Black Hills Central No. 108 comes together in July 2018. Trains: Jim Wrinn No. 108 in service at Weyerhaeuser in Washington state. Martin E. Hansen collection HILL CITY, S.D. — While American steam fans have focused their attention on the amazing restorations of 2-4-4-2 Skookum, 2-6-6-2 No. 1309, and Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 No. […]
President Donald Trump The White House WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s threat to close the border with Mexico this week would quickly have an impact on railroads and wreak economic havoc on both sides of the Rio Grande. Cross-border traffic represents about 11 percent of Union Pacific’s total volume and nearly 30 percent of volume […]
CN CEO Jean-Jacques Ruest Canadian National MONTREAL — Canadian National CEO Jean-Jacques Ruest made sweeping changes to the railway’s management team last month with an eye toward broadening their experience and forging tighter links between operations and the technology and marketing teams. The changes, which went into effect on Monday, were announced in an internal […]
Passengers await the arrival of a Denver A Line train at the 40th Avenue-Airport Boulevard station in October 2018. Denver will open its second commuter rail line, the G Line, later this month. TRAINS: David Lassen DENVER — Denver RTD’s long-delayed G Line commuter rail operation is scheduled to open April 26, more than two years […]
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — A Battle Creek police officer is questioning Amtrak’s decision to remove a 13-year-old girl traveling alone from a train, but the passenger railroad says acted within its ticket policies and with safety in mind. WOOD-TV reports the incident in question occurred March 26, when the 13-year-old boarded a train in Lapeer, […]
OTTAWA — Aircraft industry executive Cynthia Garneau has been appointed as the new president and CEO of VIA Rail Canada, replacing Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, who had held the position for five years. Her five-year term begins May 9. Her appointment, as well as the appointment of three members of VIA’s board of directors, were announced Friday […]
An illustration from Brightline’s “announcement” of Convertible Class. Brightline/Virgin Trains USA April Fools Day did not pass unnoticed in the railroading world, as some organizations reported “news” in the spirit of the day. Among the highlights: — The San Antonio Zoo announced that its narrow gauge zoo train, the Eagle Train in Brackenridge Park, would […]
An electronic display at MiamiCentral station in May 2018 features the Brightline logo. An event this week featuring Virgin Group founder Richard Branson will provide a look at the station’s rebranding as Brightline transitions to Virgin Trains USA. Bob Johnston MIAMI — Two events this week could provide insight into the look and expansion efforts […]
NJ Transit train No. 5441 loads passengers at Newark Penn Station on March 13, 2019. NJ Transit’s first class to address its shortage of locomotive engineers has completed classroom training and could be operating trains by this fall. Ralph Spielman NEWARK. N.J. — In the midst of its 2018 issues with cancelled trains because of […]
CHICAGO — Amtrak has revised its plans for the return of California Zephyr service along the train’s full route, now aiming for April 4 as the date for the restablishment of service. The train has not been operating east of Denver because of flooding in the Midwest. The passenger carrier had originally set today (April […]
The MTA EzPass, to be used for New York’s congestion pricing, is already in use by 95 percent of those using toll bridges and tunnels to reach New York City. Ralph Spielman NEW YORK — Patrick Foye’s first public event as chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a Monday news conference, provided the first insight […]
LONDON — Frequent UK rail passengers short of pocket might be relieved to know that nationwide rail company, Network Rail, has flushed charges for public toilets in stations it operates. The BBC reports that Liverpool Street and King’s Cross stations in London and Edinburgh’s Waverley Cross station now have free, public toilets. These are among […]
