WASHINGTON — U.S. weekly rail traffic remained above 2024 levels for the week ending March 8, 2025, the Association of American Railroads reports. According to AAR information, traffic for the week was 497,412 carloads and intermodal units, a 5.4% gain over the same week a year ago. The overall figure included 219,457 carloads, up 2.6%, […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Short line and regional rail company Patriot Rail Co. is set to expand its transload services in Texas. In partnership with Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Patriot Rail will establish a new multicommodity transload facility on CPKC’s network in Denton, Texas. The move aims to enhance transload services and logistics solutions for customers […]
WASHINGTON — The former head of Pennsylvania’s Republican Party has been nominated by President Donald Trump to fill the last remaining vacancy on Amtrak’s board of directors. But unlike those Trump advanced during his first term, this nominee has been actively involved in pushing for increased Amtrak service from an area the passenger operator currently […]
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 […]
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – OmniTRAX has entered into a joint venture for the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, which becomes the short line holding company’s 29th rail operation. Located between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the SMV provides Central Coast Valley commercial and agricultural customers a connection to Union Pacific. The acquisition is a joint venture […]
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 […]
ROANOKE, Va. — After almost 45 years at its current location, the Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society is moving its collecting of historic equipment to a new location. The chapter has purchased a 16-acre site, the former Virginia Scrap Iron & Metal property in Norwich, from OmniSource LLC of Fort Wayne, Ind. […]
NEWPORT, Tenn. — Norfolk Southern is set to begin replacing a collapsed bridge today (March 12) on its line between Newport and Asheville, N.C., and should reopen the route closed by Hurricane Helene by the end of the month. New spans for the bridge across the Pigeon River in Newport will be placed today, Blue […]
NEW YORK — Yet another proposal has emerged for New York’s Penn Station, this one calling for relocation of Madison Square Garden to allow for expansion of the station and creation of a major train hall and park. The New York Times reports the plan from the Grand Penn Community Alliance would build a new […]
JUNEAU, Alaska — An Alaska state legislator has reintroduced a bill that would require the state to sell the Alaska Railroad. House Bill 120 was introduced late last month by Rep. Kevin McCabe (R-Big Lake). It would require the state’s governor to request proposals to purchase the railroad and related assets by June 15, 2026, […]
Q: I’m setting up a model railroad on a 6 x 12-foot table. The layout will use Digital Command Control. What would be the best wire size(s) to use on the layout? — Greg Kurtz A: Two considerations when selecting the right wire size, Greg: First, that doesn’t involve long bus-wire lengths, so No. 14 […]
