OLYMPIA, Wash. — Any replacement for the century-old Interstate 5 bridge connecting Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., must include light rail, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said last week. Inslee, speaking at a preview of the 2019 legislative session that beings today, said light rail will be included because Oregon, which will pay for half of […]
Section: News & Reviews
Amtrak looks to new options for East River tunnel rehabilitation work NEWSWIRE
NEW YORK — Amtrak is looking for options for its New York tunnels. During the day today, railroad officials will walk to the East River tunnels with officials from Columbia and Cornell universities, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and other members of an expert panel. They’re expected to find out if repair work could […]
Derailed propane tank cars to be emptied Friday in upstate New York NEWSWIRE
Hoosick, N.Y. Google Maps HOOSICK, N.Y. — Three propane tank cars that were part of an eight-car derailment in upstate New York are scheduled to have their contents offloaded to other cars on Friday, according to the local fire chief. “The offloading process takes approximately four hours per tank car,” says North Hoosick Fire Chief […]
Friends of the 261 acquiring Milwaukee Road E9 NEWSWIRE
No. 32A is westbound at Cleveland Avenue in St. Paul, Minn., with Chicago-Minneapolis train No. 55 on Sept. 25, 1966. Steve Glischinski collection MINNEAPOLIS – The nonprofit Friends of the 261 has reached an agreement with Watco Cos. and the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad to acquire former Milwaukee Road E9 No. 32A. The fully operable […]
GE leader details how the company is at the ‘edge’ in computing technology NEWSWIRE
BERLIN — Laurie Tolson sets out a compelling vision for the future of intermodal freight transportation. GE Transportation’s chief digital officer took time out of the biennial InnoTrans tradeshow in Berlin last September to describe software integrating and analysing data from multiple sensors on locomotives, trackside equipment, and even potentially dockside cranes at ports or […]
Metra directors: ‘Dire’ funding crisis may prompt service cuts NEWSWIRE
CHICAGO — Three suburban Chicago members of Metra’s board of directors have taken the unusual move of penning a newspaper opinion-editorial expressing their concern about the commuter railroad’s “dire” capital funding crisis and warning of potential service cuts. “Without a large infusion of funding from the state of Illinois, we likely will have to shrink […]
Metra Milwaukee heritage unit draws former employees NEWSWIRE
No. 405 shows off its new Hiawatha nose logo at Grayslake, a detail left out of the first publicity photos shared by Metra. Jimmy Solum GRAYSLAKE, Ill. – When Metra train No. 2119 arrived at Grayslake on Thursday afternoon, it brought a little bit of railroad history with it — in two ways. Most prominent […]
Technology may be needed to help reduce grade crossing accidents NEWSWIRE
The number of incidents at grade crossings nationwide increased by nearly 3.6 percent in 2017, but new vehicle technology may be vital in reducing such incidents moving forward. An analysis of federal numbers reveals a majority of incidents happened at crossings equipped with either gates or flashing lights. While the data shows no single cause […]
Trains News Wire Round-up for Jan. 11, 2019 NEWSWIRE
Watch this week as Trains Editor Jim Wrinn and Associate Editor Steve Sweeney discuss the all the rail news that’s fit to publish this week, including: BNSF Railway Executive Chairman Matt Rose’s statements on Precision Scheduled Railroading; good news for Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309; and a preview of moving Nashville, Chattanooga & St. […]
Transit agencies see little immediate effect from government shutdown NEWSWIRE
An inbound NJ Transit commuter train approaches Newark Broad Street Station with a Bombardier ALP-46 leading a string of new bilevels. If the federal government shutdown continues, the agency may need to draw on its line of credit to sustain regular operations. Brian Schmidt WASHINGTON – As the partial government shutdown drags on, worries grow […]
Watco positions itself for growth with major investment partner NEWSWIRE
A newly painted Ann Arbor Railroad locomotive literally waves the company flag at Toledo (Ohio) Train Day in 2018. The Ann Arbor is a recent Watco acquisition. Jack Stryker PITTSBURG, Kansas – Watco Cos. has formed a strategic partnership with an investment firm that will provide up to $450 million in capital. Officials with the […]
WRI to welcome Batory as keynote speaker in New Orleans NEWSWIRE
Ron Batory, Federal Railroad Administrator U.S. Department of Transportation NEW ORLEANS — Wheel Rail Interaction conference attendees will hear from one of railroading’s heavy hitters in June. Organizers for the annual rail engineering conference confirm that Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Ron Batory will be the keynote speaker on June 20. “We’re excited that Mr. Batory […]
