News Wire top stories of 2024, No. 1: Turmoil at Norfolk Southern

Front view of black locomotive entering curve

For Norfolk Southern, 2024 was the second turbulent year in a row that the railroad probably would like to forget. As the year began, NS executives held private meetings with a Cleveland-based activist investor that sought seats on the company’s board and wanted the railroad to improve its lagging financial performance in the wake of […]

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CPKC train derails in eastern North Dakota

CPKC logo

CUBA, N.D. — No injuries were reported when 17 cars of a Canadian Pacific Kansas City train derailed Monday (Dec. 30, 2024) near the town of Cuba. The derailment occurred just before noon. Barnes County Emergency Manager Jessica Jenrich told KFGO Radio that the cars involved were either empty or carrying sand. Cuba is about […]

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Amtrak ends plan to move to Miami Airport station: report

Blocked-off platform at passenger station

MIAMI — Amtrak has ended plans to move its operations to a station at Miami International Airport. The news site Miami Today reports that the passenger operator sent a short letter to officials involved with the Miami Intermodal Center at the airport, saying it “currently not feasible” to move operations of the Silver Meteor and […]

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Alaska Railroad gold spike set for auction

Gold railroad spike engraved with message to Col. Frederick Mears

NEW YORK — The gold spike from the 1923 ceremony marking completion of the Alaska Railroad, in private hands since it was driven by President Warren G. Harding, is up for sale. Auction house Christie’s announced plans for a January sale of the spike in a social media post earlier this month. A listing on […]

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Top stories of 2024, No. 2: Federal infrastructure spending

Illustration of double-track bridge with lift span in middle

  For the second straight year, federal infrastructure spending lands on our review of the year’s top stories (last year, it was tied for No. 6). Some of the dollars awarded in 2023 are part of the 2024 story, as big-ticket projects began moving forward after long waits for financial support, with impacts that will […]

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CN sets open house on proposed Chicago Logistics Hub

Map of proposed CN intermodal facility southwest of Chicago

CHANNAHON, Ill. — Canadian National has scheduled an open house for Jan. 14 at Minooka High School South Campus in Channahon to discuss its proposed Chicago Logistics Hub intermodal facility, an approximately 900-acre facility in Channahon and unincorporated land adjacent to Minooka. CN describes the event, from 4-7 p.m. as an open forum, with no […]

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Hitachi sues Honolulu, transit agency over Skyline rail project

Aerial view of light rail train

HONOLULU — Hitachi Rail is suing the city of Honolulu and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation over cost overruns on the Skyline light rail project. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports Hitachi Rail Honolulu JV, the project’s principal contractor, is suing for more than $324 million, claiming breach of contract and unjust enrichment over the nearly […]

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CN coal train derails in southern Illinois

Canadian National logo

THOMPSONVILLE, Ill. — Nineteen cars of a Canadian National coal train derailed Friday near Thompsonville in Southern Illinois, WPSD-TV reports. No injuries were reported. Brian Burgess, director of the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency, told the station that the derailment occurred in a remote area of the county. “It’s just a slip off the track […]

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