CSX CEO Steve Angel: Flat global industrial production holds back railroad volume growth

Freight train with blue and yellow locomotives on three-track line surrounded by trees

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — CSX CEO Steve Angel says it should be no surprise that railroads are struggling to grow their freight volumes. “When you look around the world, there really isn’t much growth,” Angel told an investor conference last week in his first detailed public remarks outside of earnings calls since becoming CEO in […]

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Great Plains museum reaches fundraising goal for Santa Fe FP45

worn down looking Santa Fe locomotive

WICHITA, Kan. — The Great Plains Transportation Museum has reached its goal of raising an additional $50,000 for the restoration of Santa Fe FP45 No. 93, the museum announced today (Feb. 23). The museum launched a GoFundMe effort in November to raise the funds, needed to address hidden rust and other damage discovered during preparation […]

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Massive storm halts most Northeast rail traffic (updated)

Men shoveling snow at commuter train station

NEW YORK — Amtrak is reporting large-scale cancellations and most rail transit operations in the Northeast are shut down or operating on a limited basis today (Monday, Feb. 23) following a blizzard that passed through the area overnight. The National Weather Service is reporting snowfall totals for the last 24 hours of 20 inches or […]

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GATX projects significant gains from railcar fleet expansion

Covered hopper with blue GATX lettering

CHICAGO — GATX expects 98% to 99% utilization of its newly expanded railcar leasing fleet in North America by the end of 2026, with North America profits projected to jump by $55 million to $65 million to about $415 million, the company said on its quarterly earnings call last week. The Feb. 13 investor call […]

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BNSF, TCU intermodal employees reach contract agreement

Freight train with orange locomotives leaves yard as commuter train approaches

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has reached a tentative five-year agreement with members of the Transportation Communications Union Intermodal group, the railroad announced on Friday, Feb. 20. “This new tentative agreement reflects the vital role our TCU intermodal team members play in our operation,” BNSF CEO Katie Farmer said in a press release. “Open, […]

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Passengers injured in low-speed collision between City of New Orleans, CN freight

Passenger train on curve

MEMPHIS — Three passengers were injured on Sunday (Feb. 22) in a low-speed collision between Amtrak’s City of New Orleans and a Canadian National freight train. Amtrak said in a statement that the incident occurred about 11 a.m. in New South Memphis, Tenn., when southbound train No. 59, which was stopped, was “contacted by a […]

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Northeast rail operations prepare for blizzard (updated)

Amtrak logo.

NEW YORK — Amtrak is making “service adjustments” today (Sunday, Feb. 22) and Monday, Feb. 23, because of dangerous weather conditions, the passenger railroad said on Saturday. New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NJ Transit, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and CTRail’s Hartford Line and Shore Line East have also announced service changes. More than 50 […]

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FRA proposes Amtrak become holding company, overseeing three divisions, passenger group says

Passenger train passing white, barn-like station

WASHINGTON — Federal Railroad Administration officials have briefed the Rail Passengers Association on a plan that would recast Amtrak as a holding company that would oversee separate entities responsible for operations, equipment management and leasing, and infrastructure and construction. According to a statement on the RPA website, there are only cursory details of how the […]

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California to loan Bay Area transit agencies $590 million

Man speaking at podium while surrounded by people in transit maintenance facility

COLMA, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation providing a $590 million loan to transit agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area, avoiding service cuts until a ballot initiative can go to voters. The money provided under AB 117 will go to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the agency coordinating transit funding and planning […]

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Santa Barbara agency votes to fund additional Surfliner service

Locomotive pushing passenger train stops at station

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments has approved plans to help fund expanded Pacific Surfliner passenger service, which would create a rail commuting option for Ventura County residents working in the Santa Barbara area. The new service could begin in late April or early May. At its Feb. 19 meeting, […]

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VIA equipment shortage leads to cancellations, sellouts: Analysis

MONTREAL — Shortened consists resulting from a Jan. 11 accident involving VIA Rail Canada’s triweekly Ocean continue to limit capacity even though the Montreal-Halifax, Nova Scotia, train resumed operation on Jan. 30. Meanwhile, 1950s-vintage Rail Diesel Cars serving remote Ontario communities between Sudbury and White River on CPKC’s main line are finally set to return […]

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