NEW YORK — Amtrak today (Thursday, Dec. 15) introduced the graphics and a new brand name — Airo — for its coming fleet of Siemens Mobility push-pull trainsets due to enter service in 2026, replacing 40- to 50-year-old locomotive-hauled equipment. At a press conference in Penn Station’s Moynihan Train Hall, Amtrak President Roger Harris and […]
WASHINGTON — Union Pacific has soaked up all the complaints leveled at its soaring use of embargoes and will evaluate customer suggestions before coming back to the Surface Transportation Board with steps it may take to ease the burden on shippers. “First and foremost, I do want to assure the board that we have listened. […]
WASHINGTON — Class I railroads, short lines, and rail labor staked out familiar positions during the Federal Railroad Administration’s public hearing on its proposed two-person crew rule on Wednesday. The Association of American Railroads said there’s no safety data to back a rule that would require two people to be in the cab of a […]
NORTH BAY, Ontario — The Ontario government announced today it will purchase three new sets of passenger train equipment from Siemens as part of its plan to reinstate service in the northeastern part of the province. “This is a significant step forward in bringing back the rail service that northerners deserve,” said Stan Cho, the […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak should take steps to better address distribution, tracking, and retrival of keys which control access to critical and sensitive infrastructure, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General said in a report issued Wednesday. Citing the sensitive nature of the material, the highly redacted report offers few specifics on the types of locations that […]
NEWARK, N.J. — The NJ Transit board of Directors on Wednesday approved a $34.85 million contract for overhauls of the diesel engines in its fleet of ALP45 dual-power locomotives, which the agency says is needed for the locomotives to maintain their EPA Tier III emission standards. “Keeping our trains in a state of good repair […]
LOS ANGELES — For the first time since 2020, LA-area commuter rail operator Metrolink will offer early-morning service for those planning to attend the Rose Parade in Pasadena, set for Jan. 2, 2023. Trains will be just $10 with a special Holiday Pass. Trains will operate to LA Union Station on the Ventura County, Antelope […]
An employee uses a car mover to shift a Milwaukee Road boxcar on a side track. Car movers have hinged spurs that bite into the rail. Pushing down on the handle exerts upward pressure on the wheel to start the car in motion. Advance Car Mover Co. photo […]
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, unhappy about the results of recent labor negotiations, have apparently opted to make a change in union leadership. The Associated Press and other sources are reporting that challenger Eddie Hall defeated incumbent Dennis Pierce in voting for the union presidency, although the union […]
CHICAGO — Norm Carlson, a former chairman of the Metra board of director who had served on the commuter rail agency’s board since April 2013, retired from the board at its meeting today (Wednesday, Dec. 14). Carlson was the longest-serving member of the current board. In addition to his term as chairman, he served two […]
WASHINGTON — Union Pacific is ready to launch pilot programs that will test the feasibility of redeploying conductors from locomotive cabs to ground-based positions, the railroad told the Federal Railroad Administration today during a hearing on the agency’s proposed two-person crew rule. UP believes that ground-based conductors — which the railroad dubs expediters — would […]
WASHINGTON — Union Pacific wants to address sick leave for its unionized employees and provide certainty regarding scheduled days off, CEO Lance Fritz told the Surface Transportation Board on Tuesday. STB Member Robert Primus asked Fritz if he would be in favor of adding sick leave, something that rail labor is seeking through congressional action […]
