Two WMATA workers charged, five plead guilty in health-care fraud case

U.S. Department of Justice seal

WASHINGTON — What is it about rail operations and health-care fraud? Two train operators with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority were arrested Friday on charges relating to a scheme to submit fraudulent health insurance and short-term disability claims for non-existent ailments, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has announced. Michelle Shropshire, […]

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News photos: Metro-North unveils seventh heritage locomotive

Side view of the MTA Central locomotive

NORTH WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The Metro-North Railroad has unveiled the seventh unit in its heritage locomotive series and the first to be repainted, rather than wrapped. The scheme on MN P32AC-DM 203 replicates the image applied to seven Conrail FL9s in 1980 when New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority funded their rebuild by General Electric […]

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Union Pacific outlines technology gains for shippers, truckers

Yellow locomotives moving double-stack cars with container crains in background

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific is implementing a technology strategy that focuses on safety, service, and operational excellence, and a customer-focused approach where real-time information is now a standard expectation, the company said in a recent webinar for customers. Kenny Rocker, UP executive vice president of marketing and sales, highlighted the role of application programming […]

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Eurostar plans service to Germany, Switzerland

Two high speed trains under station trainshed

LONDON — High speed rail operator Eurostar, facing the prospect of competition from across Europe through the Channel Tunnel, has announced plans for new services of its own. But not soon. The company announced this week that it plans to launch three new routes in “the early 2030s” — London-Frankfurt, London-Geneva, and Amsterdam/Brussels-Geneva — once […]

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STB confers with lawyers on ways to improve board processes

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The legal community provided more than 100 ideas for improving Surface Transportation Board processes during a series of recent listening sessions conducted by Vice Chair Michelle Schultz, the regulatory body has announced. The sessions are part of an effort by Chairman Patrick Fuchs to enhance the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness, and involved dozens […]

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Former Amtrak CEO Anderson becomes chair of Norfolk Southern board

RichardAnderson

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern’s board of directors has unanimously named Richard Anderson, former CEO at Northwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Amtrak, as its new independent board chair, effective immediately. The board has also agreed to reduce its size to 12 members. It had been expanded to 14 earlier this year [see “CSX and Norfolk Southern […]

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CSX completes rebuilding of Blue Ridge Subdivision bridge

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX today said it has reached a major milestone in its rebuilding of the hurricane-damaged Blue Ridge Subdivision with the completion of a new bridge over the Nolichucky River at Poplar, N.C. The 375-foot span on the former Clinchfield Railroad was destroyed by floodwaters after Hurricane Helene ravaged the area in September […]

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Report: Railroads must gain volume to remain relevant

Class I railroad earnings growth will slow and their stock prices will slump if they can’t maintain improved service levels and win back volume lost to trucks, a Wall Street firm warns in a new report. TD Cowen analysts note that rate-driven revenue growth, cost-cutting, and rising profit margins have sustained railroad earnings and stock […]

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OmniTRAX begins Santa Maria Valley Railroad joint venture

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – OmniTRAX yesterday began operations on the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, the short line holding company’s 29th rail operation. The operation is a joint venture partnership with Coast Belle Rail Corp., the local owner of the 114-year-old Santa Maria Railroad for the past two decades. “This joint venture brings our companies’ collective […]

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