENT: The Federal Railroad Administration has published its final accident investigation report on the Norfolk Southern train derailment of Febr. 3, 2024, in East Palestine, Ohio. The agency found that the derailment was caused by a roller bearing that failed from overheating. Also, inadequate staffing for communication information from defect equipment detectors to the train crew may have contributed to the accident. [Progressive Railroading, 7-22-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Twenty-eight percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending July 21, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 43 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 7-22-24]
AMTRAK SERVICE BETWEEN NEW YORK AND NEW HAVEN DISRUPTED JULY 22: Multiple Amtrak trains were canceled early July 22 between New York City and New Haven by a 'broken track.' Amtrak first reported the disruptions about 9:30 a.m. Ticketed customers were being accommodated on Metro-North trains between Grand Central Terminal and New Haven, Amtrak said. [Gothamist, 7-22-24]
PERSON KILLED BY AMTRAK TRAIN IN COLORADO: Amtrak's westbound California Zephyr struck and killed a person who was trespassing on the tracks late in the morning of July 21, a couple of miles west of Granby, Colorado. [Sky H News, 7-21-24]
EASTBOUND EMPIRE BUILDER DELAYED BY FREIGHT TRAIN INTERFERENCE, DETOUR: Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder was more than eight and one-half hours late arriving into Chicago July 21, the morning after it was due. According to Amtrak, most of its en route delay was due to freight train interference and the need to detour around a freight train derailment in Minnesota. [Amtrak, 7-21-24]
CSX TRAIN DERAILS IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA.: No injuries were reported when a CSX freight train derailed late July 20, colliding into garage buildings at an apartment complex near the city's train station. [Potomac Local News, 7-20-24]
PERSON KILLED BY TRAIN ON NEC IN ODENTON, MD.: A person is dead after 'coming into contact' with a train early July 19 along the Northeast corridor in Odenton, Md., according to Amtrak. Rail service through the area was disrupted by the incident. [Baltimore Sun, 7-20-24]
AMTRAK ADVANCES STEPS TO UPDATE WASH RACKS TO CLEAN ITS RAIL CARS: New wash racks are coming into service on Amtrak this summer and fall. Amtrak wound up this past winter with all but one wash rack for trains broken and out of service. There was no commonality to why they were broken, so the problem was not solvable by just expediting deliveries of a particular set of parts or a single repair. New wash racks will go into service this month in New Orleans, followed next month by Boston, and this fall in Chicago and Seattle. [Rail Passengers Assn., 7-19-24]
UPGRADES TO TWO AMTRAK STATIONS IN NEBRASKA COMPLETED: Amtrak has announced that $10-million in accessibility upgrades at two Nebraska stations are completed. The work was performed at Holdrege and Hastings, both served daily in each direction by the California Zephyr. [Progressive Railroading, 7-18-24]
ONTARIO LINE CONNECTION WORK BEGINS: Ground has been broken on the future Ontario line connection at Toronto's Pape Station. The more than 10-mile subway line features 15 new stations and will run from Exhibition Place through the heart of downtown Toronto. [Progressive Railroading, 7-18-24]
LUXURY TRAIN PLANNED IN EGYPT: High-end hospitality company Arsenale and Egyptian National Railways have signed terms for the launch of 'Guardian of the Nile' cruise train in 2027. The train would have up to 15 cars and 40 cabins in deluxe, suite and honor suite classes, with a total capacity of 80 passengers. Tour destinations would include Luxor and Abu Simbel. [Railway Gazette, 7-18-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 483,806 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending July 13, 2024, up 1.3 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 4.3 pct, and intermodal was up 6.3 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 7-17-24]
AMTRAK'S MAPLE LEAF DELAYED BY BAD WEATHER: Amtrak's southbound Maple Leaf of July 16 was almost four hours behind schedule arriving into New York on July 16, having been significantly delayed en route by severe weather and fallen trees. [Amtrak, 7-17-24]
NEC TRAINS DISRUPTED BY HEAT ISSUES: After several days of temperatures hovering around 100 degrees, Northeast corridor railroads are reporting operating problems due to extreme heat. The carriers, predominately Amtrak and rail transit operations, have reported slow orders due to sun kinks, and Amtrak has issued an advisory indicating that a train could be delayed up to an hour due to slower operations. Moreover, catenary that powers most trains along the corridor can sag and create tension issues in excessive heat. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-17-24]
FEDS ORDER SEPTA TO FIX SAFETY ISSUES FOLLOWING INSPECTION: The Federal Transit Administration has ordered SEPTA to fix several safety shortcomings that were documented during an investigation between Aug. 2023 and Jan. 2024. FTA required SEPTA to take 24 corrective actions related to worker safety, operations and issues involving bus and rail services. The investigation was launched after a rash of bus and trolley crashes, including five major collisions during one single week that killed one person and injured at least 25. [Progressive Railroading, 7-16-24]
PRECONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON AMTRAK'S MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN PHILADELPHIA: Contractors have begun preconstruction on Amtrak's Penn Coach Yard heavy maintenance facility in Philadelphia. It will service Acela, Airo and Northeast Regional trains on the Northeast corridor. On-site construction is slated to begin this October. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-16-24]
GROUND BROKEN ON D.C. METRO'S FUTURE EAST ENTRANCE TO CRYSTAL CITY METRORAIL STATION: Ground was broken July 12 on the future east entrance to the Crystal City Metrorail station in Virginia. The new entrance is set to open in late 2027. [Progressive Railroading, 7-16-24]
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR DELAYED BY EQUIPMENT ISSUE: Amtrak's westbound California Zephyr on July 14 was three hours behind schedule when it finally left Chicago due to an 'equipment issue.' [Amtrak, 7-15-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Twenty-seven percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending July 14, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 56 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 7-15-24]
FEDS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR PASSENGER RAIL GRANTS: The Federal Railroad Administration has announced the availability of more than $153-million for eligible projects to establish service on new routes, restore service on routes that were later deleted, or enhance service on existing routes. Grant applications are due Sept. 30. [Progressive Railroading, 7-15-24]
VIA RAIL GETS FUNDING FOR RENEWAL OF NATIONAL FLEET: VIA Rail Canada is to begin the competitive procurement of new, comfortable and accessible trains for use across the country following the confirmation of government funding. By renewing its fleet, they will be able to maintain its coast-to-coast services and continue to connect a multitude of communities. [Railway Gazette, 7-15-24]
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS TO REPLACE RAIL BRIDGE SPANNING HUDSON RIVER IN ALBANY: Construction has begun on a $634.8-million project to replace the Livingston avenue rail bridge to replace the Civil War-era bridge spanning the Hudson River between Rensselaer and Albany, N.Y. The new seven-span meeting modern standards for speeds and clearance will be built just south of the existing bridge. The project will also create a separated pedestrian and cyclist path. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-15-24]
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR DELAYED OVER 16 HOURS: Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr, which was due into Chicago July 14, was 16 and one-half hours behind schedule when it finally arrived there the following morning. According to Amtrak, the train was delayed more than six hours in Sacramento by mechanical issues and waiting for a rescue locomotive, by miscellaneous en route freight train interference and heat-related issues, and an early-morning contact with a vehicle in Illinois, resulting in several hours of additional delay. [Amtrak, 7-15-24]
N.C. TRAIN SERVICE SETS NEW RIDERSHIP RECORD: North Carolina train service set a new record for passengers in the first six months of 2024. 'NC by Train,' the state's service run by Amtrak, saw over 342,000 passengers in that period, 20 pct higher than last year. Each month set a new record for that particular month, officials said. [WCNC, 7-15-24]
MAN STRUCK, KILLED BY AMTRAK TRAIN IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA: A yet-to-be identified man was struck and killed by a southbound Amtrak train late July 13 in North Philadelphia's Frankford section. [Yahoo News, 7-14-24]
AMTRAK'S CRESCENT ANNULLED BY EQUIPMENT ISSUES: Amtrak's southbound Crescent from New York July 14 was annulled due to equipment issues. [Amtrak, 7-14-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN PUBLISHES ITS FIRST CLIMATE TRANSITION PLAN: Norfolk Southern has published 'Forging a Better Tomorrow,' highlighting the company's progress on advancing its first climate transition plan. It covers actions taken in 2023 through early 2024 in efforts to foster a sustainable, economic ecosystem with benefits across its 22-state network. The plan calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions intensity 42 pct by 2034. The process aims to achieve locomotive fuel efficiency 13 pct by 2027; increase renewable energy usage to 30 pct by 2030; and reach 20 pct consumption of low-carbon fuels by 2034. [Progressive Railroading, 7-12-24]
STB TO HOLD HEARING OVER CONCERNS OF RECENT FREIGHT RAIL VOLUME TRENDS: The Surface Transportation is summoning executives from the major freight railroads to a rare public hearing to explain how their companies plan to invest in and grow their business amid concern over recent negative volume trends. The agency will also welcome rail customers, suppliers and rail labor unions at the hearing. It will be held Sept. 16-17 in Washington. [Freight Waves, 7-12-24]
AMTRAK'S CRESCENT ABORTED BY DISABLED FREIGHT TRAIN: Amtrak's northbound Crescent on July 12 was terminated in Atlanta and returned to its originating point due to a 'disabled' freight train blocking the tracks ahead. [Amtrak, 7-12-24]
CSX JOINS RAILPULSE: CSX has become the fourth class-I railroad to join RailPlus, a telematics joint venture that aims to put GPS equipment and sensors on freight cars to monitor their location and health in real time. RailPulse says the data will improve service, freight car visibility, safety and productivity. [Freight Waves, 7-11-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN ENDORSES NTSB'S SAFETY POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS: Norfolk Southern has endorsed the national safety policy recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board as part of the agency's investigation of the 2023 East Palestine derailment. They align with initiatives currently under way at the railroad designed around the principles of accident prevention, mitigation and response, the company said. NTSB recommendations include initiatives to improve the performance of defect detectors, to modernize the nationwide tank car fleet for certain types of hazardous materials, and to quickly put critical real-time information into the hands of emergency responders. [Progressive Railroading, 7-11-24]
UNION PACIFIC'S PORT HOUSTON SERVICE EXPANDS: Union Pacific's Port Houston on-dock service has expanded to two additional markets. Now handling 73 pct of U.S. Gulf Coast container traffic, Port Houston offers rail access from Barbours Cut Container terminal to Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Kansas City, Laredo, Los Angeles, Memphis, Oakland, Phoenix and Salt Lake City. [Progressive Railroading, 7-11-24]
PORT OF LOS ANGELES COMPLETES PIER 400 RAIL EXPANSION: The Port of Los Angeles has completed its $73-million Pier 400 rail expansion. Use of the expanded rail yard is projected to eliminate an estimated 1200 truck trips per day by 2040, officials say. [Freight Waves, 7-11-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 421,817 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending July 6, 2024, up 3.3 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 1.2 pct, and intermodal was up 7.6 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 7-10-24]
FRA ANNOUNCES $1.1-B IN GRANT FUNDING TOWARD RAIL CROSSING SAFETY: The Federal Railroad Administration has announced the availability of $1.1-billion in grant funding for projects designed to improve rail crossing safety and efficiency. The grant program invests in projects involving grade separations, upgrades to safety devices or closures to crossings where roads and trains intersect. [Progressive Railroading, 7-10-24]
GREENBRIER COS. REPORT 3-Q EARNINGS: The Greenbrier Cos. has reported net earnings of $34-million or $1.06 per diluted share on revenue of $820-million in its third-quarter ending May 31, 2024. During the quarter, the company logged new rail car orders for 6,300 units and delivered 5,400 units, resulting in a new rail car backlog of 29,400 units with an estimated value of $3.7-billion. [Progressive Railroading, 7-10-24]
MBTA OPENS NEW CENTER ISLAND PLATFORM AT WORCESTER UNION STATION: MBTA has opened its new center island platform at Worcester Union Station on the Framingham-Worcester line. The new high-level platform can accommodate two trains at the same time, versus the previous single-side platform which only accommodated one. It also reduces train dwell time. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-10-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF DELAYED FOUR HOURS BEFORE LEAVING CHICAGO: Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief left Chicago four hours behind schedule on July 8. According to Amtrak, its delay was due to mechanical issues and the need to await the arrival of a locomotive to be added to the consist. The train arrived into Los Angeles two days later more than six hours late. [Amtrak, 7-10-24]
MEXICO TO EXPAND PASSENGER RAIL UNDER COMING ADMINISTRATION: Mexico's president-elect is planning to build three passenger train lines running from the capital to some cities next to the U.S. border. Claudia Sheinbaum has agreed to build about 1850 miles of passenger rail, double the amount built in the old administration, and said the trains would be electric and run at speeds of up to 100 MPH. [ABC News, 7-10-24]
STADLER TO SUPPLY 35 EMU'S TO BULGARIA: Stadler Polska has been selected to supply 35 electric multiple-units for service in Bulgaria. Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing with Talgo for the supply of 20 push-pull train sets for long-distance services. [Railway Gazette, 7-10-24]
BOREALIS TRANSPORTS MORE THAN 18,500 RIDERS IN ITS FIRST MONTH OF SERVICE: Amtrak's Borealis, the new train introduced to the Chicago-Twin Cities line in May, transported more than 18,500 riders in its first month of service. This is an average of 300 passengers aboard each of its daily trains in each direction. [Progressive Railroading, 7-9-24]
ROBOT UNVEILED IN JAPAN TO PERFORM RIGHT-OF-WAY MAINTENANCE: A giant humanoid robot capable of undertaking tasks such as painting lineside structures, cutting back vegetation, lifting heavy objects, and performing simple maintenance of overhead electrification has been unveiled in Japan. It has two 40-foot arms, each with four claws, and a small head with cameras to serve as eyes for a human operator stationed at a distance. It is attached to a moving arm mounted on a road and track vehicle, and is capable of reaching to 33 feet above track level. It is stronger than a human, and can be used as a means of reducing the risk of accidents to human employees. [Railway Gazette, 7-9-24]
FEDS AWARD $11-B GRANTS, FINANCING FOR HUDSON RIVER RAIL TUNNEL PROJECT: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has announced the award of $11-billion in federal grants and financing for the Hudson River rail tunnel project. [Progressive Railroading, 7-9-24]
D.C. METRO USING AUTO DOORS ON ALL METRO TRAINS: The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission is approving full-system operation in auto-door mode. The mode was previously launched on the Red line in Dec. 2023, but will now be available on all metro trains. Auto-door mode will allow for faster entries and exits, with doors opening within three to five seconds after the train stops, saving up to 10 seconds per stop. Operators will still close doors manually for departure. [Mass Transit magazine, 7-9-24]
AMTRAK'S CITY OF NEW ORLEANS STRIKES, KILLS PEDESTRIAN: Amtrak's northbound City of New Orleans, en route to Chicago, struck and killed a 30-year-old man who was walking on the tracks July 9 in River Ridge, Louisiana, shortly after the train had departed from its New Orleans origin point. [Fox8, 7-9-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF DELAYED BY MECHANICAL, CREW ISSUES: Amtrak's eastbound Southwest Chief arrived into Chicago nearly eight hours behind schedule July 9, having been delayed en route by mechanical and crew issues, and the need to add a locomotive in Albuquerque. [Amtrak, 7-9-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Thirty-five percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending July 7, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 19 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 7-8-24]
OMAHA ORDERS SIX STREETCARS FOR BLACKSTONE DISTRICT LINE: CAF will supply six streetcars plus parts and tools for the 3.2-mile, 16-stop Omaha streetcar project connecting the Blackstone district with downtown. [Railway Age, 7-8-24]
AMTRAK ADDS 33 WEEKLY NORTHEAST REGIONAL STOPS AT NEWARK'S LIBERTY AIRPORT: Amtrak has added 33 weekly Northeast Regional stops at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, representing a 26 pct increase in previous service. [Progressive Railroading, 7-8-24]
AAR LAUNCHES NEW MONTHLY PUBLICATION: The Assn. of American Railroads is launching a new monthly publication, 'Rail Industry Overview.' Available on line, it offers quick insights into what rail traffic says about today's economy and where the data suggest it could be headed. The aim is to pull back the curtain to help the public understand what the industry is seeing coming down the tracks, and highlight key developments in rail traffic and their implications for the larger economy. [Assn. of American Railroads, 7-8-24]
CAPITOL LIMITED DELAYED BY EQUIPMENT, MECHANICAL PROBLEMS: Amtrak's eastbound Capitol Limited departed Chicago three hours late July 7 due to equipment issues, further delayed east of Cleveland due to mechanical issues, arriving into Washington July 8 nearly six hours late. [Amtrak, 7-8-24]
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR DELAYED BY ROCK SLIDE, OTHER PROBLEMS: Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr arrived into Chicago six and one-half hours late July 8, having been delayed en route by weather conditions, freight train interference, a rock slide near Glenwood Springs, and a disabled freight train blocking the track. [Amtrak, 7-8-24]
AMTRAK'S MISSOURI RIVER RUNNER DERAILS, NO INJURIES: The locomotive's rear axle of Amtrak's Missouri River Runner train derailed late July 8 after striking a fallen tree on Union Pacific tracks near Washington, Missouri. Over 100 passengers were on board at the time, and there were no injuries. [KSDK, 7-8-24]
AMTRAK SUSPENDS N.Y.-BOSTON SERVICE BECAUSE OF POWER OUTAGE: Amtrak early July 6 suspended service between New York City and Boston due to a malfunctioning circuit breaker causing a power outage on all tracks between New York's Penn Station and New Haven. The incident was evidently caused by a lightning strike, and service was restored the following day. [Amtrak, 7-7-24]
CPKC TRAIN DERAILS IN N.D., CATCHES FIRE: Twenty-nine cars of a Canadian Pacific Kansas City train derailed early July 5 in a remote area of North Dakota about 140 miles northwest of Fargo, with 10 to 15 cars catching fire. Some of the cars were carrying hazardous materials. No injuries were reported. [Nashua Telegraph, 7-6-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TRAIN DERAILS IN PA.: Several cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed the afternoon of July 5 on a bridge spanning the Lehigh River in South Bethlehem, Pa. All of the derailed cars were empty, although two other cars in the train carried hazardous materials. No injuries were reported. [Lehigh Valley News, 7-5-24]
BNSF ADVANCES BISMARCK-MANDAN BRIDGE REPLACEMENT IN N.D.: Construction began by BNSF last year on a new bridge spanning the Missouri River to replace the 1470-foot truss bridge built more than 140 years between Bismarck and Mandan, N.D. Crews are now constructing substructures and piers for the new bridge, which is expected to be completed in second-quarter 2026. [Progressive Railroading, 7-5-24]
COAST STARLIGHT DELAYED BY MECHANICAL ISSUES: Amtrak's Coast Starlight due into its Seattle destination on July 4 arrived there seven and one-half hours late. The delay was mostly blamed on en route mechanical issues. [Amtrak]
AMTRAK'S MAPLE LEAF STRIKES, KILLS PEDESTRIAN ALONG HUDSON LINE: Amtrak's northbound Maple Leaf en route to Toronto struck and killed a pedestrian early July 5 at Schodack, N.Y., south of Albany, causing an almost two hour delay to the train and disruption of rail service between Albany and New York City. [Albany Times-Union, 7-5-24]
JUNE 2024 U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 1,960,510 carloads and intermodal units in June 2024, up 3.8 pct compared with the same month last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 1.7 pct, and intermodal was up 8.7 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 7-3-24]
REGIONAL RAIL ACQUIRES CINCINNATI EASTERN R.R.: Regional Rail has acquired Cincinnati Eastern Railroad, a 70-mile short line operating on Norfolk Southern trackage between Clare and Mineral Springs, Ohio. [Freight Waves, 7-3-24]
FUNDING ADVANCED FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALDRIGE CREEK R.R. BRIDGE IN ALABAMA: Alabama has announced funding toward replacing the wooden Aldrige Creek bridge along Huntsville & Madison County Railroad Authority's 13-mile route near the Tennessee River with a new concrete structure to allow heavier loads. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-3-24]
AMTRAK, NJT EXAMINE INFRASTRUCTURE FOLLOWING SERVICE DISRUPTIONS: Amtrak and New Jersey Transit are working to examine infrastructure following an increase of disruptions in New York Penn Station and New Jersey. The examination will focus pantographs, catenary, signals, switches, and equipment. NJT has installed high-resolution cameras to inspect pantographs. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-3-24]
BLET WANTS FRA TO EXAMINE ROOT CAUSE OF AMTRAK'S LOSS OF SHUNT PROBLEMS: Amtrak has requested a waiver on installation of shunt enhancer antennas on its Siemens Charger locomotives. Shunting is a core safety function allowing the operation of dispatch systems, signal protection and other systems, along with positive train-control. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen has asked the Federal Railroad Administration to examine root causes of shunt loss, saying that Amtrak engineers throughout the U.S. have reported it to be a frequent or routine occurrence. [BLET, 7-2-24]
GROUND BROKEN ON S-LINE PROJECT IN N.C.: Ground was broken July 1 in North Carolina for the S-Line project, part of the Raleigh-to-Richmond rail program to create a faster passenger rail route. [Railway Age, 7-2-24]
LIGHT-RAIL RECOMMENDED FOR BALTIMORE'S RED LINE: Maryland's governor has announced that light-rail will be the recommended mode for Baltimore's Red line, a major investment in transit to address east-west service through the city between Woodlawn and Bay View. [Progressive Railroading, 7-2-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF INVOLVED IN FATAL CROSSING ACCIDENT IN N.M.: Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief arrived into Los Angeles more than 10 hours late July 2, having been seriously delayed the day before by a fatal crossing accident near Raton, N.M., mechanical issues and the need to await a new crew. [Amtrak, 7-2-24]
UNION PACIFIC TRAIN DERAILS IN CALIFORNIA: A Union Pacific train derailed early July 2 in El Centro, California, on a 90-degree curve in the tracks, with 10 rail cars overturning. All of the cars were empty and no injuries were reported. [Calexico Chronicle, 7-2-24]
INITIAL SET OF COMFORTJET COACHES ADDED TO CZECH REPUBLIC RAIL SERVICE: Czech Republic's national operator CD has put its first set of ComfortJet intercity coaches into revenue service. It began running on the Praha-Bohumin route on June 12, with Bohumin-Frantiskovy Lasne route to be added once three sets are ready for use. [Railway Gazette, 7-2-24]
BLET REACHES TENTATIVE CONTRACT WITH SEPTA: The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen has reached a tentative agreement with SEPTA, running through March 2, 2026. The union's general chairman said the agency's commuter locomotive engineers have been among the lowest paid in the country. BLET, 7-1-24]
CONCRETE TIE FIRM TO BUILD $20-M FACILITY IN LAS VEGAS: PCM Railone AG will build a $20-million production facility in Las Vegas as part of Brightline West's high-speed rail project. Concrete ties weigh about 600 pounds apiece, and the facility's location will make it easier to ship the product to the work site. About 60 employees will be hired, and shipments are expected to begin by Dec. 2025. [Railway Track & Structures, 7-1-24]
FOUNDING CHAIRMAN OF IOWA INTERSTATE R.R. DIES: Paul Banner, founding chairman of Iowa Interstate Railroad, died June 17. He was 102. [Railway Age, 7-1-24]
FIRST HALF 2024 AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-three percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the six-month period January-June 2024. The average arrival of all trains during the period was 47 minutes late. The average arrival of only those trains that arrived behind schedule was one hour and 22 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 7-1-24]
AMTRAK'S CARDINAL DELAYED BY FALLEN TREES IN W.VA.: Amtrak's Cardinal arrived into Chicago more than three and one-half hours late July 1 with much of its en route delay caused by trees down west of Alderson, W.Va. [Amtrak, 7-1-24]
GOTTHARD BASE TUNNEL IN SWITZERLAND SLATED TO REOPEN SEPT. 2: Switzerland's SBB expects to reopen the Gotthard Base tunnel fully on Sept. 2, ending more than a year of disruption from an August 2023 freight train derailment. A key ambition ahead of the reopening is the introduction of a service linking Zurich and Lugano every 30 minutes with a journey time of less than two hours. [Railway Gazette, 6-30-24]
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE PROPOSES CUTS TO AMTRAK OPERATIONS, RAIL SAFETY PROGRAMS, TRANSIT: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation has released its draft FY-2025 Appropriations Act which outlines $212-million in proposed cuts to rail programs, including a 12 pct cut to Amtrak operations and a 15 pct cut to railroad safety research. The draft bill also cuts funding to the Federal Transit Administration by $1.3-billion compared to FY-24. with a 66 pct reduction to capital investment grants. [Rail Passengers Assn., 6-28-24]
CONTRACT AWARDED TO REPLACE AMTRAK'S CONNECTICUT RIVER BRIDGE: Amtrak has awarded a construction contract to joint venture O&G-Tutor Perini, to replace the existing Connecticut River bridge. The new two-track bridge will replace the existing two-track bridge built in 1907. The new structure will allow a speed of 70 MPH, compared with the speed of 45 MPH of the current structure. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-28-24]
PTC TO BE INSTALLED ON 100 MILES OF DOWNEASTER TRACK: Amtrak and CSX, in partnership with the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, will install positive train-control on more than 100 miles of track between Haverhill, Massachusetts, and Brunswick, Maine. The project is scheduled to be completed in spring 2026, and will support Downeaster service and freight trains on the route. [Progressive Railroading, 6-28-24]
TWO PEOPLE STRUCK, KILLED BY SAME AMTRAK TRAIN IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS: Amtrak's southbound Carolinian en route from New York to Charlotte struck and killed two people in separate incidents within a five-hour period June 27 and 28 in Burlington and Charlotte, N.C. [WWBT, 6-28-24]
VIA RAIL'S NEW FLEET ARRIVES IN ONTARIO: VIA Rail Canada's new fleet has arrived in southwestern Ontario. By summer 2025, the entire Quebec City to Windsor corridor will be served by 32 new trains, some of which being added this summer. [Progressive Railroading, 6-28-24]
CANADIAN NATIONAL FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILS NEAR CHICAGO: A freight train derailed June 27 in Matteson, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, sparking evacuations of nearby homes and businesses amid a suspected leak from derailed cars. Canadian National said about 25 rail cars were carrying various substances, and that there were no fires or reports of injuries. [NBC News, 6-27-24]
AMTRAK BEGINS UPGRADES TO STATION IN BRATTLEBORO, VT.: Amtrak has begun making upgrades to its Brattleboro station in Vermont, which will include the state's first level boarding train platform. The station will also have interior and exterior accessible waiting areas, along with other improvements. [Progressive Railroading, 6-27-24]
VALLEY METRO AWARDED $15.9-M FEDERAL FUNDS TOWARD RIO EAST-DOBSON STREETCAR EXTENSION: Valley Metro in Phoenix has been awarded a $15.9-million federal grant for the Rio East-Dobson streetcar extension. The project will expand the existing 3-mile streetcar line by an additional 4.35 miles, from Tempe into West Mesa. [Progressive Railroading, 6-27-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 485,557 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending June 22, 2024, up 3.6 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 0.8 pct, and intermodal was up 7.5 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 6-26-24]
CSX HONORS GEORGIA R.R. WITH COMMEMORATIVE HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE: CSX class ES44AH locomotive 1834 in the predecessor Georgia Railroad scheme is the 16th in a series of heritage locomotives to roll out of the company's Waycross shop in Georgia. CSX had previously unveiled units commemorating B&O, ACL, L&N, C&O, Conrail, Chessie, Seaboard, Monon, NYC, RF&P, Family Lines, Western Maryland, Pere Marquette, SCL and Pittsburgh & Lake Erie. [Railway Age, 6-26-24]
NAME CHOSEN FOR CHICAGO'S NEWEST TRAIN STATION: The Chicago Transit Board has approved the official naming of the city's newest rail station, currently under construction along the Green line at Lake street and Damen avenue. It will be known as the Damen Green Line station. It is expected to open in coming weeks. [Railway Age, 6-26-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF DELAYED MORE THAN 13 HOURS EN ROUTE TO L.A.: Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief arrived into its Los Angeles destination more than 13 hours late on June 26. According to Amtrak, the train was delayed en route due to mechanical and crew issues, the need to add a locomotive, and speed restrictions. [Amtrak, 6-26-24]
EMPIRE BUILDER SUFFERS DELAYS, TERMINATED EN ROUTE: Amtrak's westbound Empire Builder on June 26 arrived in Spokane more than 11 hours late, and was terminated at that location with passengers being bused to their destinations. According to Amtrak, much of the train's delay was due to mechanical and crew issues, and the need to await the arrival of a locomotive to be added in Minot, N.D. [Amtrak, 6-26-24]
NTSB BLAMES DEFECTIVE BEARING ON MASSIVE 2023 DERAILMENT IN EAST PALESTINE, OHIO: The National Transportation Safety Board said June 25 that a rail car's defective wheel bearing caused the Norfolk Southern train derailment and subsequent hazardous material release in East Palestine, Ohio, last year. NTSB investigators said the decision by the local incident commander three days later to conduct a vent-and-burn of the contents of the tank cars carrying vinyl chloride monomer was based on incomplete and misleading information provided by Norfolk Southern officials and contractors. The vent-and-burn was not necessary to prevent a tank car failure, investigators found, and such a procedure is seldom used, and only when there is a high probability of tank car failure. It required a community evacuation and prompted local residents to be concerned about long-term health impacts of the release of those chemicals. [Progressive Railroading, 6-26-24]
NTSB CHAIR SCOLDS NORFOLK SOUTHERN FOR ITS RESPONSE TO BOARD'S INVESTIGATION OF OHIO DERAILMENT: National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy sharply criticized Norfolk Southern for the way it responded to the board's investigation of the Febr. 3, 2023, hazardous materials derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The railroad 'stonewalled' board requests for information, ran its own probe on the side in violation of NTSB rules, and sought to influence the board's independent investigation, she said. Norfolk Southern's abuse of the party process was 'unprecedented and reprehensible,' she added. [Freight Waves, 6-25-24]
NTSB PROMPTS RAILS TO PHASE OUT DOT-111 TANK CARS: Among the recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board in response to the 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in Ohio was to aggressively phase out DOT-111 tank cars from hazmat service, along with other tank car improvements. Railroads are reviewing the complete findings and recommendations to identify the potential need for additional research surrounding bearing performance or other joint industry efforts. [Assn. of American Railroads, 6-25-24]
NJT STRIKE POSSIBLE AS EARLY AS JULY 25: Federal mediation has ended in the contract negotiations between New Jersey Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, setting in motion a 30-day cooling-off period. Unless there is a voluntary agreement, or establishment of a presidential emergency board, either NJT to BLET could invoke 'self-help' in the form of lockout or strike as early as July 25. [BLET, 6-25-24]
JERRY ANGIER DIES, RAIL HISTORIAN, AUTHOR: Jerry Angier, noted railroad historian, author, and authority on the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad who wrote the volume of record on the history of that road, has died. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-25-24]
BNSF RAIL BRIDGE SPANNING BIG SIOUX RIVER IN S.D. COLLAPSES IN FLOOD: The center span of BNSF's Aberdeen subdivision bridge over the Big Sioux River in South Dakota collapsed late June 23 amid a torrential rain and flooding. The location is just northwest of Sioux City, served both by BNSF and Union Pacific. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-25-24]
NORTH AMERICA'S FIRST SELF-PROPELLED, ZERO-EMISSION PASSENGER TRAIN ARRIVES IN CALIFORNIA: North American's first self-propelled, zero-emission passenger train to meet federal regulations has arrived in San Bernardino, California. The train uses a hybrid hydrogen and battery technology to propel and power onboard systems. In the coming week, it will begin final phase of testing that will include trips on the Arrow line and Metrolink. It is expected to be put into service later this year. [Progressive Railroading, 6-25-24]
BLET REACHES TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH PACIFIC HARBOR LINE: The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen has reached a tentative contract with the Pacific Harbor Line, subject to ratification by members. [BLET, 6-25-24]
CSX BRIDGE AT HARPERS FERRY CATCHES FIRE: A double-track CSX bridge spanning the Potomac River between Maryland and West Virginia at Harpers Ferry caught fire June 24, prompting the suspension of Amtrak and MARC service, officials said. [Washington Post 6-25-24]
BNSF INSTALLS WIND FENCE IN ABO CANYON, N.M.: BNSF has installed a 1300-foot wind fence to reduce wind speed along its track in New Mexico's Abo Canyon. Abo Canyon is a mountain pass through the Manzano Mountains where it and its predecessor Santa Fe have had track since 1908. The area experiences high winds, and the fence will reduce its impact on BNSF's operations. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-24-24]
MAJOR MILESTONE REACHED IN CONSTRUCTION OF TORONTO'S EGLINTON CROSSTOWN EXTENSION: The Ontario government reached a major milestone after it finished tunneling the four-mile western underground portion of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension in Toronto. Two tunnel boring machines excavated 1.2 million tons of soil and rock, and installed over 7400 concrete liner rings to support the walls. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-24-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Twenty-six percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending June 23, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 16 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 6-24-24]
AMTRAK SERVICE AT WASHINGTON D.C. DISRUPTED BY DEATH OF TRESPASSER STRUCK BY TRAIN: Amtrak service was extensively disrupted late June 24 in Washington, D.C., following the death of a trespasser struck by a train in northeast Washington. [WUSA, 6-24-24]
HOUSE COMMITTEE TO REVEAL PROPOSED AMTRAK, PASSENGER RAIL, TRANSIT FUNDING LEVELS: The House Appropriations Subcommittee to Transportation will hold a hearing on its FY-2025 budget June 27, where it will reveal proposed funding levels for Amtrak operations, passenger rail grants, and transit programs. [Rail Passengers Assn. 6-21-24]
R.R. MEDICARE DOCTOR GETS JAIL TIME, TO PAY RESTITUTION: A railroad medical doctor in Michigan recently pled guilty to making false statements that he performed medically unnecessary surgeries. Daniel Castro was sentenced to serve five years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $2-million in restitution following unnecessary sinus surgeries and the removal of lymph nodes and glands, according to a U.S. Dept. of Justice press release. [National Assn of Retired & Veteran Railway Employees, 6-2024]
NORTH AMERICAN RAIL SOLUTIONS ACQUIRES TRI INNOVATIONS CONSULTING: North American Rail Solutions has acquired Alberta-based Tri Innovations Consulting, a full-discipline engineering company focused on energy transportation, agriculture and renewable spaces. [Railway Age, 6-21-24]
PITTSBURGH TRANSIT RED LINE CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION UNTIL END OF AUGUST: Pittsburgh Regional Transit's red line service is temporarily closed until the end of August while crews complete several safety-critical constructions projects. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-21-24]
AMTRAK NEC, NJT SERVICE DISRUPTED BY POWER FAILURE, BRUSH FIRE: A 'unique combination of events' recently caused major delays in the New York area, affecting travel along a significant section of the Northeast corridor. Amtrak is still investigating the root cause of each delay, but a circuit breaker powering trains experienced a 'catastrophic failure' on one of the hottest days of the year, and a serious brush fire also came close to tracks. Amtrak is working with New Jersey Transit to understand and address the disruptions, which appear unique to the equipment and area. [Amtrak]
BNSF TO BUILD MAJOR LOGISTICS HUB IN ARIZONA: BNSF plans to build a 4321-acre logistics hub in Maricopa County, Arizona, near Phoenix. It will be a master-planned logistics hub to accommodate the transportation, storage and distribution of goods and materials throughout the Phoenix area and the greater Southwest. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-20-24]
NJT COMPLETES $74.5-M RENOVATION OF ELIZABETH RAIL STATION: New Jersey Transit has completed renovation of its rail station in Elizabeth. The $74.5-million reconstruction included additional platform capacity and access with upgraded elevators, new station buildings and a renovated public plaza. [Progressive Railroading, 6-20-24]
ALSTOM TO SUPPLY 70 TRAXX UNIVERSAL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES TO ITALY: Italy's national railway FS Group's freight business Mercitalia Rail has awarded Alstom a contract to supply 70 Traxx Universal electric locomotives, including some with last-mile capabilities, and to provide 12 years of full maintenance. [Railway Gazette, 6-20-24]
TEXAS EAGLE SUFFERS MASSIVE DELAY FROM MECHANICAL ISSUES IN TEXAS: Amtrak's eastbound Texas Eagle arrived into Chicago over eight hours late June 19 following delays mostly due to mechanical issues and the need for an additional locomotive the previous evening in Texas. [Amtrak]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 493,138 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending June 15, 2024, up 3.4 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 2.5 pct, and intermodal was up 8.9 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 6-19-24]
COALITION DEVELOPS HIGH-SPEED RAIL 'ROADMAP' FOR U.S.: The U.S. High-Speed Rail Coalition has created a roadmap and shared guidance for how to launch high-speed rail projects. The action plan is intended to equip advocates with practical tips, realistic expectations and strategic support as they work to launch new projects in the U.S. The guidance cites a recent survey that found that 72 pct of registered voters support the creation of a nationwide HSR network. [Progressive Railroading, 6-19-24]
TONY SMITH DIES, RETIRED BLET GENERAL CHAIRMAN: Tony Smith of Miramar Beach, Florida, died June 15. He was a locomotive engineer for CSX for 18 years, and was elected general chairman of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen in 1991. He was 71. [BLET, 6-18-24]
BNSF TO PAY SWINOMISH TRIBAL COMMUNITY $394.5-M FOR VIOLATING OPERATING AGREEMENT ON TRIBAL LAND: BNSF owes the Swinomish Tribal Community in Washington State $394.5-million for violating an agreement governing rail operation across tribal land, a federal judge has ruled. More than 266,000 rail cars had violated that agreement, generating about $900-million in revenue. [Freight Waves, 6-18-24]
CINCINNATI EASTERN R.R. CHANGES OWNERSHIP: 3i RR Holdings and Regional Rail are acquiring the Cincinnati Eastern Railroad, according to notices filed with the Surface Transportation Board. Cincinnati Eastern is a short line that operates over 69 miles of track in Ohio, under lease from Norfolk Southern. It runs from Cincinnati to Peebles, with a connection to NS via Clare Yard in Cincinnati. [Progressive Railroading, 6-18-24]
TANZANIA OPENS 125-MILE ELECTRIFIED PASSENGER RAIL LINE: Tanzanian passenger rail service on the 125-mile electrified standard-gauge line from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro opened June 14 with 1400 passengers on board. Service is to be extended to the capital city Dodoma by July 25, reducing the journey time from eight hours by bus to about three hours by rail. [Railway Gazette, 6-18-24]
UNION PACIFIC BIG BOY LOCOMOTIVE SET FOR HEARTLAND OF AMERICA TOUR: Union Pacific's Big Boy 4014 is set to steam during its Heartland of America tour staring Aug. 9 in Cheyenne, concluding in late October. It will pass through Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. Whistle-stops for public displays include Sept. 8 in Rochelle, Illinois; Oct. 6 in Houston; and Oct. 10-11 in Fort Worth. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-17-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Thirty-five percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending June 16, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 32 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 6-17-24]
FATAL TRAIN ACCIDENT IN INDIA: As many as 15 people died and dozens were injured early June 17 after a freight train collided with a passenger train in India's West Bengal state. Initial reports suggest that human error was involved. More than 12 million people ride 14,000 trains across India daily along a network of 40,000 miles. [Aljazerra, 6-17-24]
EMPIRE BUILDER DELAYED BY COLLISION WITH VEHICLE: Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder arrived over seven hours late into Chicago June 16, primarily the result of a collision with a vehicle near Williston, N.D., and subsequent crew issues. [Amtrak, 6-16-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF ANNULLED JUNE 16 DUE TO EQUIPMENT ISSUES: Amtrak's Southwest Chief departing from origin points in both directions June 16 were annulled due to 'equipment issues.' [Amtrak, 6-16-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF EXTENSIVELY DELAYED SEVERAL TIMES DURING WEEK: Amtrak's eastbound Southwest Chief arrived 11 hours late into Chicago June 15, the main result of mechanical issues requiring the addition of a freight locomotive, along with signal problems, according to Amtrak. Meanwhile, the westbound section on the same date arrived 14 hours late into Los Angeles due to crew issues along the way, mechanical issues, inclement weather and rail congestion. The westbound section the following day arrived into Los Angeles seven hours late due to crew delays and signal issues. [Amtrak]
CSX TO RECONFIGURE ITS YARD IN CUMBERLAND, MD.: CSX has announced an infrastructure improvement project for its rail yard in Cumberland, Md. The company plans to remove the hump and hump tower, and place additional tracks for flat switching. The changes will enable workers to assemble trains on two automated tracks while simultaneously moving other cars, reduce handling, and double the yard's production capacity. [Progressive Railroading, 6-14-24]
AMTRAK OFFERS SUMMER SALE ON NORTHEAST CORRIDOR: Amtrak's summer sale can get D.C. travelers up the East Coast for at least 25 pct less than regular fares. The Northeast summer sale requires fares to be purchased by June 20, but those fares are good for travel between June 28 and Sept. 2. The fares are good for Northeast Regional coach class and Acela business class, and there are no blackout dates. [WTOP, 6-14-24]
AMTRAK REPORTS RIDERSHIP, REVENUE INCREASE OVER SEVEN MONTH PERIOD: Amtrak's ridership has increased 20 pct and ticket revenue is up 10 pct in the first seven months of FY-2024, compared with the same period last fiscal year, its CEO Stephen Gardner told a U.S. House subcommittee June 12, adding that Amtrak still anticipates improving its bottom-line performance with a reduced operating loss this year. [Progressive Railroading, 6-13-24]
PORT OF NEVADA OFFERING DIRECT INTERMODAL RAIL SERVICE THROUGH PORT OF OAKLAND: The Port of Nevada is now offering direct intermodal service for both imports and exports between Fernley, Nevada, and the Port of Oakland, California. The venture includes the port's collaboration with Union Pacific. The Nevada port is a 224-acre, inland port and ramp operation. [Progressive Railroading, 6-13-24]
AMTRAK AIMS TO MAKE ATLANTA A RAILROAD HUB: Amtrak has signaled interest to re-establish Atlanta as a true railroad hub, with an octopus of routes to Charlotte, Nashville, Macon, Montgomery, Birmingham, Savannah and other cities. Currently, just one Amtrak route serves Atlanta. The city's current station was built in 1918 in what was then a suburban setting, designed for a small number of passengers, and has no parking, no connections to local transit, an undersized waiting room, and poor access to its platform below. Amtrak's annual report for FY-2025 includes a request for nearly $30-million in federal funding to secure a site for a new rail hub in Atlanta and to begin the process of building it. [Atlanta Urbanize, 6-13-24]
SEPTA ANNOUNCES RETURN OF PCC TROLLEYS TO ROUTE 15: SEPTA has announced the return of its iconic green & cream Presidents' Conference Committee trolleys to route 15, with service starting June 16. Work has been completed on eight trolleys so far. The route will operate with a combination of trolleys and buses along Gerard avenue and Richmond street. This allows SEPTA to deploy the restored trolleys while maintaining frequency on the route. [SEPTA, 6-12-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 489,916 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending June 8, 2024, up 4.1 pct compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 4.4 pct, and intermodal was up 12.2 pct. [Assn. of American Railroads, 6-12-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN INTRODUCES NEW 'THANK A RAILROADER' LOCOMOTIVE: Norfolk Southern has released a new 'Thoroughbred, Thank a Railroader' paint scheme to locomotive 4822. The railroad said it is in tribute to its employees, inspired by their 'grit, heart, and drive that they put forward every day.' [Railway Track & Structures, 6-12-24]
AMTRAK'S SUSPENSION OF ADIRONDACK SERVICE TO MONTREAL EXTENDED 10 MORE WEEKS: Amtrak's Adirondack service closure to and from Montreal has been extended an additional 10 weeks until Sept. 9 to allow for track modifications. The train will continue running between New York City and Saratoga Springs during the suspension. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-12-24]
VIRGINIA, CHARLOTTE, N.C., TO ACQUIRE N.S. LINE PORTIONS TO EXPAND PASSENGER RAIL: The commonwealth of Virginia and the city of Charlotte, N.C., have notified the Surface Transportation Board of their intention to acquire portions of Norfolk Southern to expand passenger rail. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority intends to acquire the Manassas line between MP 10.76 and MP 32.75, and between MP 9.25 and MP 10.76, and an operating easement between MP 32.75 and MP 33.6. Meanwhile, Charlotte intends of acquire about 29 miles of the O-Line in Mecklenburg and Iredell counties, N.C., for expansion of commuter rail. [Progressive Railroading, 6-12-24]
FRA TO RELAUNCH RAIL SAFETY ADVISORY GROUP OVERSEEING REMOTE CONTROL TRAIN OPERATIONS: Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose says the FRA will soon relaunch its Rail Safety Advisory Group overseeing remote control train operations. An investigative report May 27 by the New York Times exposed how railroads are expanding their remote operations. Administrator Bose indicated the group will study remote control in yards and on main lines to determine if safety can be improved through regulation or other actions. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 6-11-24]
CALTRAIN TO GO PUBLIC WITH ALL-ELECTRIC FLEET ON SEPT. 21: Caltrain has announced that its all-electric fleet is set to go public on Sept. 21. Meanwhile, electric trains will be running empty until that time, as each one is required to travel 1000 miles before it can begin carrying passengers. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-11-24]
NJT TO ADVANCE BRIELLE DRAWBRIDGE REPLACEMENT: New Jersey Transit's board has approved a contract to advance the Brielle Drawbridge replacement project. The current single-track bridge built in 1911 spanning the Manasquan River on the North Jersey Coast line will be replaced by a two-track bridge. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-11-24]
BALTIMORE'S MAIN SHIPPING CHANNEL REOPENED FOLLOWING KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE: The Port of Baltimore's main shipping channel reopened June 10 following a massive cleanup effort after the Francis Scott Key bridge collapsed in a collision by a container ship in March. The channel has been restored to its original 50-foot depth and 700-foot horizontal clearance. [Progressive Railroading, 6-11-24]
SAVAGE OPENS TRANSLOAD FACILITY IN UTAH: Officials on June 10 marked the opening of the Savage Cedar City transload facility in Utah. It provides transload services between trucks and rail cars, on site storage for shippers, and direct access to Union Pacific. [Progressive Railroading, 6-11-24]
AMTRAK'S HARRISBURG LINE RENEWAL PROJECT ENTERING PHASE 3: Amtrak's $122-million Harrisburg line track renewal project will enter phase 3 on June 10. It is expected to be completed in November. There will be minor schedule changes for some Keystone service trains, but Pennsylvanian schedules are not affected. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-7-24]
CONTRACT APPROVED TO ADVANCE BALTIMORE'S RED LINE PROJECT: Maryland's Board of Public Works has approved an eight-year, $100-million program management consultant service contract for the Maryland Transit Administration, a major step in the agency's efforts to build the Baltimore Red line through the city between Bay View and Woodlawn. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-7-24]
STB ISSUES ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR TOWNLINE'S PROPOSED RAIL LINE IN N.Y. STATE: The final environment assessment for the proposed construction and operation of Townline Rail Terminal's new rail line in Suffolk County, N.Y., was issued June 7 by the Surface Transportation Board. The board will now consider the merits of the proposal and the entire environmental record as part of its final decision. [Railway Age, 6-7-24]
FOUR AMTRAK STATIONS GET ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS IN S.F. BAY AREA: Amtrak has completed accessibility improvements at four San Francisco Bay area stations. Facilities in Martinez, Hayward, Fremont and Oakland received $20-8-million in platform upgrades and other improvements. [Progressive Railroading, 6-6-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN IN DISCUSSION OVER POSSIBLE SALE OF RAIL LINE IN VA.: The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is in preliminary discussions with Norfolk Southern to purchase the Manassas line, and to pursue an option to extend passenger service to the New River Valley. Purchasing the Manassas line would give the authority the flexibility to work with Virginia Railway Express to expand service beyond the agency's traditional commuting option. [Progressive Railroading, 6-5-24]
CSX UNVEILS HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE HONORING P&LE: CSX has unveiled its latest heritage locomotive. Unit 1875 is a tribute to the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie, fresh out of the paint shop in Waycross, Ga. Founded in 1875 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, the P&LE was known as the 'Little Giant,' since it moved so much coal over a small area serving the steel mills in Pennsylvania over to Ohio. [Railway Age, 6-5-24]
MAY 2024 U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 2,342,049 carloads and intermodal units in May 2024, up 1.0 percent compared with the same month last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 6.0 percent, and intermodal was up 7.6 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 6-5-24]
WATCO WELCOMES VERDIGRIS SOUTHERN RWY AS ITS 46TH SHORT LINE: Watco recently welcomed the Verdigris Southern Railroad, a three-mile carrier serving the Port of Inola in Tulsa, as its 46th short line. [Railway Age, 6-4-24]
STEVE BOBB RETIRING AS BNSF CHIEF OF MARKETING: Steve Bobb, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer of BNSF, will retire in August after more than 36 years of service. Replacing him on Sept 1 is Tom Williams, currently group vice-president of consumer products. [Progressive Railroading, 6-4-24]
MIDNIGHT TRAINS DROPS PLANS FOR HOTEL-QUALITY SLEEPER TRAIN: Start-up Midnight Trains has abandoned its plan to develop a network of premium overnight trains offering hotel-standard accommodation on European routes from Paris, after being unable to raise the necessary funding. [Railway Gazette, 6-4-24]
ENDANGERED TOAD WARRANTS SPECIAL PROTECTION IN BNSF TRACK PROJECT: BNSF worked with federal and local agencies and provided funding to protect the arroyo toad, a species endangered due to urban development, as part of constructing 15 miles of track in Cajon Pass, California. Conservation activities included nightly habitat sweeps, fencing to keep toads out of the work area, and careful toad relocation. [Assn. of American Railroads, 6-4-24]
NORTHLANDER SERVICE REVIVAL ADVANCES: The Ontario government has awarded contracts totaling $75-million (C) to design and build nine new station shelters, improve track, and complete warning system upgrades as part of its plan to reinstate Northland passenger rail service between Timmons and Toronto with a rail connection to Cochrane. [Railway Track & Structures, 6-3-24]
CUYAHOGA VALLEY SCENIC R.R. PRESIDENT, CEO TO RETIRE: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad president and CEO Joe Mazur announced he will retire on Sept. 30. He oversaw the organization's $4-million capital campaign that resulted in the California Zephyr's vista domes, along with many passenger car upgrades. [Progressive Railroading, 6-3-24]
BLET MEMBERS RATIFY AGREEMENT FOR CN'S ACQUISITION OF IOWA NORTHERN: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen members have voted in favor of an implementing agreement regarding Canadian National's proposed acquisition of Iowa Northern. [Railway Age, 6-3-24]
MAY 2024 AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Thirty-nine percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in May 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 28 minutes behind schedule. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 6-1-24]
HITACHI COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF THALES' GROUND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS BUSINESS: Hitachi Rail has completed the acquisition of Thales' Ground Transportation Systems business. Hitachi said the deal would expand its global presence in the rail sector to 51 countries, with 60 pct of its revenues now coming from signaling, train-control and digital systems. [Railway Gazette, 5-31-24]
MARYLAND PLANS UPGRADES TO MARC STATION AT MARTIN AIRPORT: The Maryland Transit Administration will receive funding to develop plans and complete environmental work for the future renovation of the Martin Airport station north of Baltimore to make it safer and fully-accessible. [Rail Passengers Assn., 5-30-24]
CN ADDS TWO NEW FIREFIGHTING TRAINS TO COMBAT WILDFIRES: Canadian National has added two new firefighting trains, along with two additional rail cars, to its fire mitigation and suppression fleet. Named Trident and Neptune, they will join Poseidon, and together the three will provide support in combating wildfires along the property in isolated areas. [Progressive Railroading, 5-30-24]
AUSTIN'S LIGHT-RAIL PROPOSAL ADVANCES: The first phase of Austin Transit Partnership's proposed light-rail project entered the project development phase under the Federal Transit Administration's capital investment grants new starts program. [Progressive Railroading, 5-30-24]
AMTRAK TO UPGRADE TRAIN PLATFORM AT MONTPELIER JCT., VERMONT: Amtrak will perform a $3-million upgrade to the train platform at Montpelier Junction in Berlin, Vermont, to make the station ADA-compliant. [Railway Track & Structures, 5-30-24]
TRANSLINK TO ADD SIX MARK V SKYTRAINS TO FLEET: Alstom will supply six additional SkyTrain Mark V trains totaling 30 rail cars to TransLink in Vancouver, B.C. The Mark V features five-car sets, all internally open-ended with walk-through cars. [Progressive Railroading, 5-29-24]
FIRST TEN TALGO S106 AVRIL HIGH-SPEED TRAIN SETS ENTER SPANISH SERVICE: The first 10 Talgo S106 Avril high-speed train sets entered passenger service with Spanish national operator RENFE on May 21. The 205-MPH sets have two driving power cars and 12 articulated coaches. [Railway Gazette, 5-29-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 485,232 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending May 25, 2024, up 1.2 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 6.9 percent, and intermodal was up 8.9 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 5-29-24]
AMTRAK COMPLETES UPGRADES TO NEWBERN-DYERSBURG, TENNESSEE, STATION: Amtrak has completed $3.5-million in upgrades at its Newbern-Dyersburg station in Tennessee. Included is a 350-foot platform, and integrates the Newbern Depot & Railroad Museum, a waiting room, and a public-function room. [Railway Track & Structures, 5-28-24]
CALIFORNIA HSR AUTHORITY RELEASES ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR PALMDALE-BURBANK SEGMENT: The California High-Speed Rail Authority has released the final environmental documentation for the more than 30-mile segment between Palmdale and Burbank. This is the last key environmental document needed to connect San Francisco to downtown Los Angeles, and is on track to be presented to the board for consideration at its June 26-27 meeting. [Railway Track & Structures, 5-28-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN'S BOARD ELECTS CLAUDE MONGEAU CHAIRMAN: Norfolk Southern's board has elected Claude Mongeau, former CEO of Canadian National, as chairman. [Progressive Railroading, 5-28-24]
MBTA'S CAPEFLYER RETURNS FOR SUMMER SERVICE: Keolis, operator of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's commuter rail service, has returned its CapeFlyer summer service between Boston and Cape Cod. Trains will run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day, along with expanded holiday service. [Progressive Railroading, 5-28-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF'S LOCOMOTIVE DERAILS IN KANSAS: Amtrak's Southwest Chief moving through Emporia, Kansas, early May 25 had what was described as a 'minor' derailment. Nearly 160 passengers and over 20 crew members were on the train, but there were no injuries. Emporia police said that the wheels of the train's second locomotive had come off the track. [KVOE, 5-25-24]
TEXAS EAGLE DISRUPTED BY FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILMENT: Amtrak's westbound Texas Eagle was terminated May 25 at St. Louis, and its eastbound counterpart was terminated at Fort Worth, due to a freight train derailment in Arkansas. [Amtrak]
AMTRAK, NJ TRANSIT EVENING SERVICE DISRUPTED BY OVERHEAD POWER ISSUE: During the May 22 evening commute, a downed signal wire led to a loss of overhead power along the Northeast corridor in the New York City region, halting service on Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains between New York and Newark, stranding thousands of passengers. The incident was one of several service disruptions in that area during the week. [Rail Passengers Assn., 5-24-24]
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AT FREDERICKSBURG, VA., RAIL STATION COMPLETED: Virginia Railway Express has marked the completion of a $14.4-million project improving the rail station in Fredericksburg. The station and surrounding structures new resemble their appearance from nearly a century ago. [Progressive Railroading, 5-24-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO PAY MILLIONS IN PENALTY, COSTS FROM EAST PALESTINE DERAILMENT: Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay a $15-million civil penalty and $57.1-million in costs as well as millions in future costs to resolve a U.S. lawsuit over its 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. [Reuters, 5-23-24]
TRACK WORK TO PREVENT LONG-TERM SHUTDOWNS OF AMTRAK'S ADIRONDACK: Canadian National and Amtrak have agreed on a plan to prevent long-term Adirondack shutdowns on the Rouses Point subdivision with dedicated track work. The line from Saratoga Springs to Montreal will be suspended for six weeks to ensure service resumes in June. [Railway Track & Structures, 5-23-24]
CSX COAL PIERS IN BALTIMORE REOPEN: CSX is ramping up loading operations at its Curtis Bay coal piers in Baltimore two months after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge, blocking the harbor, and the closure of the port. [Progressive Railroading, 5-22-24]
OMAHA TRACK EQUIPMENT OPENS NEW FACILITY IN KANSAS CITY: Omaha Track Equipment has opened a new facility in Kansas City, Missouri, with 26,000 square feet of dedicated shop space. [Progressive Railroading, 5-22-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 474,886 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending May 18, 2024, up 0.9 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 4.8 percent, and intermodal was up 6.2 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 5-22-24]
WABTEC OPENS NEW MANUFACTURING PLANT IN INDIA: Wabtec on May 20 inaugurated a new manufacturing campus in Rohtak, India. It represents a $18-million investment and will initially manufacture transit-rail components and subsystems followed by other product lines in the coming years. [Progressive Railroading, 5-22-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN RESTORES, DONATES TRAIN DEPOT IN EAST PALESTINE, OHIO: Norfolk Southern has restored its historic train depot in East Palestine, Ohio, and donated the structure to the town, following a pledge made last year in the wake of the Febr. 2023 derailment, fire and chemical release. [Progressive Railroading, 5-21-24]
CLASS I RAIL EMPLOYMENT RISES IN APRIL: Class I railroads in the U.S. employed 122,967 workers in mid-April, a 0.02 percent increase from March, and a 1.3 percent increase year-over-year, according to the Surface Transportation Board. [Progressive Railroading, 5-21-24]
D.C. METRO RECEIVES $17-M TOWARD CAPITOL HEIGHTS STATION IMPROVEMENTS: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has received $17-million in funding to go toward Capitol Heights Metro station improvements. [Railway Track & Structures, 5-21-24]
FRA TO REQUIRE CERTIFICATION OF DISPATCHERS, SIGNAL MAINTAINERS: Under rules issued by the Federal Railroad Administration, railroads will now be required to submit certification programs for FRA approval to evaluate the knowledge, skills and safety records of train dispatchers and signal maintainers. [Progressive Railroading, 5-20-24]
NORTH SHORE R.R. DEDICATES LOCOMOTIVES TO MILITARY MEMBERS, VETERANS: The North Shore Railroad and affiliates dedicated two locomotives to U.S. military members and veterans on May 17. A private ceremony was held along the Lycoming Valley Railroad in Pennsylvania for memorial unit 9050 and veterans unit 9052. [Progressive Railroading, 5-20-24]
REPLACEMENT WORK COMPLETED AT CROTON-HARMON, N.Y., RAILROAD SHOP: Skanska has completed its work on a multi-year, $365-million MTA project to replace the Croton-Harmon railroad shop in Westchester County, N.Y. [Progressive Railroading, 5-20-24]
TONY HASWELL DIES, PASSENGER RAIL ADVOCATE: Anthony Haswell, founder of the then-known-as National Association of Railroad Passengers 57 years ago, died May 16 at his home in Arizona. He was 94. [Rail Passengers Assn., 5-17-24]
DINING CAR RETURNING TO AMTRAK'S CRESCENT: A regular dining car is slated to be added once again to Amtrak's Crescent beginning June 1, with 'Flex' dining being offered to sleeping car passengers. Within several months it is planned that service will be extended to coach passengers as well. [Rail Passengers Assn., 5-17-24]
BNSF TO SERVE NEW FACILITIES IN TEXAS, KANSAS: Chemical contract manufacturer Third Coast plans an expansion of operations in Pearland, Texas, to be served by BNSF. Meanwhile, CJ Logistics, a supply-chain and tech company, will open a BNSF-served cold storage warehouse in New Century, Kansas. [Progressive Railroading, 5-17-24]
ONE KILLED AS VEHICLE CRASHES INTO TRAIN IN CALIFORNIA: A vehicle crashed into a freight train late May 17 in Fontana, California, killing a person inside the car, according to Metrolink. [KCAL, 5-17-24]
LONGER FREIGHT TRAINS DISPROPORTIONALLY INCREASE RISK OF DERAILING, STUDY SHOWS: The longer the freight train, the greater the risk of derailment, new research from the Society for Risk Analysis shows. The study suggests that if U.S. carriers employed 100-car trains, rather than 50-car trains (requiring half as many trains overall), the systemwide risk of derailments would rise by 11 percent. [Claims Journal, 5-16-24]
MISSISSIPPI EXPORT R.R. TO BUILD RAIL CAR REPAIR SHOP: Mississippi Export Railroad has broken ground for a rail car repair shop specializing in tank car qualification services to be built at the Helena Industrial complex in Moss Point, Mississippi. [Progressive Railroading, 5-16-24]
VIA RAIL REPORTS RIDERSHIP GROWTH IN 2023: VIA Rail Canada last year reached its highest ridership level since 2019. Year-over-year, ridership climbed 24.7 percent to 4.1 million passengers. Total revenue shot up 29.2 percent to $197.7-million (C) due to an increase in frequencies and higher demand. [Progressive Railroading, 5-16-24]
MACOMB TRAIN STATION BEING NAMED IN HONOR AMTRAK BOARD MEMBER: Tom Carper, former mayor of Macomb, Illinois, and longest-serving member of Amtrak's board, is being honored with his name being added to the train station, reading 'Thomas C. Carper Amtrak Station.' [WGEM. 5-16-24]
RUSSIA TO INCREASE CAPACITY ON TWO RAIL LINES: The Russian government has approved the go-ahead for the third stage of work to increase the capacity on the Baikal-Amur and Trans-Siberian main lines. The program aims to increase the capacity of both routes from 180 to 210 million tons per year by the end of 2030, and to 270 million tons by the end of 2032. [Railway Gazette, 5-16-24]
EUROSTAR PLANS TO ACQUIRE 50 INTEROPERABLE TRAIN SETS: High-speed train operator Eurostar is preparing to invest in up to 50 high-speed train sets which would be fully interoperable across five countries and beyond. Eurostar says the new train will set the standards for customer experience and comfort. [Railway Gazette, 5-16-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 468,748 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending May 11, 2024, up 0.6 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 7.0 percent, and intermodal was up 7.7 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 5-15-24]
CN OPENS NEW TRANSLOAD LOGISTICS CENTER IN MICHIGAN: Canadian National has opened a new transload logistics facility in Flat Rock, Michigan. Target Steel, the facility's first customer, will convert a large part of its traffic from truck to rail for steel coils. [Progressive Railroading, 5-15-24]
SKODA TO SUPPLY 23 CUSTOMIZED EMU'S TO REGIOJET: Czech Republic's RegioJet has awarded Skoda Group a contract to supply 23 customized electric multiple-units. [Railway Gazette, 5-15-24]
MARLON TAYLOR NAMED PRESIDENT OF NEW YORK & ATLANTIC RWY: Marlon Taylor has been appointed president of New York & Atlantic Railway, which operates freight trains on lines owned by the Long Island Rail Road. He succeeds James Bonner, who plans to join New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad as its president. [Progressive Railroading, 5-14-24]
FRA TO MAKE AVAILABLE $2-B FOR NEC PROJECTS: The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a notice of funding opportunity making available over $2-billion for projects on the Northeast corridor. It is intended to advance the Hudson Gateway, Baltimore's Frederick Douglas Tunnel, the Susquehanna River Bridge, the Connecticut River Bridge, and the New York Penn Station Access projects. [FRA, 5-14-24]
SOUTHWEST CHIEF ABORTED IN COLORADO DUE TO FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILMENT: Due to a freight train derailment May 14 at Dodge City, Kansas, Amtrak's eastbound Southwest Chief terminated at La Junta, Colorado, and its passengers were returned to their origin points. [Amtrak, 5-14-24]
SOUTH SHORE LINE COMPLETES $650-M DOUBLE-TRACK PROJECT: Eighteen miles of new track have been added on the South Shore Line between Gary and Michigan City, Indiana. Included in the project were signal, power, communication, bridge and crossing upgrades. Completion of work allows for the addition of 14 weekday trains, reduced travel times and limited-stop express service. [Railway Track & Structures, 5-14-24]
D.C. METRO RETIRES ITS 2000-SERIES TRAINS: The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has retired its 2000-series cars. Introduced in the early 1980's, the 2000-series cars have surpassed their useful live, that agency said. [Progressive Railroading, 5-13-24]
CSX SUED OVER ALLEGED FAMILY MEDICAL EMERGENCY LEAVE ACT RETALIATIONS: A federal class action lawsuit alleges that CSX wrongly discouraged workers from taking leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, and retaliated against workers who used the leave. [Freight Waves, 5-13-24]
ROBERT PRIMUS TO BE NOMINATED STB CHAIR: President Biden intends to nominate Robert Primus as chair of the Surface Transportation Board, replacing Martin Oberman, who has retired. [Progressive Railroading, 5-13-24]
POSSIBLE CANADIAN STRIKE AT CN, CPKC DELAYED: A possible May 22 strike by rail workers at Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City has been delayed by Canada's industrial relations board while it reviews whether the strike would jeopardize the country's health and safety. [Freight Waves, 5-13-24]
WESTBOUND CAPITOL, LAKE SHORE LIMITEDS COMBINED IN INDIANA MAY 13: Due to mechanical issues affecting the westbound Capitol Limited the morning of May 13, it was combined with the Lake Shore Limited for the remainder of its run into Chicago. [Amtrak, 5-13-24]
ALBERTA TO DEVELOP PASSENGER RAIL MASTER PLAN: The government of Alberta has allocated $9-M (C) for the development of a passenger rail master plan as a foundation for the development of commuter and regional services. Proposals include commuter services in Calgary and Edmonton; regional lines from Calgary and Edmonton to Rocky Mountain parks; a line between Calgary and Edmonton with a transit hub in Red Deer; and rail hubs providing links between commuter, regional and local transit services in major cities. [Railway Gazette, 5-13-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-two percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending May 12, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 14 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 5-12-24]
AMTRAK GETS APPROVAL TO BUILD PLATFORM IN MOBILE FOR GULF COAST SERVICE: Mobile's zoning board has approved Amtrak's request for a 1400-square-foot temporary platform that will be needed to restore Amtrak service to the region. The project also includes a layover track to clear the mainline for CSX freight trains. [Progressive Railroading, 5-10-24]
FREIGHTCAR AMERICA REPORTS 1-Q RESULTS: FreightCar America has reported first-quarter revenue of $161.1-million on 1,223 rail car deliveries, an increase from $81-million on 738 deliveries in the same quarter last year. The company also reported a net loss of $11.6-million and adjusted net income of $4.9-million. [Progressive Railroading, 5-10-24]
UNION PACIFIC SELLS ONE-HALF MILE OF TRACK IN KANSAS TO SMC GLOBAL: Chemical product manufacturer and distributor SMC Global has acquired a half-mile stretch of track from Union Pacific in Kansas City, Kansas. Currently, the company is evaluating engineering firms to assess the track's capabilities and property restrictions. [Progressive Railroading, 5-10-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN FENDS OFF BOARD TAKEOVER BY ANCORA HOLDINGS: Norfolk Southern's management has retained control of the railroad with activist shareholder Ancora Holdings winning only three seats on the board of directors. The shareholders' vote did cost board chair Amy Miles her position, but CEO Alan Shaw has retained his seat on the board. [Freight Waves, 5-9-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 463,106 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending May 4, basically flat compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 5.1 percent, and intermodal was up 4.9 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 5-8-24]
NEIL MOYER NAMED DIRECTOR OF STB'S OFFICE OF PASSENGER RAIL: The Surface Transportation Board has appointed senior staff member Neil Moyer to serve as director of the board's office of passenger rail. The office is responsible for investigating and analyzing issues regarding Amtrak on-time performance. [Progressive Railroading, 5-8-24]
RAILSTATE TO LEVERAGE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR RAIL INDUSTRY: RailState, which offers real-time measuring of rail capacity and performance, has announced $4-million in new funding to expand its network and bring AI-powered insights to the rail industry. The strategic expansion includes coverage along the southern border with Mexico, and product investments to provide accurate real-time rail network information. [Freight Waves, 5-8-24]
METRA'S NEWEST STATION TO OPEN MAY 20, FOUR WEEKDAY TRAINS TO BE ADDED ON U.P. NORTH LINE: Metra's newest station at Peterson/Ridge in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood is set to open May 20. On that same day, four trains will be added to weekday service on the Union Pacific North line. The new schedule will accommodate the station and increase options for riders across the line. [Railway Track & Structures, 5-7-24]
VICTOR MEYERS PROMOTED TO PRESIDENT OF TWIN CITIES & WESTERN R.R.: Twin Cities & Western Railroad has promoted Victor Meyers to president. He will continue to serve as president of sister railroad Red River Valley & Western. Mark Wegner, who had been president and CEO for both lines, will continue serving as CEO. [Progressive Railroading, 5-7-24]
RAILMARK BECOMES OPERATOR, DEVELOPER OF 11-MILE INDUSTRIAL LINE IN MISSISSIPPI: Railmark Industrial Railway has become operator and developer of an 11-mile line in an industrial park in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. The line had been built in 1982 for NASA. [Progressive Railroading, 5-7-24]
RAILWAY CORRIDOR TO BE BUILT CONNECTING IRAQ, TURKEY: Turkey, Iraq, Qatar and United Arab Emirates have signed a memorandum of understanding to create the 'Development Road,' a 756-mile railway and road corridor to link Al-Faw container port in Basra, Iraq, with Turkey. [Railway Gazette, 5-6-24]
BNSF REPORTS 1-Q RESULTS: BNSF reported first-quarter operating income of $1.72-billion, a 7 percent decline from the prior year's first-quarter, and an operating ratio of 69.5 percent, a 1.1-percentage point increase from the same quarter last year. [Railway Age, 5-6-24]
UNION PACIFIC ADDS NEW LOS ANGELES-CHICAGO INTERMODAL SERVICE: Union Pacific launched a new domestic intermodal service April 28 designed to cut transit time for goods from Los Angeles to Chicago down to three days. It runs daily from the company's intermodal terminal in Industry, California, to its Global 2 intermodal terminal in Northlake, Illinois. [Progressive Railroading, 5-6-24]
STB ISSUES ASSESSMENT FOR CSX, CPKC ACQUISITION OF MERIDIAN & BIGBEE R.R.: The Surface Transportation Board has issued a final environment assessment for the proposed acquisition by CSX and Canadian Pacific Kansas City of Meridian & Bigbee Railroad's lines. CSX has applied to acquire and operate 93.7 miles between Burkville and Myrtlewood, Alabama, and CPKC wants to acquire and operate 50.4 miles between Meridian, Mississippi, and Myrtlewood. [Progressive Railroading, 5-6-24]
EASTBOUND SUNSET LIMITED ABORTED IN HOUSTON DUE TO BAD WEATHER: Amtrak's eastbound Sunset Limited arrived Houston three hours late May 3, and terminated due to a track closure caused by severe weather. Bus service was provided from there to New Orleans. [Amtrak, 5-5-24]
SECOND CHICAGO-TWIN CITIES AMTRAK TRAIN BEGINS MAY 21: Starting May 21, Amtrak will offer a new, second daily train between Chicago and Twin Cities. Named 'Borealis,' the trains will originate from St. Paul at midday, and from Chicago in the late morning. Borealis will make the current Empire Builder stops between St. Paul and Milwaukee, and Hiawatha stops between Milwaukee and Chicago. [Progressive Railroading, 5-2-24]
SIEMENS TO SUPPLY 10 TRAIN SETS TO BRIGHTLINE WEST FOR PLANNED LAS VEGAS-SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HSR: Brightline West has selected Siemens Mobility to build a fleet of 10 American Pioneer 220 train sets for the Las Vegas-Southern California high-speed rail line planned for opening in 2028. [Progressive Railroading, 5-2-24]
TEAMSTERS CANADA MEMBERS MIGHT STRIKE CN, CPKC: Teamsters Canada Rail Conference has announced that close to 10,000 workers and Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City have voted to authorize strikes. Unless the parties can reach an agreement, a work stoppage could occur as early at May 22. [Progressive Railroading, 5-2-24]
UNION PACIFIC TO TEST ITS FIRST BATTERY-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE: The first of six hybrid battery-electric locomotives designed and built by Union Pacific and rail technology company ZTR will undergo testing next month. The prototype can run on both diesel and batteries. The next of the remaining five locomotives is expected to be ready to be tested next year. The locomotives will operate as mother-slug sets, with one unit running on diesel, and an accessory unit providing battery power. [Progressive Railroading, 5-2-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 1,867,451 carloads and intermodal units in April 2024, up 1.2 percent compared with the same month last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 6.5 percent, and intermodal was up 8.6 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 5-1-24]
GULF & ATLANTIC RAILWAYS REBRANDING AS PINSLY RAILROAD: Gulf & Atlantic Railways is rebranding as Pinsly Railroad Co. The name change comes after the Oct. 2023 acquisition of Pioneer Valley Railroad, the final railroad owned by Pinsly. Pinsly Railroad is the second-oldest short line railway holding company in North America, dating back to 1938. [Freight Waves, 5-1-24]
REPORT SHARES RESULTS OF TESTING OF EPC TIES: The Federal Railroad Administration and the Association of American Railroads have investigated the design and testing of engineered-polymer ties. Offered as an alternative to solid-sawn timber ties, these ties have a history of inconsistent performance, and laboratory qualification testing has not proven effective in identifying the chief failure modes before in-track installation. There are two key failure modes: center cracking and spike-hole cracking. Observations showed the ambient temperature may affect the loading environment and track gauge of the ties at any given time of the day. [Railway Track & Structures, 5-1-24]
STB ADOPTS RULE FOR RECIPROCAL SWITCHING: The Surface Transportation Board has adopted its 'final rule' for reciprocal switching. Customers within a terminal area having access to only one Class-I rail carrier may now petition the board to order an agreement when the customer's rail service falls below specified levels. Reciprocal switching orders will be for a minimum of three years, and a maximum of five years. [Progressive Railroading, 5-1-24]
APRIL 2024 AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in April 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 22 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 5-1-24]
FEDS FAULT UNION PACIFIC ON SAFETY ASSESSMENT: Union Pacific managers undermined efforts to assess safety at the railroad in the wake of several high-profile derailments by coaching employees on how to respond, suggesting that they might be disciplined, federal regulators said. The meddling was so widespread across Union Pacific that the Federal Railroad Administration suspended its safety assessment, its chief safety officer said. Union Pacific says it believes the regulator's concerns centered on a message that one of its managers sent out to employees of his department with a list of questions regulators had planned to ask, to help prepare them for an interview. [AP, 5-1-24]
SOUND TRANSIT OPENS FIRST PORTION OF LINK 2 LINE: Sound Transit is celebrating the April 27 opening of the first portion of the Link 2 line, a 6.6-mile light-rail route between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology in the Seattle area. The project consists of eight new stations, a tunnel in downtown Bellevue and connections to local transit and the Eastrail regional trail network. [Progressive Railroading, 4-30-24]
RAILPROS ACQUIRES OMEGA RAIL MANAGEMENT: RailPros has acquired Nashville-based Omega Rail Management, which provides right-of-way management on more than 70 corridors across more than 20 states. [Progressive Railroading, 4-30-24]
STADLER TO DELIVER SEVEN KISS DOUBLE-DECK VEHICLES TO BULGARIA: Stadler Rail has obtained its first contract in Bulgaria, where it will deliver seven zero-emission KISS double-deck rail vehicles under a contract with the Ministry of Transport & Communications. [Progressive Railroading, 4-30-24]
STB CHAIR MARTIN OBERMAN RETIRING MAY 10: Martin Oberman's retirement as chair of the Surface Transportation Board will take effect May 10. Now 78, he took office in Jan. 2019 as the oldest rail regulator to have been sworn-in in the now more than 136-year history of the STB and its predecessor Interstate Commerce Commission. [Railway Age, 4-29-24]
BNSF TRAIN DERAILS AT ARIZONA-NEW MEXICO BORDER: The Federal Railroad Administration is investigating the cause of a BNSF train derailment at the Arizona-New Mexico border that occurred April 27 along the BNSF primary route between southern California and the Midwest. Rail operations were significantly impacted, including Amtrak, with both mainline tracks out of service. The train was carrying propane and gasoline, and caught fire after the derailment, and caused evacuations and the closure of a stretch of Interstate 40. No injuries were reported. [Progressive Railroading, 4-29-24]
SIEMENS TO SUPPLY ADDITIONAL 21 DESIRO ML EMU'S TO AUSTRIA: Austrian Federal Railways has placed an order for Siemens Mobility to supply a further 21 Desiro ML electric multiple-units, which the operator brands as 'Cityjet.' The order takes the fleet to 294 units, of which 236 are currently in service. [Railway Gazette, 4-29-24]
RAIL MAINTENANCE OF WAY UNION ENDORSES ANCORA'S PROPOSED OVERHAUL OF NORFOLK SOUTHERN: The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division of International Brotherhood of Teamsters has endorsed Ancora Holding Group's proposal to overhaul Norfolk Southern's board and replace current president & CEO Alan Shaw. It is the first rail union to publicly endorse Ancora's proposal. [Progressive Railroading, 4-26-24]
LIRR CELEBRATES 190TH ANNIVERSARY: The 190th anniversary of Long Island Rail Road has been celebrated. Founded April 24, 1834, it is now the busiest commuter railroad in North America, carrying more than 200,000 customers each weekday. It was sold to the state of New York by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1966. [Progressive Railroading, 4-26-24]
UNION PACIFIC REPORTS 1-Q RESULTS: Union Pacific reported first-quarter net income of $1.6-billion or $2.69 per diluted share, versus $1.6-billion or $2.67 per diluted share in the same period last year. Operating income of $2.4-billion was up 3 percent. [Union Pacific, 4-25-24]
NORTH CAROLINA R.R. INVESTS TO HELP DEVELOP MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN SILER CITY: The North Carolina Railroad will invest $200,000 to help develop a new manufacturing facility in Siler City, N.C., to be established by Innovative Construction Group. The railroad is one of several partners in the project, estimated to generate about 150 new jobs. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-25-24]
UNION PACIFIC SUED BY LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER OVER ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MISHAP: A Wyoming locomotive engineer is suing Union Pacific alleging injuries when an artificial intelligence software system slowed a lead unit while at the same time caused a second unit to speed up, resulting in rear-ending with sudden and rapid force. [Freight Waves, 4-25-24]
CPKC REPORTS 1-Q RESULTS: Canadian Pacific Kansas City has announced first-quarter revenues of $3.5-billion, diluted earnings per share of 83 cents, and core adjusted combined diluted EPS of 93 cents. [CPKC, 4-24-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 474,544 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending April 20, 2024, up 0.8 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 6.7 percent, and intermodal was up 8.2 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 4-24-24]
COURT SIDES WITH AMTRAK IN EMINENT DOMAIN SEIZE OF D.C. UNION STATION: Amtrak acted within its legal authority when it moved to seize control of D.C.'s Union Station by eminent domain in 2022, a federal judge has ruled. In the judge's opinion, the railroad met its burden of proof to exercise its 'quick take' authority after negotiations to acquire the lease of the station broke down. The judge said Amtrak taking control of the facility is necessary for intercity rail transportation. [Fox5, 4-23-24]
BRIGHTLINE WEST BREAKS GROUND IN LAS VEGAS FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL LINE: Brightline has broken ground in Las Vegas on its project to transport passengers at 200 MPH between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-22-24]
SEPTA'S JENKINTOWN-WYNCOTE STATION GETTING ADA UPGRADES, IMPROVEMENTS: SEPTA's Jenkintown-Wyncote station will see various upgrades and improvements as part of an ADA accessibility program. The work being done includes a new pedestrian overpass, covered walkways and high-level platforms. [Progressive Railroading, 4-22-24]
ALSTOM TO SELL NORTH AMERICAN CONVENTIONAL SIGNALING BUSINESS: Alstom has agreed to sell its North American conventional signaling business to Knorr-Bremse AG for about $671-million. Alstom will continue to serve the North American signaling market in communications-based train control and European train control systems. [Progressive Railroading, 4-22-24]
STONEPEAK ACQUIRES RAIL-SERVED LOGISTICS CHICAGO PORTFOLIO: Stonepeak, an alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, has acquired a three-asset, 1.7 million-square-foot, rail-served logistics portfolio in Chicago from CenterPoint Properties. The portfolio is anchored by BNSF and Union Pacific intermodal terminals. [Progressive Railroading, 4-22-24]
CANADIAN NATIONAL NAMES REMI LALONDE CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER: CN has appointed Remi Lalonde executive vice-president and chief commercial officer effective April 24, succeeding Doug MacDonald, who is retiring. [Progressive Railroading, 4-19-24]
PORTUGAL'S MAINLINE RAIL TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE TO GET MODERNIZED: Thales, along with its partners Sisint and Conecticabo, has secured three major contracts to modernize telecommunications of Portugal's mainline railway infrastructure. [Progressive Railroading, 4-19-24]
CSX UNVEILS ITS FIRST HYDROGEN-POWER LOCOMOTIVE: CSX GP38H2 locomotive 2100, the company's first hydrogen-powered unit, was unveiled April 16. It was redesigned from a diesel-powered locomotive following a partnership with Canadian Pacific Kansas City to foster innovation and a clean environment. [Freight Waves, 4-18-24]
JAMES FOOTE DIES, RETIRED CEO, PRESIDENT OF CSX: James M. Foote, who had retired from CSX as president and CEO in Sept. 2022, died April 16. He was 70. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-18-24]
CSX REVENUE DROPPING ABOUT $25-M A MONTH DUE TO KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE: CSX said the recent Key Bridge collapse blocking Baltimore's harbor will be felt to the tune of a $25-million to $30-million hit a month until the port can be reopened. [AP, 4-17-24]
AMTRAK COMPLETES $5-M IN ADA IMPROVEMENTS AT TWO STOPS IN UTAH: Amtrak has completed $5-million in accessibility improvements at its station stops in Green River and Helper, Utah, both of which are served daily by the California Zephyr. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-17-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 466,463 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending April 13, 2024, up 1.5 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 8.2 percent, and intermodal was up 11.0 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 4-17-24]
CSX REPORTS 1-Q EARNINGS: CSX reported first-quarter operating income of $1.35 billion compared to $1.46-billion in the prior year period. Net earnings were $893-million or 46 cents per diluted share, compared to $987-million or 48 cents per diluted share in the same period last year. Total volume of 1.53 million units for the quarter was 3 percent higher compared to the same quarter last year, with intermodal up 7 percent, coal up 2 percent, and merchandise volume flat. [CSX, 4-17-24]
THOMAS VIADUCT IN MARYLAND HONORED AS CIVIL ENGINEERING LANDMARK: The stone-arch CSX (x-B&O) Thomas Viaduct spanning the Patapsco River between Relay and Elkridge, Md., has been honored as a national historic civil engineering landmark by the Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-15-24]
NTSB CONDUCTING NORFOLK SOUTHERN'S WORK FORCE TO EVALUATE SAFETY CULTURE: The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a survey of Norfolk Southern's work force to evaluate the company's safety culture. It is part of a special investigation following a number of major accidents dating back to Dec. 2021. [Progressive Railroading, 4-15-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN COMBINES TRIPLE CROWN, THOROUGHBRED DIRECT INTERMODAL SERVICES: Norfolk Southern has combined its wholly-owned subsidiaries Triple Crown and Thoroughbred Direct Intermodal services. The new entity began operating as Triple Crown Services on April 1. [Progressive Railroading, 4-15-24]
SUPREME COURT DENIES N.S. CHALLENGE OVER CONTROL OF NORFOLK & PORTSMOUTH BELT LINE: The U.S. Supreme Count has declined to hear a Norfolk Southern challenge to a 2022 STB ruling that N.S. cannot control Virginia's Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line, subject of a 2018 antitrust suit from CSX over rate setting. [Railway Age, 4-15-24]
END OF PANAMA'S DRY SEASON SEES PATH TO INCREASED VESSEL TRAFFIC: With the end of Panama's dry season in sight, the Panama Canal authority plans to welcome more vessels in the coming weeks. The authority on March allotted three additional transit slots to vessels, bringing the total number of reservations to 27 per day. [Progressive Railroading, 4-15-24]
UNION PACIFIC TRACK WORKER STRUCK, KILLED BY MACHINERY: A 42-year-old track worker from Arkansas was killed April 11 after being struck by machinery while repairing damage from a washout. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-12-24]
VERMONT RAIL TO ACQUIRE NEW HAMPSHIRE CENTRAL: Vermont Rail has agreed to purchase certain assets and operating rights in freight rail operations of New Hampshire Central Railroad. New Hampshire Central, which runs on track leased from the state between North Stratford and Colebrook, and Groveton and Littleton, will continue to be known by that name. [Progressive Railroading, 4-12-24]
CALIFORNIA HSR AUTHORITY TO RELEASE PROPOSALS FOR HIGH-SPEED TRAIN SETS: California High-Speed Rail Authority's board has approved the release of request for proposals to Alstom and Siemens for the manufacture of six train sets capable of operating at 220 MPH, and testing of up to 242 MPH. [Progressive Railroading, 4-12-24]
ROB FREE NAMED PRESIDENT OF LONG ISLAND R.R.: Rob Free, acting president of Long Island Rail Road for the past six months, has been appointed president. [Progressive Railroading, 4-12-24]
AMTRAK COMPLETES $5.2-M IN ADA IMPROVEMENTS AT TWO STOPS IN WASHINGTON STATE: Amtrak has completed $5.2-million in accessibility improvements at its station stops in Bingen and Wishram, both of which are served daily by the Portland section of the Empire Builder. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-12-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN REPORTS OUTLOOK FOR 1-Q EARNINGS: In an outlook for first-quarter earnings, to be released April 24, Norfolk Southern said adjusted earnings would come in at $2.49 a share, and adjusted operating ration would be 69.9 percent. [Freight Waves, 4-11-24]
BLET, CN REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT FOR WISCONSIN CENTRAL LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS: The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen reached a tentative agreement with Canadian National covering 600 locomotive engineers at CN's Wisconsin Central Railway subsidiary. [Progressive Railroading, 4-11-24]
NJT TO RAISE FARES 15 PERCENT: N.J. Transit's board has approved a 15 percent fare increase for bus, train and light-rail riders, to become effective July 1. It is the first time its rates will rise in nearly a decade. [NBC New York]
UNION PACIFIC BIG BOY LOCOMOTIVE TO BEGIN 2024 TOUR JUNE 30: Union Pacific's Big Boy steam locomotive 4014 will begin its 2024 tour from Cheyenne on June 30 en route to Roseville, California, before returning to Cheyenne by the end of July. It will make numerous whistle stops in communities along the way, with public display stops July 12-13 in Roseville and July 20-21 in Ogden. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-10-24]
ALASKA R.R. TO REPLACE TERMINAL BUILDING, DOCK IN SEWARD: Alaska Railroad plans on replacing its aging terminal building and passenger dock in Seward, B.C., with the purchase of $137-million in new infrastructure. Completion is scheduled for spring 2026. [Progressive Railroading, 4-10-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 450,142 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending April 6, 2024, up 1.6 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 4.5 percent, and intermodal was up 7.6 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 4-10-24]
CALTRAIN ENERGIZES SAN FRANCISCO-SAN JOSE LINE CATENARY SYSTEM: The entire 51-mile Caltrain rail line between San Francisco and San Jose has been energized and tested. The next step is test the Stadler electric multiple-units at maximum speed. Service is expected to begin in September. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-10-24]
QUENTIN SCHULTE NAMED PRESIDENT OF NORTHERN LINES RAILWAY: Anacostia Rail Holdings has appointed Quentin Schulte as president of Northern Lines Railway. Based in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, Northern Lines operates 25 miles of BNSF trackage. [Progressive Railroading, 4-10-24]
NORFOLK REACHES $600-M SETTLEMENT IN EAST PALESTINE CLASS ACTION SUITS: Norfolk Southern has reached a $600-million settlement that, if approved by a court, will resolve all class-action lawsuits within 20 miles of its 2023 East Palestine derailment. The railroad said the settlement is intended to offset costs related to the spill and plume of toxic smoke which displaced many residents and businesses. [Progressive Railroading, 4-9-24]
NORTH AMERICAN RAIL SOLUTIONS ACQUIRES CONDOR SIGNALS & COMMUNICATIONS: North American Rail Solutions, through its subsidiary Universal Rail Systems has acquired Condor Signals & Communications of Oakville, Ontario. [Progressive Railroading, 4-9-24]
BULGARIA ACQUIRES 75 SECOND-HAND COACHES FROM GERMANY'S DEUTSCHE BAHN: Bulgaria' national passenger operator has bought 76 second-hand coaches from Germany's Deutsche Bahn for use on services from Sofia to Varna, Burgas and Ruse. [Railway Gazette, 4-9-24]
SEPTA COMPLETES RECONSTRUCTION, ADDS NEW NAME TO STATION: SEPTA and Drexel University officials have celebrated the newly-reconstructed and renamed Drexel Station at 30th Street. The station is served by the Market-Frankford line, five trolley lines, multiple bus routes, and provides connections to regional rail. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-9-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-three percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending April 7, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 17 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 4-8-24]
AMTRAK INSPECTING TRACK FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKE IN N.J.: Amtrak has initiated track inspections following the 4.8 magnitude earthquake this morning in New Jersey. Speed restrictions have been implemented throughout the Northeast during inspections and delays should be expected. [Amtrak, 4-5-24]
SOUND TRANSIT TO OPEN LINK 1 EXTENSION AUG. 30: Sound Transit's Link 1 extension will be open to passengers on Aug. 30. It will extend 8.5 miles and add four stations north of the current 1 line endpoint at Northgate. [Progressive Railroading, 4-5-24]
FEDS MAKE $20.5-B IN F.Y. 2024 TO SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSIT: The Federal Transit Administration is making available $20.5-billion to states to support public transit in FY-2024. [Railway Age, 4-5-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN OUTLINES INITIATIVES TO DRIVE PRODUCTIVITY, ACCOUNTABILITY: Norfolk Southern has designed new initiatives to drive productivity and accountability to empower chief operating officer John Orr to implement scheduled railroading plans and accelerate operational improvements. An intermodal reservation system will be implemented, and low-volume intermodal lanes that fail to meet productivity targets will be removed. [Progressive Railroading, 4-5-24]
UNIFOR, CANADIAN NATIONAL AUTOPORT RATIFY NEW AGREEMENT, ENDING STRIKE: Unifor members at Canadian National Autoport have ratified a three-year collective labor agreement, ending a 37-day strike at the transshipment facility in Eastern Passage, N.S. [Progressive Railroading, 4-5-24]
PATH BEGINS TWO-YEAR UPGRADE PROJECT: The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey has begun a two-year, $430-million program to upgrade stations, tracks, bridges and rail cars. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-5-24]
METRO TRANSIT TO UPGRADE BLUE LINE: Minneapolis Metro Transit will reportedly upgrade its Blue line. The project could cost about $120-million. The Blue line state-of-good repair phase 3 includes signals, turnouts, rail, communications and stations. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-4-24]
BNSF PROVIDING WATER-BY-RAIL TO NAVAJO NATION IN N.M.: Water issues of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico have inspired a BNSF water-by-rail solution. The source of the water is in Helena, Mississippi, and tank cars loaded with 21,000 gallons of water are moved west to Amory, Mississippi, where BNSF moves them about 1,200 miles to Thoreau, N.M. Navajo Nation families then either collect the water, or mission trucks deliver it to their homes. [Progressive Railroading, 4-4-24]
TRENITALIA INTRODUCES NEW MULTI-MODE LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN SET: Italy's Trenitalia has unveiled its first Hitachi HTR412 long-distance train set which can operate on overhead electric, diesel, battery, or hybrid battery plus diesel. The four-car unit is the first of seven to be supplied this year. [Railway Gazette, 4-4-24]
MARCH 2024 U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 1,889,186 carloads and intermodal units in March 2024, up 4.2 percent compared with the same month last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 3.5 percent, and intermodal was up 11.7 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 4-3-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN GETS $8.4-M FROM GEORGIA TOWARD LENGTHENING PASSING TRACK: Norfolk Southern has received $8.4-million from the Georgia DOT to go toward a $21-million project that will the length of a passing track in Henry County. The line between Macon and Atlanta connects Garden City Terminal to the metro Atlanta area. [Railway Track & Structures, 4-3-24]
CN ACQUIRING 600 NEW ORE JENNY HOPPER CARS: Canadian National is acquiring 600 new 1150-cubic-foot iron ore hopper cars, also known as 'jennies,' from FreightCar America. [Railway Age, 4-3-24]
FRA MANDATES TWO-PERSON CREWS ON MAJOR FREIGHT RAILROADS: Major freight railroads will have to maintain two-person crews on most routes under a new federal rule that was finalized today. The Federal Railroad Administration released the details of the rule after working on it for the past two years. [AP, 4-2-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN ACQUIRES CHICAGO TRANSLOAD SITE: Norfolk Southern has purchased the Great Lakes Reload property, a direct rail and truck-served transload and warehouse facility in Chicago. Company officials said the purchase advances Norfolk Southern's strategy to convert flexible freight to rail. [Railway Age, 4-2-24]
STB APPROVES CONSTRUCTION OF 11-MILE UTAH RAIL LINE: The Surface Transportation Board has signed off on Savage Tooele Railroad's proposal to build and operate approximately 11 miles of line in Tooele County, Utah, subject to certain environmental mitigation conditions. [Railway Age, 4-2-24]
TWO AGENCIES CUT GENESEE & WYOMING'S RATING: S&P Global Ratings has reduced its rating on Genesee & Wyoming debt, even as it gave a strong outlook on the company's North American short line business, from BB+ to BB. Meanwhile, Moody's reduced its rating from Ba2 to Ba3. The ratings by the two agencies are considered equivalent, both below investment grade. The immediate trigger is G&W's refinancing of a package that involves a term loan and a revolving line of credit, actions that will result in $920-million in net additional secured debt. [Freight Waves, 4-2-24]
FIRST SECTION OF SEOUL'S GTX LINE A OPENS: The initial 17-mile section of the Great Train Express commuter rail network has opened in the Seoul region linking Suseo with Dongtan. Scheduled to open in stages, the 51-mile line with 11 stations will ultimately link Unjeong with Dongtan. [Railway Gazette, 4-2-24]
FRA LACKS NEEDED OVERSIGHT OF FATIGUE MANAGEMENT, REPORT SAYS: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation's office of inspector general has found that the Federal Railroad Administration needs to improve its oversight of procedures related to hours of service compliance and fatigue management. The agency does not have the procedures and accurate data necessary to effectively target its limited resources to the highest risk areas or adequately oversee different railroad types, the report concluded. [Progressive Railroading, 4-1-24]
MARCH 2024 AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-eight percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in March 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 13 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 4-1-24]
CSX TO BEGIN NEW DEDICATED BALTIMORE-NEW YORK FREIGHT RAIL SERVICE: CSX will begin a new dedicated freight rail service between Baltimore and New York on April 2 to help mitigate the trade disruption from the closure of the Port of Baltimore resulting from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge following its collision by a cargo vessel. Export freight destined for the Port of Baltimore will also use this service to reach the Port of New York. [CNBC, 4-1-24]
ROCK-HAULING TRAIN DERAILS IN OKLAHOMA, NO INJURIES: Twenty-two out of 90 total cars of a freight train hauling rock rolled over as a result of a derailment east of Davenport, Oklahoma, March 30. No hazardous materials were being transported, and no injuries were reported. [KOCO, 3-30-24]
SEATTLE-PORTLAND AMTRAK SERVICE SUSPENDED DUE TO LANDSLIDE: Amtrak service is suspended between Seattle and Portland due to a landslide and bus service is provided. Normal rail operations are expected to resume late March 31. [Amtrak]
SHIPPING ALONG MISSISSIPPI RIVER THIS YEAR AT RISK DUE TO LOW WATER LEVEL: Shipping along the Mississippi River could prove to be a headache in 2024, per a report from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. An unusually warm and dry winter might herald drought conditions in key areas of the river's basin over the coming months. If this forecast comes to pass, it would mark the third consecutive year in which the river was at risk of bottlenecks. [Freight Waves, 3-29-24]
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD INSPECTOR GENERAL FIRED: President Biden has fired Martin Dickman, inspector general of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, on grounds of creating a hostile work environment, engaging in abusive treatment, and use of crude and inappropriate language such as slurs. [The Hill, 3-29-24]
CALTRAIN RETIRES 32 GALLERY CARS: Caltrain has retired 32 of its nearly 40-year-old gallery cars as the agency makes room for its new electric fleet. Caltrain currently has eight of the eventual 23 electric train sets on its property. The gallery cars were not in service, and their retirement will not affect service. The cars will be stored with Sonoma-Marin Rail Transit until they are sold. [Progressive Railroading, 3-28-24]
MARTA PLANS FOUR NET STATIONS: Atlanta's mayor has announced plans for four new stations be be built along the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit's rail lines. Included is a new station at a redevelopment project called Murphy Crossing, which would connect trains to the Beltline trail loop for the first time. Three 'infill' stations are planned, but their locations have not been announced. [Progressive Railroading, 3-28-24]
KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE IS SERIOUS BLOW TO PORT OF BALTIMORE: The tragic early May 26 collapse of the I-695 Francis Scott Key bridge, which spanned the Patapsco River, following a bridge strike by a container ship weighing 95,000 gross tons, has brought shipping to and from the Port of Baltimore to a halt. The port has suspended all vessel movements into and out of the port. The accident is a serious blow to the port operations of both CSX and Norfolk Southern, particularly for intermodal container, automotive and coal traffic. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-27-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 470,593 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending March 23, 2024, up 2.1 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 6.1 percent, and intermodal was up 10.2 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 3-27-24]
AMTRAK BEGINS HARRISBURG LINE TRACK IMPROVEMENT: Amtrak is accelerating a project to improve track on the Harrisburg line between Lancaster and Harrisburg. The work will require a series of track outages from April 8 through Nov. 21. During that period, Keystone service between Lancaster and Harrisburg will be replaced with buses from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. [Progressive Railroading, 3-26-24]
BRIDGE COLLAPSES IN BALTIMORE FROM SHIP COLLISION: A large container ship collided with the Francis Scott Key highway bridge in Baltimore early March 26, causing it to collapse into the Patapsco River. The ship can carry 10,000 twenty-foot containers, and was operating from Baltimore to Asia. Reportedly, the ship had experienced a loss of control and its pilot was able to notify authorities in advance of its pending collision into the bridge. Highway traffic was stopped, but construction workers were on the bridge at the time, some of whom are missing. Both CSX and Norfolk Southern offer intermodal service to and from the port, and ocean shipping is suspended until the massive debris can be cleared from the channel. Vessels currently in port are trapped as there are no escape routes. [numerous news sources, 3-26-24]
PORTUGAL'S PASSENGER RAIL TO BE RESTORED ON PORTO ORBITAL LINE: Agreement has been reached to restore passenger rail services on an orbital line in the northern suburbs of Porto following a 13-year hiatus. Trains are expected to begin running later this year. [Railway Gazette, 3-26-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN'S ANNUAL MEETING IS MAY 9: Norfolk Southern has set May 9 as the date for its annual meeting. This is when an insurgent campaign to put outside directors on the board and a new CEO in place will come to a head. [Freight Waves, 3-25-24]
BLET MEMBERS RATIFY NEW CONTRACT WITH UTAH RWY: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen members have ratified a new five-year contract with Utah Railway. A Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary Utah Railway is a 59-mile short line operating in Utah and interchanges with BNSF and Union Pacific. [Progressive Railroading, 3-25-24]
RETIREMENTS ANNOUNCED AT UNION PACIFIC: Retiring from Union Pacific are Shane Keller, senior vice-president of operations Northern region; David Giandinoto, senior vice-president of operations Southern region; and Lee Myers, assistant vice-president risk management. John Turner succeeds as SVP operations Northern region; Steven Bybee succeeds as SVP operations Southern region; and Naomi Deines succeeds as assistant vice-president risk management. [Progressive Railroading, 3-25-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty (40) percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending March 24, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 13 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 3-25-24]
MBTA TRAIN DERAILS, NO INJURIES: The MBTA in Boston is investigating after a red line train derailed while moving through a crossover early March 23. No passengers were aboard the train at the time. [Boston 25 News, 3-23-24]
TRAIN STRIKES CAR IN GOOSE CREEK, S.C.: Fire crews of the city of Goose Creek, S.C., responded to a collision between a train and a car late March 22. The car was not occupied at the time of the collision, and no injuries were reported. [Counton 2, 3-23-24]
OVERNIGHT SLEEPER TRAINS GAIN POPULARITY IN EUROPE: Governments in Europe have begun to reinvest in overnight trains as they search for ways to meet reduced emissions. Demand for sleeper trains is increasing. Online platform Trainline says overnight bookings in 2023 rose 147 percent compared with 2019, the year before the pandemic. Nightjet now runs 22 international sleeper routes, mostly in central Europe but extending from Vienna to Paris and Hamburg to Rome. In December, it began rolling out 33 new seven-car trains. [The Columbian, 3-23-24]
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR CELEBRATES 75 YEARS: Begun in 1949 by the partnership of three western railroads, and included by Amtrak in 1983, the California Zephyr travels 2438 miles between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay area. It is the longest route with daily operation in the Amtrak system. [Railway Age, 3-22-24]
CLASS I RAIL EMPLOYMENT RISES IN FEBRUARY: As of mid-February, class-I railroads employed 123,377 people in the U.S., up 0.6 percent from Jan. 2024, and up 2.6 percent from Febr. 2023. [Progressive Railroading, 3-22-24]
E. SAN FERNANDO VALLEY LIGHT-RAIL CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN THIS YEAR: East San Fernando Valley light-rail will begin construction this year. Moving into a new phase, this is the first light-rail in the East Valley. It will start at the Metro G Orange line rapid bus in Van Nuys, and end at Sylmar Metrolink. The route includes Panorama City, Arleta, Pacoima and San Fernando. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-22-24]
RAILWAY ON THE MOON ENVISIONED: The U.S. Defense Advanced Research projects agency has commissioned Northrop Grumman to develop a concept for a railway to transport humans, supplies and resources on the Moon. [Railway Gazette, 3-21-24]
PORT OF OSWEGO, N.Y., GETS UPGRADE GRANTS: New York's Port of Oswego has received two grants totaling $4.693-million to boos rail capacity, improve rail safety, and support the state's green energy policies. [Railway Age, 3-21-24]
PITTSBURGH TO REHAB ITS LIGHT-RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE: Pittsburgh Regional Transit plans to begin a multi-year rehab of its light-rail infrastructure. The project calls for expanding an ongoing effort to repair the concrete rail foundations in the downtown rail tunnels, replacing more than 10,000 feet of track and four grade crossings, reconstructing Belasco station, upgrading Station Square and Dormont Jct. stations, and rehab the Panhandle bridge over the Monongahela River. [Progressive Railroading, 3-21-24]
UNION R.R. OPENS FREIGHT CAR REPAIR SHOP IN PA.: Union Railroad has opened its newest North American freight-car repair shop in Duquesne, Pa. It offers full freight car repair, features storage for 500 rail cars, and connections to Canadian National, CSX, Norfolk Southern and several regional carriers. [Progressive Railroading, 3-21-24]
BORING MACHINE BREAKS THROUGH CHILTERN TUNNEL IN U.K.: A tunnel boring machine broke through the north portal of the Chiltern tunnel on High Speed 2, the truncated rail line which will link London with Birmingham and a junction with the West Coast main line at Handsacre. The breakthrough marks completion of the main excavation work on the 9.9-mile twin-bore, the longest tunnel on the 118-mile route. [Railway Gazette, 3-21-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 474,596 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending March 16, 2024, up 6.7 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 0.6 percent, and intermodal was up 13.8 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 3-20-24]
AMTRAK IMPROVING LANCASTER-HARRISBURG TRACK: Amtrak is improving tracks on the line between Lancaster and Harrisburg. Wood ties with an expected lifespan of 25 years are being replaced with concrete ties with an expected lifespan of 60 years. The project began March 15, and is expected to conclude in late December. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-20-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN NAMES JOHN ORR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER: Norfolk Southern has appointed John Orr, formerly with CPKC, as executive vice-president and chief operating officer, effective immediately. He replaces Paul Duncan. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-20-24]
NEW PRESIDENT, CEO FOR FREIGHTCAR AMERICA: FreightCar America has appointed Nicholas Randall president and CEO effective May 1. He will succeed James Meyer who will become executive chairman. [Progressive Railroading, 3-20-24]
CATCHMENT WALL PROJECT COMPLETED IN SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA: Crews have finished work on the 200-foot-long catchment wall to protect the rail line in San Clemente, California, following the landslide causing service to halt in January. Passenger service is set to resume March 25. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-20-24]
AMTRAK'S SALUKI, ILLINI SCHEDULES ADJUSTED FOR ECLIPSE: On April 8, date of the solar eclipse, Saluki train 391 will leave Chicago earlier, at 6:35 a.m., and arrive Carbondale at 12:05 p.m. Illini train 392 will leave Carbondale at 6:40 p.m., arriving Chicago at 12:10 a.m. [Amtrak]
S.C. PORTS TO EXPAND NORTH CHARLESTON TERMINAL: South Carolina Ports plans to purchase the former WestRock paper mill site in North Charleston to further expand capacity at the Port of Charleston. It also plans to replace the Don Holt bridge, which will remove height constraints for large vessels. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-20-24]
NEW LOOP TRACK FOR PUEBLO TEST FACILITY: MxV Rail, wholly-owned subsidiary of he Assn. of American Railroads, has opened a new multi-campus operation to support the research and test activities in Pueblo, Colorado. MxV recently completed construction on a new loop track, and research and operations teams are accumulating tonnage and data on the FAST track. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-20-24]
CPKC, CSX PARTNER TO DEPLOY HYDROGEN LOCOMOTIVES: Using a conversion kit engineered by Canadian Pacific Kansas City, CSX will retrofit one of its diesel locomotives into an advanced hydrogen unit. [Assn. of American Railroads, 3-19-24]
HART BEGINS SECOND-SEGMENT TRACK WORK BETWEEN ALOHA STADIUM AND MIDDLE STREET: Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on March 18 began track work along the second segment between Aloha Stadium and the future Middle street station. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-19-24]
SOUND TRANSIT TO OPEN EIGHT STATIONS APRIL 27: Sound Transit will open eight stations on its 2 Line on April 27. Trains will run every 10 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-19-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN'S PURCHASE OF CINCINNATI SOUTHERN FINALIZED: Norfolk Southern's purchase of the 337-mile Cincinnati Southern Railway was finalized March 15. [Railway Age, 3-19-24]
STV TO LEAD PROCUREMENT FOR SEPTA'S M5 METRO CARS: STV has been selected by Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to lead the procurement for up to 200 new M5 metro rail cars for the Market-Frankford line. [Railway Age, 3-19-24]
SON OF ROCKY MOUNTAINEER FOUNDER TO BE COMPANY CEO: The family-owned Rocky Mountaineer is turning to Tristan Armstrong, son of the company's founder, to lead the company as CEO. [Progressive Railroading, 3-19-24]
BNSF REOPENS TRACKS IN TEXAS FOLLOWING FIRE DAMAGE: After wildfires burned over 1.5 million acres across the Texas Panhandle March 16, sustaining damage to both of its main tracks including the bridge spanning the Canadian River, BNSF engineers have restored service to both tracks. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-19-24]
TURKISH NATIONAL RAIL OPERATOR TO ACQUIRE 95 ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES: An agreement has been signed for state-owned locomotive and rolling stock manufacturer Turasas to supply national operator TCDD with 95 class E5000 electric locomotives. [Railway Gazette, 3-19-24]
TRANSCO PRODUCTS ACQUIRES TELEWELD: Transco Products, supplier to the nuclear power industry, has acquired Teleweld, producer of rail heater cars and non-destructive testing equipment to railroads. [Progressive Railroading, 3-18-24]
PRESIDENT TO NOMINATE JENNIFER HOMENDY TO CONTINUE TO CHAIR NTSB: President Biden plans to nominate Jennifer Homendy to continue as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board. [Progressive Railroading, 3-18-24]
FREIGHTCAR AMERICA PROFIT RISES: FreightCar America delivered solid results for fourth-quarter 2023 with gross profit up 62 percent on year-over-year margin expansion, said Jim Meyer, president and CEO. [Railway Age, 3-18-24]
PROGRESS RAIL TO SUPPLY EIGHT SD70ACe-BB FREIGHT LOCOMOTIVES FOR BRAZIL: Progress Rail will supply eight SD70ACe-BB freight locomotives to Centro-Atlantica Railway in Brazil for 2025 delivery. [Progressive Railroading, 3-18-24]
FRA ISSUES ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT FOR WASHINGTON UNION STATION PROJECT: The Federal Railroad Administration has issued its final environmental impact statement and record of decision for the proposed expansion of Washington DC Union Station. The project calls for reconstructing and realigning tracks, platforms, train hall and new concourses. Current plans are for full operation in 2040. [Progressive Railroading, 3-15-24]
MICHIGAN GRANTS $5-M TO CSX TOWARD UPGRADES TO DETROIT LIVERNOIS INTERMODAL FACILITY: Michigan has granted $5-million to CSX toward upgrades, track work and paving at Livernois intermodal facility in southwest Detroit. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-15-24]
N.Y. STATE AWARDS CSX FUNDING TOWARD CLEARANCE IMPROVEMENT: The state of New York has awarded $3.944-million to CSX toward vertical clearance projects to remove five abandoned highway bridges representing safety risks along rail lines in the state. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-14-24]
ALSTOM PLANNING TO OPERATE NEW PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE IN ENGLAND, WALES: Alstom has announced plans to operate a new passenger rail service across England and Wales. The open-access operation will be known as Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway. [Progressive Railroading, 3-14-24]
WABTEC TO SUPPLY THREE NARROW-GAUGE C23EMP LOCOMOTIVES FOR URUGUAY: Wabtec will supply three C23EMP locomotives designed for light-axle-load operations on narrow-gauge tracks in Uruguay. [Progressive Railroading, 3-14-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 472,662 carloads and intermodal unit in the week ending March 9, up 5.0 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 3.7 percent, and intermodal was up 13.5 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 3-13-24]
NJT TO UPGRADE HOBOKEN TERMINAL: N.J. Transit's board has approved a contract for the construction of six new tracks, three high-level platforms and a new rail personnel facility at Hoboken Terminal. There was also a separate contract approved for special track work as part of the project. The agency was awarded an FTA competitive resilience grant for the project to provide flood and surge protection for yard equipment, infrastructure and resilient tracks and platforms. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-13-24]
BRIGHTLINE PLANS NEW RAIL STATION FOR FLORIDA'S SPACE COAST: Brightline is moving forward with a new rail station in Cocoa along Florida's Space Coast. The company is beginning discussions with local and community leaders for the facility, which would be located in Brevard County. [Progressive Railroading, 3-13-24]
UNION PACIFIC'S CEO TOUTS SAFETY RECORD: Jim Vena, CEO of Union Pacific, in remarks at an industrial conference, offered a slide show citing statistics about his company's safety record of no work-related deaths in 2023, a 15 percent year-over-year reduction in serious injuries, a 28 percent drop in derailments in the past 10 years, and a 26 percent improvement in derailments since precision railroading was implemented in 2019. [Freight Waves, 3-13-24]
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY 'SCOLDS' RAIL INDUSTRY OVER SAFETY: Transportation secretary Buttigieg has reiterated his concerns over rail safety and has scolded the industry for not doing more to improve since last year's fiery derailment in Ohio. In a letter to the freight railroads' main trade group, he said too often regulators encounter resistance when trying to get the industry to do more to improve safety, and that statistics do not show safety improving significantly over the past decade. He added that the railroads have a reputation in recent years of being so obsessed with profits that they neglect priorities such as safety, network development, customer service, worker wellbeing and community engagement. [AP, 3-12-24]
READING & NORTHERN EXPANDING PROPERTY IN NESQUEHONING, PA.: Reading & Northern is updating its former KME properties in Nesquehoning, Pa., which the railroad acquired in 2022. Tracks are under construction to lead into select existing buildings, some of which will be used to service the fleet of 63 diesel locomotives. The company also plans to introduce the Nesquehoning regional railroad station later this year. Plans for a platform are underway, as well as an additional main track to accommodate more rail traffic. This will create opportunities for new excursion routes. [Progressive Railroading, 3-12-24]
UTAH-BASED SAVAGE ACQUIRES CASCADE WAREHOUSE CO.: Utah-based Savage is expanding its transload network into the Pacific Northwest with the purchase of Cascade Warehouse Co., which handles more than 3000 rail cars per year. [Railway Age, 3-12-24]
LE MANS METROPOLE IN FRANCE TO EXPAND CAPACITY OF TRAMS: Alstom ha been chosen by Le Mans Metropole in France to extend the length of existing Citadis trams. Thirty-four of the 315-foot-long trams will be extended 144 feet, increasing passenger capacity by 85 passengers per tram. [Progressive Railroading, 3-12-24]
EAST SAN JOSE LIGHT-RAIL EXTENSION CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT APPROVED: The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's board has approved a construction contract for the East San Jose light-rail extension project. It involves extending service from Alum Rock 2.4 miles to Eastridge, with an elevated guideway above the Capitol Expressway corridor, and stations at Story road and Eastridge. [Progressive Railroading, 3-11-24]
BLET, BERKSHIRE & EASTERN RATIFY NEW BARGAINING AGREEMENT: The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen and Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary Berkshire & Eastern have ratified a new agreement governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules. [Railway Age, 3-11-24]
COURT SIDES WITH UNION PACIFIC IN PLAN TO CLOSE CAR SHOP IN TEXAS: A Texas appeals court has declared an 1872 jobs agreement between Palestine, Texas, and Union Pacific to be 'unenforceable.' The ruling moves the railroad closer to its goal of closing a rail car shop. The court found that an agreement signed in 1872, and updated in 1954, placed restraints on the railroad regarding interstate commerce, which is not permitted under federal law. [Freight Waves, 3-11-24]
GIRL DIES WHILE RIDING ON OUTSIDE OF RAIL CAR IN MD.: A teenage girl died March 8 while riding on the outside of a train car en route to a Silver Spring, Md., Metro station, the transit agency confirmed. [Eldersburg Patch, 3-10-24]
MEXICAN PASSENGER RAIL REFORM PLANS UNVEILED: A package of 20 proposals for reforms intended to support the restoration and development of passenger services on the existing Mexican rail network has been presented. The proposals would give the government the power to grant concessions to private or public companies for the introduction and operation of passenger services. [Railway Gazette, 3-7-24]
AMTRAK'S WOLVERINE 350 & 353 TO BE IMPACTED BY TRACK WORK: Amtrak's Wolverine trains 350 and 353, between May 5 and October 18, will only run Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays due to track curfews. [Amtrak]
SPECIAL TRAIN RUNS PROPOSED FRONT LINE ROUTE IN COLORADO: Colorado's governor and other officials on March 7 rode an inspection train from Denver to Longmont, part of the proposed Front Range passenger rail route between Pueblo and Fort Collins. The route was recently selected as part of the corridor identification and development program, which aims to drive future passenger rail expansion. [Progressive Rail, 3-8-24]
CSX ADDS HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE HONORING FAMILY LINES: New Family Lines heritage locomotive 1972 has been introduced by CSX. It was repainted with a Family Lines scheme from unit 3057, and is the 11th heritage unit introduced in the current program. [Robert Michaels, 3-8-24]
NORTHEAST CORRIDOR TRAIN SERVICE INTERRUPTED BY ISSUE AT PORTAL BRIDGE IN N.J.: Northeast corridor train service was disrupted early March 7 by an issue on the Portal Bridge in New Jersey. At 12:30 p.m. Amtrak reported that the issue had been resolved, with service resumed between Metropark and New York City, subject to residual delays. [Amtrak, 3-7-24]
NTSB SHEDS SOME LIGHT ON MARCH 2 NORFOLK SOUTHERN DERAILMENT IN PA: An eastbound Norfolk Southern train along the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania collided on March 2 with a stopped train on the same track, and the wreckage that spilled onto an adjacent track was struck by a westbound train. A key question was how such an accident could have happened with positive train-control. Response from a National Transportation Safety Board official was that the trains were not going fast enough to activate the technology. At the speeds involved, the system does not maintain train separations. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-7-24]
N.Y. TO DEPLOY 1,000 NATIONAL GUARD, STATE POLICE TO SUBWAY SYSTEM TO MAINTAIN SAFETY: New York's governor will deploy 1,000 members of the National Guard and State Police to New York City's transit system to assist local police with bag checks as part of a larger plan to keep subway riders safe amid a series of violent crimes. [Progressive Railroading, 3-7-24]
FEBRUARY 2024 U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 1,925,860 carloads and intermodal units in Febr. 2024, up 4.9 percent compared with the same month last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 1.3 percent, and intermodal was up 10.9 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 3-6-24]
CALTRAIN INTRODUCES NEW VENTURE PASSENGER TRAINS FOR SAN JOAQUIN LINE: On March 5, California's new Venture passenger trains were introduced, and they will operate on the Amtrak San Joaquin line. The new rail cars are the first upgrade on the San Joaquin line in nearly three decades. [Progressive Railroading, 3-6-24]
BOHR ELECTRONICS ACQUIRES CENTRAL RAILWAY MFG: Bohr Electronics has acquired the assets of Central Railway MFG, a Florida-based manufacturer of custom onboard equipment and software for the rail industry. [Railway Age, 3-6-24]
PACIFIC SURFLINER SET TO RESUME LIMITED SERVICE THROUGH SAN CLEMENTE: Beginning today [March 6] Amtrak's Pacific Surfliners is scheduled to resume limited passenger service through San Clemente as work continues to build a catchment wall to protect the right-of-way. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-6-24]
BNSF MOVES LARGEST WIND BLADE: BNSF made history last week by moving the largest ever wind blade transported by rail in North America. The shipment was moved by dedicated train from Colorado to Texas. [Railway Age, 3-6-24]
DECISION TO BLOW OPEN TANK CARS FOLLOWING EAST PALESTINE DISASTER LAST YEAR WAS NOT JUSTIFIED, NTSB SAYS: The decision to blow open five tank cars and burn the toxic chemical inside after the massive Norfolk Southern derailment in Ohio last year was not justified, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board told Congress. The decision makers never had the information they needed. Contractors hired by Norfolk Southern felt that no dangerous chemical reaction was happening, but they were left out of the discussion when the decision was made. [AP, 3-6-24]
BRIGHTLINE SELECTS STUART FOR TREASURE COAST STATION: Brightline has selected Stuart, Florida, for its Treasure Coast station. It is about 40 miles north of West Palm Beach. [Railway Age, 3-5-24]
NS, FEC EXPANDING FLORIDA EXPRESS INTERLINE SERVICE: Norfolk Southern and Florida East Coast are expanding their international and domestic interline services. The Florida Express, which is already being leveraged by anchor customer Crowley, creates a two-way solution for moving goods between south Florida and Charlotte, N.C. In the future, Florida Express will move produce, poultry and other commodities in the agriculture industry. [Progressive Railroading, 3-5-24]
NORTH AMERICAN RAIL SOLUTIONS ACQUIRES WEST RAIL CONSTRUCTION: North American Rail Solutions, through its subsidiary American Track, has acquired West Rail Construction of Vancouver, Washington. North American Rail provides industrial rail inspection, construction, maintenance and terminal services. [Progressive Railroading, 3-5-24]
STB APPROVES ROCK ISLAND TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY SERVICE ON OKLAHOMA SHORT LINE: The Surface Transportation Board has approved a request to allow Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific to provide freight service for 30 days along about 37 miles of line that Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad had operated until the line was shut down last month due to violations of safety regulations. [Progressive Railroading, 3-5-24]
AMTRAK SELECTS AECOM-LED TEAM TO SUPPORT SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BRIDGE PROJECT: AECOM-led team has been selected by Amtrak to support the development of the Susquehanna River Bridge project. Two new bridges will replace the existing 117-year-old double-track bridge in Maryland. AECOM will provide a range of service, including project management, design coordination, stakeholder coordination and schedule management. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-5-24]
AMTRAK INCREASES NORTHEAST REGIONAL SERVICE: Amtrak has announced an increase in its Northeast Regional service, adding an additional eight trains throughout the week, representing a 20 percent weekday increase, and 10 percent boost on Sundays. The change adds an additional capacity of more than one million seats per week. [Runaway Girl Network, 3-5-24]
MAYAN TRAIN OPENS SECTION OF NEW YUCATAN PENINSULA RUN: Mayan Train opened the latest section of its new line on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as planned Febr. 29. Phase 3 runs from Cancun International Airport to Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen. Train pairs run in the early morning and evening for local workers, with three train pairs targeting tourists during the day. [International Railway Journal, 3-5-24]
APPROVAL SOUGHT TO EXTEND MD. PURPLE LINE OPENING TO WINTER 2027: Officials are seeking Maryland Board of Public Works approval to extend the contractual deadline for achieving 'revenue service available' of the Purple light-rail line between Bethesda and New Carrollton to winter 2027. The project itself is now more than 65 percent complete. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-4-24]
STB RELEASES ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF SAVAGE TOOELE RAIL LINE PROPOSAL IN UTAH: The Surface Transportation Board has released a final environmental assessment for Savage Tooele Railroad's proposal to build and operate an 11-mile line in Utah. The agency will use the assessment to help determine whether or not to approve the project. [Railway Age, 3-4-24]
CN REACHES TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH TRACK, BRIDGE WORKERS UNION: Canadian National has reached a tentative three-year collective agreement with United Steelworkers Local 2004, representing about 2500 track and bridge workers who perform maintenance across Canada. [Railway Age, 3-4-24]
CUYAHOGA VALLEY SCENIC R.R. SUSPENDS OPERATIONS FOR TWO MONTHS: The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is suspending service over the next couple of months in order for it to 'upgrade operational tools and refine procedures' as it gears up for its busy summer runs. [Akron Beacon Journal, 3-4-24]
SIEMENS BUILDING NEW SIGNALING FACTORY IN BRITAIN: Siemens Mobility will build a new manufacturing, digital engineering research and development center at Chippenham in Britain. It is due to open in 2026. [International Railway Journal, 3-4-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TRAIN DERAILS IN PA., TWO LOCOMOTIVES FALL INTO RIVER: A collision and derailment involving three Norfolk Southern trains along the Lehigh River in Lower Saucon, Pa., early March 2 sent part of two locomotives in the the water. Three trains were involved, but only one of them derailed. No injuries were reported. [Morning Call, 3-2-24]
FRA CHIEF RAISES RED FLAG OVER UNION PACIFIC FURLOUGHS: Federal Railroad Administration head Amit Bose told Union Pacific that the company's furloughs of maintenance of equipment workers jeopardizes the safety of railroad workers and the public. [Railway Track & Structures, 3-1-24]
FEBRUARY 2024 AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-nine percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in February 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and seven minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 3-1-24]
HERZOG LANDS CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR AMTRAK MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN PHILADELPHIA: Herzog Contracting will design and construct the heavy maintenance facility at Amtrak's Penn Coast yard in Philadelphia. The facility will service many of Amtrak's Acela and Northeast Regional trains that operate on the Northeast corridor. [Railway Track & Structure, 3-1-24]
BNSF FURLOUGHS 362 WORKERS IN FOUR STATES: BNSF has reportedly furloughed 362 workers in Kansas, Montana, Nebraska and Texas, according to the Transportation Trades Dept. with the AFL-CIO. [Freight Waves, 3-1-24]
NORTHEAST CORRIDOR TRAINS TRANSITIONING TO FIXED FORWARD, BACKWARD SEATING: Amtrak's Northeast corridor and Empire service trains will begin transitioning to permanent fixed forward and backward seating on March 2. The arrangement enhances services with more frequencies by reducing dwell between runs formerly needed to turn equipment to accommodate all forward-facing seating. Forward-facing seating will be available on a first-come basis, but are not guaranteed. The current Acela fleet will transition later this year. [Amtrak]
KEOLIS MBTA WORKERS DESCRIBE LOW PAY, BENEFITS: More than a dozen Keolis MBTA workers packed into an MBTA board meeting Febr. 29 to describe low pay and lackluster benefits, and they urged the agency to think about 'safeguards' it can install when the time comes to decide the future of commuter rail operations. [NBC Boston, 2-29-24]
DOWNTOWN DENVER LIGHT-RAIL RECONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN IN MAY: The Regional Transportation District Denver expects to begin the first phase of construction for a $152-million project to reconstruct light-rail in downtown Denver in May. [Progressive Railroading, 2-29-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN COMPLETES RAIL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT IN CONNEAUT, OHIO: Norfolk Southern has completed a 1300-foot railroad bridge replacement in Conneaut, Ohio. The replacement marks the completion of several major Ohio infrastructure project undertaken which included ones in Campbellstown and Circleville. About 20 trains cross the Conneaut bridge daily. [Railway Track & Structures, 2-29-24]
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EARMARKS $9.8-B TO SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSIT: The Biden administration has earmarked $9.8-billion to support public transit agencies. The funding is part of a strategy to ensure that the nation's public transit systems remain viable and efficient. [BNN Breaking, 2-29-24]
BNSF CUTS MECHANICAL JOBS IN NEBRASKA, KANSAS: BNSF announced this week that it was cutting some jobs at mechanical shops in Nebraska and Kansas. News reports regarding the number of layoffs differed, but it appears that at least 100 positions were cut. [Railway Track & Structures, 2-29-24]
LIGHT-RAIL LINE FROM ISTANBUL TO SIRKECI OPENS: A light-rail on the alignment of a former railway to the historic Sirkeci station on the European side of Istanbul was opened on Febr. 26. [Railway Gazette, 2-29-24]
RAIL TRANSIT LINE'S FIRST PHASE OF THE LAGOS OPENS IN NIGERIA: Nigeria's first phase of the 16-mile Lagos red transit rail line from Agbado to Oyingbo with eight stations opened Febr. 29. [Railway Gazette, 2-29-24]
BLET OPPOSES TAKEOVER ATTEMPT OF NORFOLK SOUTHERN: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen officials said the union will vigorously oppose Ancora's attempt to remake Norfolk Southern's board and replace the company's CEO. The union's position may be he first time in its 161-year history that it has taken a side in a proxy battle at a Class I railroad. [Progressive Railroading, 2-28-24]
UNIFOR MEMBERS STRIKE CN-OPERATED AUTOPORT HUB IN HALIFAX: About 239 members of Unifor Local 100 went on strike Febr. 27 at Canadian National-operated Autoport vehicle processing and transshipment hub in Halifax, N.S. [Progressive Railroading, 2-28-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 483,656 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Febr. 24, 2024, up 7.7 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were up 2.6 percent, and intermodal was up 12.6 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 2-28-24]
BNSF RECEIVES ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR SANDPOINT JCT PROJECT: BNSF has received a 2024 engineering excellence award for its Sandpoint Junction project in Idaho. The award comes from the American Council of Engineering Companies in Illinois. [Progressive Railroading, 2-28-24]
STB WANTS AMTRAK GULF COAST STATUS UPDATE BY MARCH 15: A Surface Transportation Board decision issued Febr. 26 relates to a Febr. 14 hearing at which the board wanted to know from participating parties when Amtrak's Gulf Coast service would begin. After receiving that report, the agency will determine further steps. [Progressive Railroading, 2-27-24]
AMTRAK FACES MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT CHALLENGES, REPORT SAYS: Amtrak faces challenges managing its $239-million inventory of parts and materials used to maintain its fleet of locomotives and rail cars, the Amtrak office of inspector general said in a new report. Amtrak's approach can limit the rolling stock available for service, delay trains, limit onboard service and amenities and incur excess costs to manage surplus and obsolete inventory, the OIG found. The report states that Amtrak has an imbalance of such inventory, which includes more than $49-million in surplus or obsolete items. [Progressive Railroading, 2-27-24]
R.J. CORMAN SWITCHING BEGINS OPERATIONS IN WAYNE COUNTY, W.VA., FACILITY: R.J. Corman Switching Co. has marked the start of operations of its Central Appalachia Inland Port at Prichard division in Wayne County, W.Va. R.J. Corman Switching has established partnerships with railroads, car owners and clients to operate mechanical car repair services at 12 other sites nationwide. [Progressive Railroading, 2-27-24]
FASTFRATE RENEWS CPKC DEAL CONNECTING CANADA, U.S., MEXICO: Fastfrate Group and Canadian Pacific Kansas City have announced the renewal and expansion of their agreement providing intermodal and drayage services connecting Canada, U.S. and Mexico. The five-year pact aims to improve North America's supply chain, particularly the automotive industry. [Freight Waves, 2-27-24]
CHINESE RAIL EXPANSION CONTINUES: Expansion of the Chinese railway continued apace during 2023. Many of the projects inaugurated in the latter part of the year were focused on filing gaps in the country's emerging grid of eight vertical and eight horizontal high-speed axes, while further conventional lines have been completed to open up rural areas. China Railway announced Jan. 9 that the total length of high-speed line in operation had reached 28,000 route miles. This accounts for more than 25 percent of the country's entire rail network. [Railway Gazette, 2-27-24]
BNSF ANNOUNCES 4-Q, YEAR-END RESULTS: BNSF announced total revenue for fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 decreased 6 percent and 8 percent, respectively, compared with the same periods in the previous year. Operating income for 4-Q and full-year was $1.9-billion and $7.4-billion, respectively, a decrease of 7 percent and 14 percent compared with the same periods in 2022. BNSF posted operating ratios of 68.7 percent for 4-Q and 68.4 percent for the full year, compared with 67.8 percent and 65.9 percent, respectively. [Progressive Railroading, 2-26-24]
METRO-NORTH PURDY'S STATION HAS BEEN MADE FULLY-ACCESSIBLE: Purdy's station is the third Metro-North station this year to be made fully-accessible. Officials announced the opening of a new elevator and connecting sidewalk. [Railway Track & Structures, 2-26-24]
FUNDING APPROVED TO COMPLETE WORK ON HUDSON BAY RWY: Canadian and Manitoba officials have announced a joint investment of up to $60-million (C) for the Arctic Gateway Group to use to finish work on the Hudson Bay Railway, and start redevelopment at the Port of Churchill. The rail line serves remote and Indigenous communities, and links the Port of Churchill as the only deepwater Arctic port connected to the North American surface transportation network. [Progressive Railroading, 2-26-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Fifty-five percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Febr. 25, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour behind schedule. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 2-26-24]
METRA TRAIN DERAILS ON UNION PACIFIC N.W. LINE: Chicago's Metra service along the Union Pacific Northwest line was suspended from Crystal Lake to Harvard due to a derailment early today. An inbound locomotive derailed as it entered Crystal Lake station, blocking the tracks. It was a low-speed derailment and there were no passengers on board. [ABC News 7, 2-24-24]
BNSF TRAIN DERAILS IN N.D.: Two Locomotives and several cars of a westbound BNSF derailed early Febr. 24 near Burlington, N.D. There were no injures, and nothing in the train leaked or was ignited. [KFYR-TV, 2-24-24]
HARRISON, N.J., PATH STATION MODERNIZATION COMPLETED: Port Authority New York & New Jersey has completed its $47.2-million station house at the Harrison, N.J., stop. It is the latest step toward the agency's modernization of the regional transit hub. [Railway Track & Structures, 2-23-24]
CLASS-I RAIL EMPLOYMENT RISES IN JANUARY: Class-I railroads in the U.S. employed 122,677 workers last month, up 0.27 percent from the previous month, and a 2.88 percent year-over-year increase, according to the Surface Transportation Board. [Progressive Railroading, 2-23-24]
STB CHAIR OBERMAN CONCERNED OVER NORFOLK SOUTHERN TAKEOVER ATTEMPT: Martin Oberman, chairman of the Surface Transportation Board, in a Febr. 23 interview with Progressive Railroading, said he is 'concerned' about the potential of activist investors succeeding in their effort to replace Norfolk Southern's top leadership. He emphasized that he was speaking only for himself, and not the entire STB. Such a strategy would be 'a huge detriment' for the entire rail industry. He added that the activist investors have a 'very short-term goal,' it is not constructive, and it will have other rail CEO's 'looking over their shoulders.' [Progressive Railroading, 2-23-24]
WOMAN KILLED BY REMOTE-CONTROLLED LOCOMOTIVE IN CSX YARD IN BUFFALO: A woman was struck and killed Febr. 16 by a remote-controlled locomotive in CSX's Frontier Yard in Buffalo, N.Y. The yard is not completely closed to the public, and use of remote-controlled units in such an environment poses a significant public safety risk. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 2-23-24]
SEMINOLE GULF RWY RESTORES CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER BRIDGE: Seminole Gulf Railway has successfully operated its first test train across the entire restored spans of the bridge that crosses the Caloosahatchee River into Fort Myers, Florida, 17 months since hurricane Ian hit the area. The railroad expects to begin regular freight service in March, and to restore the entire route of the Murder Mystery Dinner Train in late spring. [Railway Track & Structures, 2-22-24]
UNION PACIFIC ANNOUNCES 2024 CAPITAL BUDGET OF $3.4-B: Union Pacific has announced its capital budget will total $3.4-billion in 2024. Over half of the budget will go toward upgrading and replacing infrastructure, while $600-million will go toward locomotives and equipment. The company will continue to modernize its locomotive fleet, upgrading older core units. The plan also includes targeted freight car acquisitions, and investments in capacity and technology projects. [Progressive Railroading, 2-22-24]
MBTA EXPERIENCES POWER OUTAGE, TRAIN FIRE: MBTA commuters were crammed into buses Febr. 21 after a Red line train caught fire and multiple lines were shut down because of a massive power outage which was caused due to a failed joint in a feeder cable. The outage lead to disruptions on the Blue, Green and Orange lines. [NBC Boston, 2-22-24]
WABTEC TO SUPPLY 30 NEW EVOLUTION SERIES LOCOMOTIVES FOR BRAZIL: Wabtec has agreed with MRS Logistics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, to provide 30 new Evolution series locomotives for delivery beginning this year. [Progressive Railroading, 2-22-24]
METRANS ACQUIRES ADRIA RAIL GROUP: The Metrans rail freight subsidiary of Hamburger Hafen & Logistik has expanded in southeast Europe with the acquisition of Adria Rail Group. [Railway Gazette, 2-22-24]
STRAIT OF MESSINA BRIDGE DESIGN APPROVED: The final design for a rail and road bridge to link Sicily with the mainland has been approved by the project company Stretto di Messina. The work was suspended for 10 years until it was reconstituted by the government in March 2023. [Railway Gazette, 2-22-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN IMPLEMENTING 'SIX-POINT SAFETY PLAN': Norfolk Southern is implementing its six-point safety plan, addressing findings of a safety consultant, installing digital train inspection portals and incorporating feedback from labor union leaders as spelled out in a letter to employees. It was further noted that the railroad achieved a 42 percent reduction in main line accident rate year over year in 2023. [Progressive Railroading, 2-21-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 474,226 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Febr. 17, 2024, up 3.7 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 0.6 percent, and intermodal was up 7.9 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 2-21-24]
MARYLAND SECURES $213-M IN FUNDING TOWARD REPLACEMENT OF LIGHT-RAIL FLEET: Maryland has secured more than $213-million to support the replacement of 52 aging light-rail vehicles in its fleet. [Progressive Railroading, 2-21-24]
IDAHO RAIL SHOP BUSINESS ACQUIRED BY SAVAGE: Savage, a Utah-based global infrastructure and supply chain services company has acquired the Idaho Rail Shop business and property near Savage Railport. The shop provides rail car repair for Idaho businesses. [Progressive Railroading, 2-21-24]
SEPTA TO RECEIVE $317-M TOWARD PURCHASE OF RAIL CARS FOR MARKET-FRANKFORD LINE: SEPTA will receive $317-million to purchase about 200 new rail cars for its Market-Frankford line. [Progressive Railroading, 2-21-24]
METRA TO BUY BATTERY-POWERED TRAIN SETS: The board of Chicago's Metra has approved a contract with Stadler to buy zero-emission, battery-powered train sets. Metra will be one of the first in the nation to operate this technology. The contract includes a base order for eight two-car train sets, including engineering, training and spare parts, with options for eight additional train sets and up to 32 trailer cars to increase capacity by one or two cars per train. The equipment will have low-level boarding with ADA-compliant lifts. Metra plans to introduce the trains between LaSalle street and Blue Island on the Beverly branch of the Rock Island line. [Metra, 2-21-24]
FRA CHAIR URGES NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO FOCUS ON SAFETY: Amit Bose, head of the Federal Railroad Administration, has urged Norfolk Southern to focus on safety after a group of activist investors proposed replacing the company's top management. Said he, "Any backsliding, as a result of a change in leadership or otherwise, on the safety-oriented path you have laid out and communicated to us, will likely attract renewed oversight attention from my office." [Yahoo Finance, 2-21-24]
INVESTOR GROUP PROPOSES NEW LEADERS FOR NORFOLK SOUTHERN: An investor group led by Ancora Holdings, which holds a large equity stake in Norfolk Southern, has announced the nomination of eight independent candidates for election to the Norfolk Southern board. The group also announced two proposed new leaders: Jim Barber Jr., former UPS executive; and Jamie Boychuk, former CSX executive. It has been reported that the investor group plans to run a proxy fight aimed at overhauling the Norfolk Southern board, and replacing Alan Shaw, the president & CEO. [Progressive Railroading, 2-20-24]
WYOMING STANDS TO GAIN THREE AMTRAK ROUTES FROM PROPOSED SERVICE EXPANSION: Three passenger rail routes through Wyoming are now on a map for proposed expansion developed by the Federal Railroad Administration. The routes that appear on the preferred new long-distant plan run through the state. Currently there are none. [Cowboy State Daily, 2-20-24]
CALIFORNIA PANEL AWARDS $7.2-M TO ORANGE COUNTY TO RESTORE RAIL LINK: The California Transportation Commission has awarded $7.2-million to the Orange County Transportation Authority to help restore a link in southern California's rail network. The funding enables the authority and Metrolink to construct a catchment wall at Mariposa Point in San Clemente and advance other mitigation measures to protect the track from landslides. [Progressive Railroading, 2-20-24]
WORK STOPPAGE THREATENED AT CANADA'S TWO LARGEST RAILROADS: The union representing almost 9,300 workers at Canada's two biggest rail operators says Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City are pushing toward a work stoppage after negotiations have deadlocked over issues of working conditions and wage increases. The railroads filed notices of dispute with the federal labor minister and requested the appointment of a conciliator for the bargaining process over an agreement for conductors, engineers and yard workers. [Freight Waves, 2-20-24]
RAILPOOL SIGNS 250-LOCOMOTIVE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT: Leasing company Railpool and Siemens Mobility have signed a framework agreement for the supply of up to 250 Vectron locomotives. This covers variants that can operate in up to 16 countries in Europe. Depending on the variant, the 6.4 MW locomotives will have a maximum speed of up to 143 MPH. [Railway Gazette, 2-20-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-five percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Febr. 18, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and four minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 2-19-24]
CSX TRAIN DERAILS IN S.C., BLOCKING HIGHWAY: A CSX freight train derailed about 17 cars early Febr. 17 in Marion County, S.C., shutting down part of U.S. 301. There were no injuries. [WMBF, 2-17-24]
UNION PACIFIC TO RESTORE SERVICE ON RAIL LINE TO SAVAGE TOOELE R.R. IN UTAH: The Surface Transportation Board has granted a Union Pacific request to restore service on one mile of line in Tooele County, Utah, that would connect with Savage Tooele Railroad. Restoration is part of a transaction with Savage Tooele to sell the right-of-way and track assets along the Warner Branch, and to build 11 miles of new rail line connecting to the branch and serving Lakeview Business Park. Meanwhile, the STB denied a BNSF petition over a trackage rights issue. [Progressive Railroading, 2-16-24]
GRAIN TRUCK STRUCK BY TRAIN IN HURLOCK, MD: A tractor-trailer hauling grain was t-boned by a Maryland & Delaware Railroad train early Febr. 16 in Hurlock, Md., cutting the truck in half with its front and back ends on opposite sides of the track. There were no injuries. [WBOC, 2-16-24]
PRESIDENT BIDEN CALLS EAST PALESTINE DERAILMENT 'COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE': President Biden on Febr. 16 called the toxic derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio, completely preventable during a visit o the area a year after the incident. Norfolk Southern has estimated it will cost the company more than $800-million to clean up the hazardous chemicals, help the community rebuild, and respond to lawsuits. [Reuters, 2-16-24]
FRA WORKSHOP CONCLUDES IN MASSACHUSETTS: In Cambridge, Massachusetts, Febr. 15, another in a series of nationwide workshops led by the Federal Railroad Administration concluded. The project is aimed at shaping a vision for expanding Amtrak's long-distance network with 15 new routes. They are:
The plan also aims to schedule Cardinal and Sunset Limited to seven days a week rather than the current three. [Rail Passengers Assn., 2-16-24]
PROGRESS RAIL TO SUPPLY 54 FREIGHT LOCOMOTIVES TO INDONESIA: Progress Rail will supply 54 EMD GT38AC freight locomotives to PT Kereta Indonesia for transportation in South Sumatra to expand the railway's existing fleet. [Progressive Railroading, 2-16-24]
STADLER TO SUPPLY SIX ADDITIONAL HYDROGEN-POWERED TRAIN SETS TO CALTRANS: The California Dept. of Transportation has announced a $127-million agreement with Stadler Rail for the order of six more zero-emission, hydrogen-powered passenger train sets. [Progressive Railroading, 2-15-24]
FRA ISSUES SAFETY BULLETIN ON TRAIN-CONTROL SOFTWARE MALFUNCTION: The Federal Railroad Administration has released a safety bulletin about a software defect found in the interoperable electronic train management system's onboard software. The defect could cause a speed restriction to be overlooked by a positive train-control system, although such has not yet occurred in a rail operating environment. [Progressive Railroading, 2-15-24]
RENOVATIONS COMPLETED AT SELMA-SMITHFIELD UNION DEPOT IN N.C.: Amtrak has announced the renovations to the Selma-Smithfield Union Depot in N.C. are complete. The $2.5-million project included a new 325-foot concrete platform and other improvements. [Railway Track & Structures, 2-14-24]
CSX TRACK WORKER KILLED ON THE JOB IN N.C.: An investigation is underway after a CSX track maintenance worker was killed on the job Febr. 13 on the Northend subdivision in Roanoke Rapids, N.C. [Freight Waves, 2-14-24]
PALMETTO RWYS TO CONVERT TWO DIESEL SWITCHERS TO LITHIUM-ION BATTERY UNITS: Palmetto Railways is partnering with Innovative Rail Technologies to convert two diesel switchers to lithium-ion battery-powered locomotives. [Progressive Railroading, 2-14-24]
WABTEC TO MODERNIZE CSX AC4400 LOCOMOTIVES: Wabtec has signed an agreement to transform the remaining AC4400 locomotives in CSX's fleet by modernizing them with new digital solutions, innovations and services. More than 200 locomotives are involved. [Progressive Railroading, 2-13-24]
CSX INTRODUCES HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE HONORING RF&P: CSX has revealed its latest heritage locomotive, numbered 1836, as a tribute to the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad. [Railway Age, 2-13-24]
BNSF TRAIN DERAILS IN KANSAS: Early Febr. 12 a BNSF mixed-freight train derailed about 17 cars east of the rural community of Hazleton, Kansas. There were no injuries to the crew. [Hutchpost, 2-13-24]
CSX TRAIN DERAILS IN MORGAN COUNTY, W.V., CAPITOL LIMITED ANNULLED: A CSX freight train derailed the afternoon of Febr. 12 near Magnolia in Morgan County, W.Va., along the Potomac River. Nine cars were involved and there were no injuries. Amtrak's Capitol Limited from Washington was returned to the station, and the eastbound run from Chicago was canceled. [Martinsburg Journal-News, 2-12-24]
BNSF RUNS FIRST TRAIN FROM LOGISTICS INTERMODAL FACILITY IN HUDSON, COLORADO: The first BNSF train has departed from a private intermodal facility that recently became operational at the logistics center in Hudson, Colorado. The center is located on 430 acres with access to Interstate 76 and the BNSF main line. [Progressive Railroading, 2-12-24]
FRA TO HOLD HEARING ON PETITION BY GENESEE & WYOMING SUBSIDIARIES TO TEST ZERO-EMISSION FREIGHT RAIL TECHNOLOGY: The Federal Railroad Administration will hold a hearing March 12 to receive public input on a petition from two Genesee & Wyoming subsidiaries to test zero-emission freight rail technology by Parallel Systems. [Progressive Railroading, 2-12-24]
NTSB RELEASES PRELIMINARY REPORT ON JAN. 12 BRIGHTLINE COLLISION WITH TRUCK: The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on an accident involving a Brightline train and pickup truck Jan. 12 in Brevard, Florida. The truck occupied by a driver and one passenger approached the crossing with the gates lowered, flashing lights and bells on. The truck then drove around the lowered gate and entered the crossing. Both the truck driver and passenger died. [Progressive Railroading, 2-12-24]
D.C. METRO PLANS RED LINE CONSTRUCTION, CLOSING CERTAIN STATIONS: Washington DC Metro plans station closures along part of the Red line between summer 2024 and summer 2026. Track work will continue through summer, winter, and extended weekend outages to avoid extensive single-tracking. Stations at Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Tacoma will be closed starting in June until early September, with a possibility of reducing the work zone so Takoma can be reopened before the start of the closure. Work will be planned in coordination with Purple line's project to build a new mezzanine on the platform of Silver Spring station. [Railway Track & Structures, 2-12-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Fifty percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Febr. 11, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 25 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept, 2-12-24]
WESTERN MARYLAND SCENIC R.R. ACQUIRES DORMANT RAIL LINE: The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has acquired through a lease agreement a dormant rail line in Allegany County, Md., which had operated as the Georges Creek Railway. The line is structured as a separate business managed by the WMSR, and the lease will enable it to diversify, expand and pursue both passenger and freight rail opportunities. Maintenance work is required on the track to restore service, and portions of the line could be operational by late this year. [Progressive Railroading, 2-12-24]
ISSUES RAISED OVER JULY 2023 WASTEWATER SPILL FROM MOFFAT TUNNEL: Union Pacific and Colorado officials are debating questions about a large wastewater spill last July from Moffat Tunnel. Colorado had issued a notice of violation to Union Pacific for allowing untreated groundwater and industrial wastewater from the tunnel to bypass treatment and discharge directly into Fraser River. Meanwhile, the railroad is negotiating with the state to renew its lease to run trains through the tunnel, which is owned by the state. [The Gazette, 2-11-24]
STB TO HOLD AMTRAK GULF COAST HEARING FEBR. 14: The Surface Transportation Board will hold a Febr. 14 hearing on a settlement agreement among Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Alabama port officials, despite a request from those parties to cancel the hearing. The board ruled it will conduct the hearing to obtain information about the status of the implementation of the settlement. [Progressive Railroading, 2-9-24]
FRA WORKSHOP ON AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE NETWORK BEGINS IN SACRAMENTO: The third of four scheduled rounds of in-depth FRA workshops to create an enhanced long-distance passenger rail network began this week in Sacramento. The study team got their first look at the 'preferred' route selections with 15 new routes. Included are Chicago-Miami via Nashville and Atlanta; Dallas-Miami; Seattle-Denver via Portland and Boise; El Paso-Billings; and Twin Cities-Denver via Sioux Falls, Pierre and Cheyenne. Enhanced service selections offer Atlanta, Denver and Kansas City as hubs. If the map is fully-realized, 89 percent of the U.S. population would have access to Amtrak trains, including 19 million more in the most-populated metropolitan areas, adding 102 stations in rural communities. A public comment period will open at the end of next week with comments accepted through March 8. [Rail Passengers Assn., 2-9-24]
MASS COASTAL R.R. BUYING ASSETS OF BAY COLONY R.R.: Massachusetts Coastal Railroad is purchasing assets of Bay Colony Railroad, which serves North Dartmouth and Millis, Massachusetts. Mass Coastal operates a network of lines totaling 135 route-miles from Fall River to Hyannis, and is custodian of an additional 42 miles of state-owned track. Mass Coastal will now add the rights to 35 miles of track and add customers in Dartmouth and Westport. [Railway Age, 2-9-24]
ALABAMA PORT AUTHORITY TO LOCATE CONTAINER TRANSFER FACILITY IN DECATUR: The Alabama Port Authority has announced its third intermodal container transfer facility will be located in Decatur, in partnership with CSX. It will complete rail connectivity from the facility at the Port of Mobile to customers in the central and northern parts of the state. The port will redevelop a portion of an existing CSX facility, which will expedite its ability to serve north Alabama, officials said. [Progressive Railroading, 2-8-24]
LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD SEEKS TO ADD UP TO 26 COACHES THROUGH LEASE AGREEMENT: The Long Island Rail Road is interested in obtaining up to 26 highly reliable coaches to supplement a portion of its current fleet of locomotive-hauled vehicles through a lease agreement. [Progressive Railroading, 2-8-24]
UNION PACIFIC OPENS NEW INTERMODAL TERMINAL IN PHOENIX: Union Pacific on Febr. 1 opened a new intermodal terminal in Phoenix which introduces a first-of-its-kind intermodal service between the Los Angeles basin and Phoenix. [Railway Track & Structures, 2-8-24]
FTA ADMINISTRATOR NURIA FERNANDEZ TO RETIRE: The Federal Transit Administration has announced that its administrator Nuria Fernandez will retire Febr. 24. Acting administrator will be its current deputy Veronica Vanterpool. [Progressive Railroading, 2-8-24]
CSX TRAIN DEMOLISHES CAB OF SEMI-TRUCK IN OHIO: A CSX train smashed into the cab of a semi-truck which was stopped and fouling a crossing Febr. 7 in Versailles, Ohio. There were no injuries. The truck cab was demolished, spilling fuel, which was cleaned up by firefighters. [New York Post, 2-8-24]
TRAIN DERAILS IN JOHNSONVILLE, N.Y.: A train derailed in Johnsonville, N.Y., late Febr. 7. Officials said a train derailed from CSX tracks. Ten cars went off the tracks, and two of them went into the Hoosic River. No injuries were reported. [News10, 2-8-24]
FRA SHUTS DOWN OKLAHOMA SHORT LINE: The Federal Railroad Administration has ordered the Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad to shut down due to the short line's operations posing 'an imminent threat to public safety.' The railroad operated on about 37 miles of line owned by the Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation and the Blackwell Industrial Authority from Blackwell to Wellington, where it interchanged with BNSF. The FRA determined that under its current ownership the railroad had operated locomotives not safe for use, allowed them to be operated by people not qualified as engineers, and failed to qualify any engineers or conductors under existing regulations. The FRA began investigating operations following a Dec. 2023 derailment in which investigators found the short line was operating 'with complete disregard for the safety of the public.' [Progressive Railroading, 2-7-24]
HART SECURES FUNDING FOR TRANSIT EXPANSION: The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has secured a full-funding grant agreement with the Federal Transit Administration that will unlock the first federal funding for the city's transit rail project since 2017. This paves the way for the completion of the line between Skyline to the Kaka'ako Civic Center. The next sections involve an extension from Aloha Stadium to Inouye International Airport, and another extension to the Civic Center station. [Progressive Railroading, 2-7-24]
JANUARY 2024 U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 2,231,182 carloads and intermodal units in January 2024, down 0.7 percent compared with the same month last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 7.2 percent, and intermodal was up 5.5 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 2-7-24]
AMTRAK SELECTS BUILDER FOR REPLACEMENT OF B&P TUNNEL IN BALTIMORE: Amtrak has selected Kiewit/J.F. Shea Joint Venture to build the Frederick Douglas tunnel that will serve electrified Amtrak and MARC commuter trains. Located just south of Baltimore Penn Station, the new tunnel will replace B&P tunnel with two parallel, single-track tubes, each about two miles long. Construction is set to begin in 2026. [Progressive Railroading, 2-6-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN COMPLETES $1-B IN IMPROVEMENTS IN 2023: Norfolk Southern's engineering team last year completed $1-billion worth of infrastructure improvement and upgrade projects throughout its network. Included were tracks, bridges and public grade crossings. [Progressive Railroading, 2-6-24]
STADLER TO SUPPLY NEXT GENERATION TRAIN SETS TO SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia Railways has signed contracts for Stadler to supply its next generation of passenger trains. They include a base order for 10 train sets, full maintenance support and spare parts for 10 years. There are also options for 10 additional train sets. [Railway Gazette, 2-6-24]
N.Y. SUBWAY ADDS OPEN GANGWAY CARS TO C LINE: New York City's subway system has rolled out R211T open gangway subway cars on the C Line, running between Washington Heights and East New York. The launch marks the first time an open gangway trains has operated in the modern history of subways in the U.S., officials said. [Progressive Railroading, 2-5-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-eight percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Febr. 4, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and six minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 2-5-24]
HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGY TO BE TESTED IN ITALY: Hyperloop Transportation Technologies has been designated the tech provider within a joint venture of Italian-based industrial companies of Webuild and Leonardo. The venture will study the feasibility of a hyperloop operating prototype for cargo and passengers. When completed, the effort could lead to the construction of the world's first commercial system in Italy. [Progressive Railroading, 2-5-24]
AMTRAK SUNSET LIMITED TO BE IMPACTED BY TRACK WORK: From Febr. 11 to March 24, Amtrak's eastbound Sunset Limited will depart Los Angeles three hours earlier, El Paso two and one-half hours earlier, and Alpine two hours earlier, because of track work. [Amtrak]
GULF COAST AMTRAK SERVICE UPDATE: Work is still under way on settlement terms and conditions for launching Amtrak's Gulf Coast service between New Orleans and Mobile. Parties asked the Surface Transportation Board in a Febr. 1 filing to continue holding the case in abeyance until at least May 1. [Railway Age, 2-2-24]
CSX, FOUR UNIONS AGREE ON PAID SICK LEAVE BENEFITS: CSX has announced agreements with four more rail labor unions to provide paid sick leave benefits. The unions include SMART-TD Conductors and Trainmen, SMART-TD Yardmasters, Brotherhood of Boiler Makers, and Carrolton Road-Transportation Communications Union. [Progressive Railroading, 2-2-24]
UNION PACIFIC LISTED ON FORTUNE'S LIST OF MOST ADMIRED COMPANIES: Union Pacific announced on Febr. 1 that it has been named to Fortune magazine's list of World's Most Admired Companies for the 18th time in 22 years. [Railway Age, 2-2-24]
CPKC TO RUN STEAM-POWERED TRAIN IN CANADA, U.S., MEXICO THIS SPRING: Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 Hudson type nicknamed The Empress will haul a special CPKC excursion through Canada, U.S. and Mexico beginning April 24. It begins in Calgary, Alberta, is called the 'Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour,' and is said to be the first-ever steam-powered passenger train in North America to traverse those three countries in a single trip. [Railway Age, 2-1-24]
ACTIVIST GROUP PLANS PROXY FIGHT AT NORFOLK SOUTHERN: According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, an investor group led by activist Ancora Holdings intends to run a proxy fight to replace Alan Shaw, Norfolk Southern's president and CEO, and will likely try to take control of the board to enact management and operational changes. [Railway Age, 2-1-24]
CPKC JOINS RAILPULSE COALITION: Canadian Pacific Kansas City has joined the RailPulse Coalition, becoming the third Class-I railroad and the 10th member of the coalition, which was established in late 2020 to develop, broaden and accelerate the use of GPS and other technologies on railcars. [Progressive Railroading, 2-1-24]
JANUARY 2024 AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Fifty-two percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in January 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 23 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 2-1-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 467,222 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Jan. 27, 2024, up 0.7 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 9.0 percent, and intermodal was up 10.1 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-31-24]
METRA TO ALLOW BICYCLES ON ALL OF ITS TRAINS: Chicago's Metra is making permanent a covid-era policy allowing bicycles on all trains, and has begun manufacturing and installing bike racks on its coaches. The racks can hold two to four bikes or e-scooters, and are being produced in-house and installed initially on about 50 vehicles. [Railway Gazette, 1-31-24]
AMTRAK AIMS TO DOUBLE RIDERSHIP BY 2040: Amtrak on Jan. 31 reported that it aims to double ridership by 2040 by attracting new riders, serving new communities and transforming passenger rail. [Railway Age, 1-31-24]
CPKC REPORTS 4-Q EARNINGS: Canadian Pacific Kansas City reported revenues of $3.8-billion in fourth-quarter 2023. Diluted earnings per share decreased to $1.10 from $1.36 in fourth-quarter 2022, and core adjusted combined diluted EPS increased to $1.18 from $1.14. Reported operating ratio increased to 61.8 percent from 59.8 percent. [Railway Age, 1-30-24]
FIRST OF TWO NEW PLATFORMS DEDICATED AT BALTIMORE PENN STATION: The first of two new platforms at Baltimore's Penn Station has been inaugurated, and it is expected to begin serving trains sometime this spring. The station is the eighth busiest on Amtrak's network, and Amtrak ridership increased by 29 percent in Baltimore during the last year. The second platform is slated for completion in the fall. [Railway Track & Structures, 1-30-24]
CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR COLLIDES WITH TRUCK IN COLORADO, DERAILS: Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr crashed into a truck carrying milk and partially derailed at a crossing near Keensburg, Colorado, late Jan. 29, seriously injuring the train's engineer and sending three passengers to a hospital for treatment. According to police, the driver of the truck failed to yield to the approaching train, but neither he nor his passenger were injured. The rail line was shut down and the following day's California Zephyr was annulled between Denver and Lincoln. [KDVR, 1-30-24]
RESTORATION OF RAIL SERVICE ADVANCING IN SAN CLEMENTE FOLLOWING LANDSLIDE: The Orange County Transportation Authority is working with Metrolink to clear the area and restore rail service as quickly as possible following the massive landslide in San Clemente, California. However, no timeline has been set on when service can resume. [Railway Track & Structures, 1-29-24]
PEND OREILLE VALLEY R.R. DEDICATES LOCOMOTIVE HONORING LATE CHIEF MECHANICAL OFFICER: Short Line Pend Oreille Valley Railroad has dedicated newly-painted GP9 unit 102 honoring its former chief mechanical officer Brad Byrd who died last year. The railroad operates 17 miles of former Milwaukee Road track in Washington State, 25 miles of former Great Northern track in Washington and Idaho, and seven miles of trackage rights on joint BNSF/Union Pacific line in Idaho. [Railway Age, 1-29-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO SUPPORT CONFIDENTIAL CLOSE CALL REPORTING SYSTEM: Norfolk Southern and two of its employees' unions, in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration, have announced their joint participation in the FRA Confidential Close Call Reporting System pilot program designed to enhance rail safety. Under the one-year pilot, covered employees may report safety concerns with the certainty that such reports will not result in discipline. [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, 1-29-24]
PLANS FOR MILWAUKEE-MADISON AMTRAK SERVICE ADVANCE: There are plans to extend Amtrak's Hiawatha service from Milwaukee to Madison. Additional stops proposed along the route include Watertown and Pewaukee, and there are also plans to eventually extend the line further to Eau Claire and the Twin Cities. It could ultimately extend past the Twin Cities to Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota. [Milwaukee Sentinel, 1-29-24]
VALLEY METRO IN PHOENIX OPENS N.W. PHASE II LIGHT-RAIL EXTENSION: Valley Metro in Phoenix marked the opening of the Northwest Phase II extension of light-rail service on Jan. 27. The extension includes three stations, and is anticipated to initially attract 1,400 new riders to the system daily. The line provides greater access to the West Valley. [Progressive Railroading, 1-29-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Fifty-one percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Jan. 28, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 12 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 1-28-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO CUT 7 PCT OF ITS NON-UNION STAFF: Norfolk Southern plans to lay off 7 percent of its non-union work force amid a tough freight cycle. Workers include management and administrative staff, roughly translating to around 330 people. [Seeking Alpha News, 1-26-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN REPORTS 4-Q EARNINGS: Norfolk Southern reported fourth-quarter 2023 railway operating revenue of $3.1-billion, down 5 percent compared with the same quarter 2022. Railway operating income was $808-million, down 32 percent. Included was a $150-million charge associated with the Febr. 3, 2023, derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Adjusting for that charge, income from railway operations was $958-million. [Progressive Railroading, 1-26-24]
FRA ANNOUNCES RULE TO IMPROVE SAFETY ON FREIGHT TRAINS WITH HAZMATS: The Federal Railroad Administration has announced a final rule to improve employee safety on freight trains transporting hazardous materials. Railroads will be required to provide emergency escape breathing apparatuses for employees who could be exposed to an inhalation hazard, and to ensure that the equipment is in proper condition and employees are trained in its use. [Progressive Railroading, 1-26-24]
N.J. TRANSIT TO REDIRECT $503-M FEDERAL TRANSITGRID GRANT TO OTHER IMPROVEMENTS: With the approval of the Federal Transit Administration, New Jersey Transit is redirecting $503-million in federal grant funding, originally allocated to the agency's TransitGrid facility in Kearny, N.J., to instead support resiliency infrastructure improvements at Hoboken Terminal, New Brunswick County Yard, and the Raritan River Bridge. [Railway Age, 1-26-24]
LANDSLIDE IN SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, DISRUPTS RAIL SERVICE: Amtrak and Metrolink service was suspended Jan. 24 due to another landslide in San Clemente, California. [Railway Track & Structures, 1-25-24]
CSX REPORTS 4-Q EARNINGS: CSX reported fourth-quarter 2023 revenue at $3.68-billion, down 1 percent from the same quarter the year before. Operating income of $1.32-billion was down 10 percent, diluted earnings per share of $0.45 decreased 8 percent, and net earnings of $886-million were down 13 percent. Operating ratio was 64.1 percent versus 60.9 percent from the prior year's fourth-quarter. [Railway Age, 1-25-24]
BNSF ANNOUNCES 2024 CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN: BNSF has announced its 2024 capital investment plan of $3.92-billion. The largest component of the plan is $2.88-billion to maintaining the railroad's core network and related assets. About $440-million is for equipment acquisitions. [BNSF, 1-25-24]
FEDS AWARD $28-M TOWARD IMPROVEMENTS TO RAIL YARD IN ELKO, NEVADA: Federal funding of $28-million has been announced supporting the Elko, Nevada, rail corridor enhancement project. on the Union Pacific rail yard in Elko. The improvements at the Union Pacific's Elko rail yard will reduce an average of two and one-half hours of delay per freight train using the corridor. [White House Fact Sheet, 1-25-24]
UNION PACIFIC REPORTS 4-Q RESULTS: Union Pacific reported fourth-quarter 2023 net income of $1.7-billion or $2.71 per diluted share, up from $1.6-billion or $2.67 per diluted share in the same quarter the previous year. Total operating revenue was $6.2-billion. [Progressive Railroading, 1-25-24]
U.S. SENATE CONFIRMS THREE TO AMTRAK BOARD: The U.S. Senate has confirmed Anthony Coscia, Amtrak chairman; Joel Szabat, Aviation Strategies president; and Christopher Koos, mayor of Normal, Illinois, as members of Amtrak's board. [Progressive Railroading, 1-25-24]
MEXICO MULLS RAIL CORRIDOR TO COMPETE WITH PANAMA CANAL: Officials in Mexico predict an opportunity for the country's $2.8-billion Isthmus of Tehuantepec interoceanic corridor, a 188-mile east-west rail corridor, which could handle up to 1.4 million 20-foot equivalent units annually by 2033. The project could be an alternative to ocean vessels transiting the Panama Canal, which is subject to periodic drought conditions restricting its use by ships. [Freight Waves, 1-25-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 397,553 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Jan. 20, 2024, down 13.2 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 22.4 percent, and intermodal was down 4.5 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-24-24]
CN REPORTS 4-Q EARNINGS: Canadian National reported fourth-quarter 2023 revenue of $4.5-billion (C), down 2 percent compared with the same quarter last year; net income of $2.1-billion, up 50 percent; and $3.29 diluted earnings per share, up 57 percent. [Progressive Railroading, 1-24-24]
NEW SHORT-LINE ESTABLISHED IN W.VA.: Empire River Rail, a new short-line, has been established by Empire Diversified Energy at the Port of West Virginia. Empire River will strive to be a clean-energy rail system as it serves the port by connecting the movement and storage of freight. [Progressive Railroading, 1-24-24]
HYDROGEN HIGH-SPEED TRAIN TO BE DEVELOPED: Funding has been awarded in Spain for a project to power a Talgo gauge-changing high-speed train set using renewable hydrogen. Talgo class 730 electro-diesel train sets used by national operator RENFE have a power car behind each driving car containing a diesel engine for use on non-electrified lines. The project will replace one of these power cars with a vehicle containing fuel cells and batteries. Overhead electrification will be used where available for traction and charging the battery, with hydrogen and battery power used on non-electrified lines. [Railway Gazette, 1-24-24]
VIRGINIA REPORTS RECORD STATE-SUPPORTED AMTRAK RIDERSHIP: The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority reported that more than 1.32 million passengers traveled on its state-supported Amtrak trains in 2023, the highest ridership since service began in 2009, and an increase by 29.8 percent over 2022. [Railway Age, 1-23-24]
FEDS GRANT $226-M TOWARD LOUISIANA INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL CONSTRUCTION: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded a $226.2-million grant to the Port of New Orleans to assist the first construction phase of the 1,200-acre Louisiana International Terminal in Violet. It will leverage the port's connectivity with all six Class-I railroads. [Railway Age, 1-23-24]
CSX HONORS MONON R.R. WITH COMMEMORATIVE LOCOMOTIVE: CSX locomotive 1897 has been released from the Waycross paint shop with a commemorative paint scheme honoring the Monon Railroad, a predecessor line that operated mostly in Indiana from 1897 to 1971. [Railway Age, 1-23-24]
BISON TRANSPORT PARTNERS WITH CPKC IN INTERMODAL TRANSPORT: Trucking firm Bison Transport and Canadian Pacific Kansas City have agreed to provide intermodal services on CPKC's corridor connecting Canada, U.S. and Mexico. The agreement provides Bison's customer base immediate access to cross-border multimodal solutions. [Progressive Railroading, 1-23-24]
U.S. DOT APPROVES $2.5-B PRIVATE-ACTIVITY BONDS TO BRIGHTLINE WEST PROJECT: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has approved a $2.5-billion private-activity bond allocation to the Brightline West intercity passenger rail project linking Las Vegas and southern California. [Railway Age, 1-23-24]
NEW HAMILTON-MONTREAL INTERMODAL RAIL SERVICE BEGINS: The Hamilton, Ontario, Container Terminal, in collaboration with the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority and Canadian National, has begun direct intermodal rail service between Hamilton and Montreal. An inaugural train has completed its journey and is set to transition into a regular weekly service. [Progressive Railroading, 1-23-24]
GATX REPORTS 4-Q, FULL YEAR RESULTS: GATX Corp. has reported fourth-quarter 2023 net income of %66.0 million or $1.81 per diluted share, compared with $48.4-million or $1.36 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. For the full year, net income was $259.2-million or $7.12 per diluted share, versus prior year's $155.9-million or $4.35 per share. [Railway Age, 1-23-24]
CRACKS DISCOVERED IN CALEDONIAN SLEEPER CARS: Hairline cracks have been found in the T slots of eight of 75 MkV cars in U.K.'s Calendonian Sleeper fleet at points where the yaw damper bracket joins the body of the vehicle. The cars with cracks have been taken out of service pending repair. [Railway Gazette, 1-23-24]
STB CALLS FOR STATUS REPORT ON AMTRAK'S GULF COAST SERVICE SETTLEMENT: The Surface Transportation Board will require additional information regarding the status of the settlement agreement to allow Amtrak to operate service in the Gulf coast region. The board has scheduled a hearing for Febr. 14 for the parties involved to report more fully on the settlement status. [Railway Age, 1-22-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Thirty-five percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Jan. 21, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 41 minutes late. Twenty-six percent of scheduled runs during the week were canceled or truncated, many due to severe snow and ice storms. The Empire Builder did not even run at all. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 1-22-24]
AMTRAK TRAINS IMPACTED BY WINTER WEATHER: Jan. 18 was not a good day for Amtrak, on either end of the Lake Shore Limited route, and in a number of other places. Half of the Acela trains on the Northeast corridor were canceled, and many of the trains in the Midwest were canceled as well. The Empire Builder did not operate, either, and has not run since Jan. 11. Amtrak is blaming the cancelations on equipment issues and host railroad conditions. [Railway Age, 1-19-24]
OVERNIGHT TRAINS ARE BACK IN VOGUE IN EUROPE: With the launch of next-generation rolling stock on OBB's international overnight trains and the revival of a Paris-Berlin service, the stage is set for a night train renaissance in Europe. The market centers mainly on leisure travel, but night trains have potential to attract business travelers, too. Night trains have enjoyed favorable publicity. OBB pointed out in 2020 that a train between Wien and Brussels emitted one-tenth the CO2 as flying. [Railway Gazette, 1-19-24]
CALIFORNIA HSR CHIEF TO RESIGN: Following six years leading the California High-Speed Rail Authority, Brian Kelly has submitted his letter of resignation. He plans to stay in the role as the agency begins its search for a new chief executive. [Railway Age, 1-19-24]
SIEMENS TO SUPPLY 70 EMU'S TO AUSTRIA: Austrian Federal Railways has placed a firm order for 70 electric multiple-units based on a development of Siemens Mobility's established Mireo design. They will be supplied in three variants for entry into service from the end of 2027. [Railway Gazette, 1-19-24]
FORMER KCS CEO ELECTED TO BOARD OF J.B. HUNT: J.B. Hunt Transport Services has elected former Kansas City Southern president and CEO Patrick Ottensmeyer to its board. [Progressive Railroading, 1-19-24]
CSX HONORED AS 'TOP PERFORMER' IN INTERMODAL SERVICE: CSX was named top performer in intermodal service, according to a recent survey in Sept. and Oct. 2023 by the Journal of Commerce. [Progressive Railroading, 1-19-24]
BRIGHTLINE WEST TO BEGIN TO RECRUIT WORKERS: Brightline West will begin to recruit workers to construct its high-speed rail system. An anticipated 11,000 workers will build 218 miles of rail by the summer, and 3,000 construction workers are expected to be hired within southern Nevada. Completion of the project is slated for summer 2028, in time for the Olympics in Los Angeles. [Railway Track & Structures, 1-18-24]
FEDS WITHDRAW PERMIT FOR RAIL CONSTRUCTION THROUGH UTAH FOREST: The U.S. Forest Service has withdrawn approval of a Uinta Basin Railway project permit allowing construction through about 12 miles of protected forest in Utah. The decision follows a U.S. court ruling that struck down an approval involving an 88-mile rail line to connect oil and gas producers to the broader rail network. Approval could yet be reissued if deficiencies in the environmental impact statement are addressed. [Railway Age, 1-18-24]
U.S. FREIGHT FUNDAMENTALS TO IMPROVE IN 2024, ACT RESEARCH REPORT SAYS: After a prolonged freight recession, U.S. freight cycle fundamentals will improve in 2024, according to the latest release of ACT Research's 'Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume Outlook' report. That scenarios will play out as freight demand is still below trend, but starting to recover as post-pandemic effects fade, both real disposable incomes and retail sales are accelerating and disruptions in ocean shipping are likely catalyzing the end of the 18-month destock. DC Velocity, 1-18-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 457,453 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Jan. 13, 2024, down 4.1 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were down 10.2 percent, and intermodal was up 1.9 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-17-24]
FRA SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENTS ON SELF-PROPELLED CONTAINER RAIL VEHICLE: The Federal Railroad Administration is seeking public comments on a proposal from two short line carriers who want to test self-propelled electric rail vehicles for movement of containers over short distances. Comments on the program are due March 18. [Progressive Railroading, 1-17-24]
TWO CPKC HYDROGEN-POWERED LOCOMOTIVES IN SERVICE IN CALGARY: Canadian Pacific Kansas City's hydrogen-powered units 1001 and 1002, designed and built by in-house engineers, are operating in regular service in the Calgary, Alberta, terminal where they are switching and serving customers. [Railway Age, 1-17-24]
TRIP OPTIMIZER SURPASSES 1-B MILES: Wabtec's Trip Optimizer has passed a milestone as railroads have used the software for more than one billion auto miles worldwide, collectively in 12,000 locomotives, the equivalent of more than 40,000 trips around the planet. The process is a smart cruise-control system for trains that comprehend terrain, train makeup, speed restrictions and operating conditions to calculate an optimum speed to control locomotive throttle and dynamic brakes, reduce fuel and provide efficient train handling. [Progressive Railroading, 1-17-24]
WINTER STORMS IMPACT CERTAIN AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAINS: Due to winter storms, Amtrak has canceled a number of its long-distance trains. Included on Jan. 17 are the Lake Shore Limited, Empire Builder and northbound Texas Eagle. The Empire Builder is also canceled Jan. 18 and 19. Other cancellations or partial cancellations could potentially develop. [Amtrak]
GERMAN-DUTCH CROSS-BORDER RAIL CONNECTION APPROVED: Approval has paved the way for the start of preliminary works for the reintroduction of passenger rail service on a freight-only line from Neuenhaus, Germany, to Coevorden, Netherlands. [Railway Gazette, 1-17-24]
CONTAINER TERMINAL PLANNED SOUTH OF PORT OF NEW ORLEANS: In an effort to lure jumbo cargo ships up the Mississippi River, a preliminary deal has been signed to build a 900-acre container terminal about 20 miles south of the Port of New Orleans. The land is on the river's west bank about 50 miles above the mouth of the Mississippi River. [Freight Waves, 1-16-24]
NEW AMTRAK STATION TO BE BUILT AT BRATTLEBORO, VT.: Construction on a new $7.4-million Amtrak station in Brattleboro, Vt., will begin in March. It will house a waiting area, restroom, engineer's room, an outdoor seating area, and include a 345-foot-long high-level platform. [Railway Track & Structures, 1-16-24]
S&K STEEL PRODUCTS ACQUIRED BY IRWIN TRANSPORTATION PRODUCTS: S&K Steel Products, manufacturer of rail bars, plates and wheel stops for railroads, has been acquired by Irwin Transportation Products. S&K will remain in Madison Heights, Michigan. [Progressive Railroading, 1-16-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Forty-eight percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Jan. 14, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 41 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 1-15-24]
METRO-NORTH'S SCARSDALE STATION IS NOW FULLY-ACCESSIBLE: Metro-North's station in Scarsdale, N.Y., has been made fully-accessible with the opening of a second elevator that serves the Grand Central-bound platform. [Progressive Railroading, 1-15-24]
VRE'S 2025 BUDGET APPROVED: Virginia Railway Express's FY-2025 has received final approval along with a six-year capital improvement program. The budget allows for the operation of Saturday service, elimination of fares for those 18 and under, and simplifies fare payment options. Agreement with host carriers for Saturday service will be required. [Progressive Railroading, 1-15-24]
AMTRAK CLEARED FOR HIGH-SPEED TRAIN TESTS: The Federal Railroad Administration has cleared Amtrak's new high-speed trains to begin testing on its Northeast corridor. French manufacturer Alstom is building the trains at its Hornell, N.Y., plant. [Progressive Railroading, 1-15-24]
BNSF REPORTS RECORD YEAR FOR WORKPLACE SAFETY: BNSF reported 2023 was a record year for workplace safety with the lowest injury frequency rate in its 175-year history. The company's employees worked without a loss of life, and the fewest injuries ever. [Progressive Railroading, 1-15-24]
BRUNSWICK, MD., INTERLOCKING TOWER TO BEGIN EXTERIOR RENOVATION: The city of Brunswick, Md., will begin to renovate the exterior of former CSX (x-B&O) WB Tower on Jan. 15. It was moved across the tracks from its formerly in-service location in April 2022, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The three-month project involves restoring the structure to its original appearance, and building a viewing platform. [City of Brunswick, via. Bill Haines]
NEW TOURIST TRAIN BEGINS SERVICE IN ITALY: FS Group has formed FS Treni Turistici Italiai, sporting refurbished rolling stock in blue livery. The fleet includes sleeping and couchette cars, a dining car and baggage car. [Railway Gazette, 1-14-24]
TWO BRIGHTLINE CROSSING ACCIDENTS AT SAME LOCATION RESULT IN THREE DEATHS: A 62-year-old male driver was killed Jan. 10 and a 52-year-old female and 54-year-old male were killed two days later when struck by Brightline trains at the same crossing in Melbourne, Florida. Three others were injured in the Jan. 10 incident. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. [U.S. News & World Report, 1-13-24]
PLANS UNVEILED FOR RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS POWERED LOCOMOTIVE TENDER: Plans in the U.S. have been unveiled for the development and testing of a prototype main line freight locomotive with a powered tender, which will be fueled by renewable natural gas. Renewable natural gas is a purified biogas that can be used interchangeably with conventional natural gas. The capital cost is expected to be offset by savings in annual operating costs and higher reliability. [Railway Gazette, 1-12-24]
RAIL UNIONS WARN FEDS OF SAFETY, RELIABILITY CONCERNS: A group of rail labor unions has filed a safety and reliability report with the Surface Transportion Board warning that the six big freight railroads' continued faith in precision scheduled railroading is leaving them on the 'precipice of a self-made disaster.' Recommendations made by the unions include surprise safety inspections, and disqualifying rail personnel who show themselves as unfit to perform safety-sensitive functions. [Rail Passengers Assn., 1-12-24]
SYSTEM DEVELOPED FOR HIGH-SPEED OVERHEAD WIRE INSPECTION: Central Japan Railway has developed an automated overhead line inspection system that can be fitted to series-built trains used on the Tokaido Shinkansen. It is able to check the position of wires and the condition of fittings while trains are traveling up to 186 MPH using roof-mounted equipment. [Railway Gazette, 1-12-24]
MAERSK SHIFTS OC1 PANAMA CANAL TRAFFIC TO PANAMA CANAL RAILWAY: Due to projected water levels in Gatan Lake and the need to reduce the amount and weight of vessels through the Panama Canal, Maersk is amending its OC1 service to omit the canal, instead using the Panama Canal Railway as a land bridge both east and west. [Railway Age, 1-11-24]
WEEKLY U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT: U.S. railroads originated 417,257 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Jan. 6, 2024, up 2.3 percent compared with the corresponding week last year. Calculated separately, carloads were up 0.9 percent, and intermodal was up 3.7 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-10-24]
COMPLY365, VISTAIR ANNOUNCE MERGER: Comply365 LLC and Vistar Ltd. announced the completion of a merger to create a global provider of compliance, safety and data intelligence technologies serving the rail, aviation and defense industries. [Progressive Railroading, 1-10-24]
FIRST E6800 ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE BEGINS TESTING IN TANZANIA: Tanzania Railways is testing the first of 17 E6800 electric locomotives that Hyundai Rotem is supplying for the standard-gauge railway project. [Railway Gazette, 1-10-24]
MEXICO INVESTIGATING FREIGHT RAIL TRANSPORTATION MARKET: Mexico's antitrust authority is investigating the country's freight rail transportation market amid government plans to build out rail infrastructure. The country's rail sector is dominated by Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Grupo Mexico's transport unit. [Reuters, 1-10-24]
PSC GROUP ACQUIRES BAYPORT RAIL TERMINAL IN TEXAS: PSC Group has acquired Union Pacific-served Bayport Rail Terminal in Texas from U.S. Development Group. The terminal serves the chemical industry on the Bayport Loop and Port Houston, offering loaded and empty rail car staging, switching, repair, cleaning, and rail-to-container transloading. [Railway Age, 1-9-24]
STB ISSUES DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR PROPOSED RAIL LINE IN N.Y. STATE: The Surface Transportation Board on Jan. 5 issued a draft environmental assessment for proposed construction and operation of a new rail line in Suffolk County, N.Y., by Townline Rail Terminal. The line would add one New York & Atlantic Railway round trip train five days a week to the Long Island Rail Road. NY&A is a short line that currently operates freight rail service on the LIRR main line in conjunction with LIRR passenger operations in Suffolk, Nassau, Kings and Queens counties, N.Y. [Railway Age, 1-9-24]
THREE CALTRAIN ELECTRIC TRAIN SETS COMPLETE 1,000 MILES OF TESTING: Three of Caltrain's 23 electric train sets have completed 1,000 miles of testing along the line's corridor in southern California. The entire fleet must meet all safety and quality standards prior to start of service in fall 2024. [Progressive Railroading, 1-9-24]
CERTAINTEED ROOFING BREAKS GROUND ON UNION PACIFIC-SERVED CENTER IN TEXAS: CertainTeed Roofing, a building products manufacturer, is expanding its service and production capabilities in Texas. The Saint-Gobain Corp. subsidiary broke ground recently on a new warehouse and distribution center in Bryan, which will be served by Union Pacific. [Railway Age, 1-9-24]
NORFOLK SOUTHERN AIMS FOR LOW-CARBON FUTURE: Norfolk Southern has released its inaugural climate transition plan, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emission intensity by 42 percent by 2034. [Railway Gazette, 1-9-24]
NEW LIGHT-RAIL STATION TO BE BUILT IN SACRAMENTO AREA: The board of Sacramento Regional Transit district has voted to approve a new light-rail station for the Dos Rios area of Sacrament, near Marisol Village, an affordable housing community. [Railway Track & Structures, 1-9-24]
STADLER SUPPLIES FOUR DMU'S TO AZERBAIJAN: Azerbaijan's national railway ADY has taken delivery of four Stadler Flirt diesel multiple units. [Railway Gazette, 1-9-24]
WEEKLY AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE: Seventy (70) percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in the week ending Jan. 7, 2024. The remaining trains, on average, arrived 44 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept., 1-8-24]
CONTRACTORS SELECTED FOR BALTIMORE HOWARD STREET TUNNEL PROJECT: A joint venture between Skanska & Fay and S&B USA Construction has been selected for the $293-million Howard street tunnel clearance project. It includes modernizing the 125-year-old tunnel on CSX's north-south corridor in Baltimore. [Railway Track & Structures, 1-8-24]
TRI-RAIL'S EXPANDED SERVICE INTO MIAMI CENTRAL STATION BEGINS JAN. 13: The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority will start Tri-Rail's expanded service into the Miami Central station Jan. 13. It will be introduced as a train-to-train transfer in Hialeah, where a shuttle train will spur out of the South Florida rail corridor onto Florida East Coast's track for a direct service to Miami Central and back. [Progressive Railroading, 1-8-24]
KENOSHA MAYOR VOICES SUPPORT FOR KENOSHA-RACINE-MILWAUKEE COMMUTER RAIL: The mayor of Kenosha, Wisconsin, is voicing support for a plan to create a commuter rail line between Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee. It would serve nine stations six of them new, providing connection to Metra's UP-North line in Kenosha. [Kenosha News, 1-7-24]
BNSF ACHIEVES RECORD PRODUCTION AT CORWITH TERMINAL: BNSF achieved an all-time record production performance from its Chicago-based Corwith Intermodal Terminal in 2023. which saw a 25 percent increase in traffic from previous months. [Railway Age, 1-5-24]
D.C. METRO DERAILMENT IN OCT. 2021 WAS RESULT OF 'POOR SAFETY CULTURE,' NTSB SAYS: A Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority train derailment in Oct. 2021 was the result of a 'poor safety culture,' the National Transportation Safety Board said. The accident occurred in a tunnel south of Rosslyn, and was because the wheels of one wheel set had migrated outward on its axle. Investigators found that one department within the transit agency was aware of the wheel migration but did not conduct a trend analysis to monitor the incidence of migration or how effective its migrations were. [Progressive Railroading, 1-5-24]
TRAIN DERAILMENT IN MISSOURI CRASHES INTO HOME: No one was injured late Jan. 5 when a train derailed into a trailer on an adjacent property in Vernon County, Missouri. A half dozen cars reportedly derailed. [KZRG, 1-5-24]
METRA TO CLOSE ITS REMAINING TICKET WINDOWS: Chicago's Metra will be closing its remaining ticket windows. Outlying station windows on the BNSF line close Jan. 8, and on all other locations Febr. 1. Vending machines have been installed at the busiest stations, and tickets may also be purchased through the Ventra app and from conductors on trains. Some of the ticket agents will be retained as customer service representatives. [Railway Age, 1-4-24]
CSX PAYS TRIBUTE TO NEW YORK CENTRAL WITH HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE: CSX has introduced locomotive 1853 in New York Central colors. It is the eighth heritage locomotive to roll out of its Waycross, Ga., shop, and its number recognizes NYC's founding year. [Railway Age, 1-4-24]
READING & NORTHERN REPORTS GROWTH IN FREIGHT, PASSENGER OPERATIONS: For the second consecutive year, the Reading & Northern Railroad logged double-digit growth in both its freight and passenger excursion operations in 2023. It handled 37,000 freight cars, up from 33,000 the year before. Excursion ridership rose to 320,000 from 250,000. [Progressive Railroading, 1-4-24]
N.Y. SUBWAY TRAINS COLLIDE: A low-speed crash between two subway trains near New York's 96th street station on Jan. 4 caused both trains to derail, more than 20 minor injuries, and service disruptions on the 1, 2 and 3 lines. Federal safety officials are investigating. [Fox-5, 1-4-24]
AMTRAK PLANS RENOVATIONS TO CHICAGO UNION STATION CONCOURSE: Amtrak plans to renovate the concourse at Chicago Union Station, and is seeking project ideas from the public. Improvements to the boarding process, modernized amenities and new services are among the changes to be designed. This will be the first major enhancement at track level and above since 1991. [Progressive Railroading, 1-3-24]
U.S. RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC REPORT FOR 2023: U.S. railroads originated 24,369,229 carloads and intermodal units in 2023, a decrease of 2.3 percent compared with the previous year. Calculated separately, carloads were up 0.7 percent, and intermodal was down 4.9 percent. [Assn. of American Railroads, 1-3-24]
U.S., MEXICAN PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND RAIL CAR FERRY SERVICE: Genesee & Wyoming has announced that Grupo Mexico Transportes will become its partner in CG Railway, a rail car ferry operation linking ports in the U.S. and Mexico. The ferry service offers weekly trips between ports of Mobile and Coatzacoalcos, and gives shippers access to 13 ports in the U.S. and Mexico through rail interchanges in both countries. [Freight Waves, 1-2-24]
BUSES WITH MIGRANTS UNLOAD AT N.J. RAIL STATIONS TO AVOID NEW YORK'S DROP-OFF RULE: Faced with a new directive by New York City requiring charter bus operators to provide 32 hours of advance notice of the arrival of migrants from the southern border, along with restricting their arrival times, about a dozen buses unloaded their passengers at N.J. Transit stations in New Jersey for their transfer into the city by rail. [Railway Age, 1-2-24]
BNSF RESUMES OPERATION OF MONTANA RAIL LINK: Beginning Jan. 1, BNSF resumed operations across what is now the MRL subdivision of the Montana division, welcoming Montana Rail Link members to the BNSF family. Luke Johnson, division general manager, will oversee operations. [Railway Age, 1-2-24]
BART TRAIN DERAILS: Several people were injured and service was disrupted when a Bay Area Rapid Transit train derailed Jan. 1 and caught fire in the San Francisco Bay area. All passengers were evacuated and fire crews quickly extinguished flames in two cars. [AP, 1-1-24]
AMTRAK LONG-DISTANCE TRAIN PERFORMANCE IN 2023: Forty-three percent of Amtrak's named long-distance trains arrived at their scheduled final destination on time or earlier in 2023. The remaining trains, on average, arrived one hour and 26 minutes late. MORE.. [Bull Sheet Statistical Dept.]
Earlier News Reports:
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