World’s first hydrogen trains enter regular passenger service

Blue and white two-car passenger train at station in Germany

BREMERVORDE, Germany — The world’s first hydrogen-powered trains in regular passenger service are now in operation, having begun service July 25 on a German regional rail line between Cuxhaven and Buxtehude, via Bremervörde. Bremervörde is around 40 miles southwest of the city of Hamburg. The initial service is being billed as “preliminary,” in case operating […]

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Union Pacific redesigns locomotive paint scheme

Yellow and gray locomotive with red trim

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific is making the biggest change to its locomotive paint scheme in more than 20 years. It’s by no means a radical change. The traditional Armour Yellow and gray with red trim remains. But departing is the large American flag decal on the long hood. A smaller flag will be placed […]

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News photos: New look for UP?

Yellow and gray locomotive with red trim

ANAHEIM, Calif. — A new Union Pacific locomotive paint scheme has surfaced, although it is unclear whether the design represents a change, a test, or a one-off for some other purpose. Photographer Bruce Jacobs photographed the ES44AC — a C45ACCTE in UP terminology —in Anaheim on July 18. Differences from the current standard UP scheme […]

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Canadian National train derails in British Columbia

Canadian National logo

ANZAC, British Columbia — Thirteen cars of a Canadian National train derailed Saturday in a remote area in east central British Columbia, the Prince George Citizen reports. No injuries were reported. A railroad representative said there were no leaks of hazardous materials or fires and no danger to public safety. The cause is under investigation. […]

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Amazon opens its intermodal network to other shippers

Amazon has begun soliciting business from shippers interested in using space in the company’s fleet of 53-foot intermodal containers. The move, touted in a YouTube video posted this month, puts Amazon in direct competition with intermodal providers such as J.B. Hunt, Hub Group, and the intermodal marketing companies that fill rail-owned containers. “With intermodal for […]

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North Carolina to launch study of Raleigh-Greenville passenger service

Blue locomotive with star on nose at passenger station

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation is launching a feasibility study to consider the possibility of operating passenger rail service beween the Raleigh-Durham area and Greenville, N.C., the Charlotte Observer reports. The $250,000 study, to be funded by a federal grant, is one of several considering expansion of the state’s passenger service […]

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Train derailment disrupts Canadian air travel

Canadian Pacific Railway beaver logo

CALGARY — Wednesday’s derailment of a Canadian Pacific train in Bassano, Alberta, had an unexpected transportation impact— disruption of flight operations in Western Canada, particularly by Canadian airline WestJet. The CBC reports that flights from Calgary International Airport on Thursday were disrupted when a portion of the air navigation system was knocked out by loss […]

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