CHICAGO — Last year’s completion of the South Shore Line Double Track project — adding a second main line between Gary and Michigan City, Ind. — was a milestone that allowed the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District to significantly increase service and cut travel times. But the launch of those massively revamped operations did not […]
CHICAGO — Metra is having “great luck” with its fleet of SD70MACH locomotives, Chief Operating Officer Kevin McCann told the Sandhouse Rail Group today (Wednesday, March 12, 2025). McCann and Chief Engineering Officer Scott Schiemann updated those attending the Northwestern University Transportation Center event at Metra headquarters on a wide variety of projects and initiatives […]
CHICAGO — For most of Wednesday’s annual presentation to Northwestern University’s Sandhouse Rail Group, representatives of Metra and Northern Indiana Commuter Rail District, or South Shore Line, were able to highlight a string of positive accomplishments and coming attractions. But the tone changed dramatically as the session at Metra headquarters wound down, as someone asked […]
NEW YORK — CSX is moving more tonnage on fewer trains this year as part of a significant reduction in the number of road train crew starts. The 10% decline in coal volume this year has contributed to the reduction, Chief Financial Officer Sean Pelkey told an investor conference today. “But there’s a significant amount […]
FRIEDENS, Pa. — Two crew members and the truck driver were injured after a coal truck struck and derailed the locomotives of a CSX train sat a grade crossing in Somerset Township on Monday (March 10). WTAE-TV reports the truck caught fire following the collision. WTAJ reports a locomotive fuel tank was ruptured, leaking fuel […]
WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern has urged the Surface Transportation Board to continue a case of regulatory housekeeping involving control of Virginia terminal railroad Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line. Last month CSX told the STB that the Justice Department was probing its allegations about anticompetitive conduct involving NS and NPBL at a major Norfolk container terminal. […]
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A strike by members of the Amalgamated Transit Union has shut down the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority as of 12:01 a.m. today (March 10). The union, which represents 1,500 VTA employees, including light rail and bus operators, dispatchers, and maintenance staff, had announced its intent to strike last week [see […]
NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have reached tentative agreement on a new contract for the transit agency’s engineers, which could end a long-running dispute and avert a potential strike later this month. NorthJersey.com reports the deal was reached on Thursday, March 6, but it was announced today […]
There are standard-gauge tracks close by, but they can’t be seen here, since they’re underground in this neighborhood. We’re at Columbus Circle in New York’s borough of Manhattan, on Thanksgiving Day in 1951, Nov. 22. How can that be deduced? Well, that’s the famous Macy’s parade that’s passing down the street, complete with a […]
WORCESTER, Mass. — Two tank cars of ethanol struck a building after derailing Sunday, but neither car was breached and the structure did not appear to be damaged, according to a fire department official. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports a total of six cars of a Providence & Worcester train derailed, according to a […]
Your latest installment in the occasional Trains News Wire feature offering links to online articles of interest: — The New York Times takes a long look at the fight in Del Mar, Calif., over relocating the former Santa Fe Surf Line, and frames it as part of coastal erosion issues statewide. The link should allow […]
TEMPLETON, Iowa — Cleanup continues after a BNSF train derailed Thursday, March 6, in west-central Iowa, WOI and KCWI-TV report. The derailment occurred about 3:24 p.m. near Templeton. Video on the stations’ website shows heavy equipment working in deep snow around three locomotives; no information was available on the number of railcars involved, but BNSF […]
