Railroads ramp up the use of artificial intelligence

Train with yellow locomotives in Utah mountains

CHICAGO — Artificial intelligence is weaving itself into the daily operations of big U.S. railroads, helping managers make data-backed decisions about operating plans and identify trends among virtually any process. As railroads migrate from mainframe-based systems to cloud-based platforms with real-time data components, railroads are plugging in generative AI — machine-learning tools — to make […]

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Minnesota Vikings take a steam train ride

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold has led his team to a run at a playoff berth this season. On Monday, Dec. 9, Darnold and the team made another kind of run: they took a ride on the North Pole Express powered by Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 at St. Paul Union […]

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STB again extends mediation for Union Pacific, Metra

Commuter train passing freight train

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has again extended the mediation process for Union Pacific and Metra as they try to work out the details of the transfer of Metra operation on three UP-owned routes. The board granted UP’s request — agreed to by Metra — to extend the mediation period through Jan. 31, 2025. […]

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NJ Transit breaks ground on new storage, service facility

Man at microphone

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — NJ Transit has begun work on a new facility to provide storage for locomotive and railcars that protects against flooding, a project reflecting the impact of 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. Groundbreaking was held today (Dec. 12) for the County Yard/Delco Lead Storage and Inspection Facility project, to be built along the Northeast […]

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New company uses cameras to inform public of blocked railroad crossings

Intermodal train with black locomotives

ELKHART, Ind. — Newly installed cameras that automatically feed real-time information to a website are helping first responders and the general public know when trains are occupying grade crossings near the northern Indiana town of Goshen, Ind., near Elkhart. BlockedCrossings, a private company, recently installed eight cameras at intersections in and south of Goshen, Ind., […]

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Riders evacuated from two trains after New York subway power outage

Logo of Metropolitan Transportation Authority

NEW YORK — About 3,500 people had to be evacuated from two disabled New York City Transit subway trains Wednesday evening after a power outage in Brooklyn — a process that took almost three hours. CBS News reports power was knocked out between the Jay Street-MetroTech and Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street stations about 5:30 p.m., disrupting service […]

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MTA adds more bus service to address Rockaways subway shutdown

New York subway train on bridge over large body of water

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has added to bus service to help offset an upcoming 17-week shutdown of the New York City Transit subway A line to the Rockaway Peninsula. The MTA had previously announced measures including free shuttle buses, shuttle trains on the peninsula, and discounted Long Island Rail Road fares [see […]

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CPKC acquires ‘new’ power

Two red locomotives and one blue locomotive on freight train with grain silo in background

Just shy of two years after the CPKC merger, the Class I railroad has purchased its first “new” locomotives. The eight General Electric ET44ACs were originally an order for Baffinland Iron Mines located on Baffin Island in Canada. The new-build mine project to haul iron ore to seaport via rail has been delayed many times, […]

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