BNSF main line reopens in Arizona

BNSF Railway logo

TOPOCK, Ariz. — BNSF Railway has reopened its Southern Transcon main line near the Arizona-California state line following a Wednesday derailment, the railroad said in a customer advisory today (Saturday, March 18). That derailment occurred about 7:40 p.m. Wednesday near Topock, about 11 miles southeast of Needles, Calif., on the Seligman Subdivision. It involved eight […]

Read More…

Cleanup of Glendale, Ky., derailment continues

Derailed auto rack

GLENDALE, Ky. — All 21 cars involved in the CSX Transportation derailment Thursday in Glendale were carrying automobiles, the railroad has confirmed. Cleanup continued today (March 17) from an incident that saw the occupant of one trackside vehicle suffer what have been described as “minor” injuries. One trackside building was damaged, along with some parked […]

Read More…

Rail safety bill introduced in U.S. House

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — Two U.S. representatives from Ohio — Bill Johnson (R) and Emilia Sykes (D) — today introduced the Reducing Accidents in Locomotives Act, or RAIL Act, the latest legislative response to the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment. The companion bill to the Rail Safety Act introduced earlier this month in the Senate [see “Senators propose […]

Read More…

FRA issues safety bulletin on shoving moves across grade crossings

Logo for Federal Railroad Administration

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety bulletin asking railroads to review with employees the dangers of pushing and shoving moves at highway grade crossings. The bulletin issued today (March 17) is clearly in response to the fatal accident involving a Norfolk Southern conductor on March 7 [see “Norfolk Southern employee killed […]

Read More…

Canadian Pacific Kansas City eyes April 14 start date

CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific will waste no time officially combining with Kansas City Southern. CP said today that it will create Canadian Pacific Kansas City on April 14, the earliest date CP could take control of KCS under the Surface Transportation Board’s approval of the $31 billion merger. “Under the leadership of the exceptional […]

Read More…

Amtrak launches ultra-low-fare promotion on Northeast Corridor

Train in rain

WASHINGTON — Amtrak is now offering late-night and early-morning fares ranging from $5 to $20 on portions of the Northeast Corridor under a “Night Owl Fares” promotion announced Thursday. The coach fares are good for travel between Washington, D.C., and New York only, for select departures between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. More information, including […]

Read More…

Metra to launch expanded service on UP Northwest Line

Amtrak pulling into a station

CHICAGO — Metra will expand service on its UP Northwest Line as of Monday, April 3, increasing operations beyond pre-pandemic levels by adding 12 weekday trains. The new schedule will provide service at least every 30 minutes during morning and evening rush hours, and hourly service during off-peak periods. It will increase service to 78 […]

Read More…

MBTA lifts blanket speed restriction on Mattapan Trolley Line

Orange PCC streetcar at station

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has lifted its 25-mph speed restriction on the Mattapan Trolley Line, leaving the Green Line as the only transit route still under a blanket speed restriction. The agency announced the change Thursday on Twitter. The Mattapan Line is still subject to restrictions at specific locations The MBTA briefly instituted […]

Read More…

BNSF derailment spills fuel in Washington state

Locomotive on its side at night

ANACORTES, Wash. — Two locomotives and at least one railcar of a BNSF Railway train derailed early Thursday morning near Anacortes, leading to a spill of fuel from the overturned diesels, the Seattle Times reports. No injuries were reported. The railroad said the cause of the derailment was under investigation The Washington Department of Ecology, […]

Read More…