Three-train NS incident unfolded in less than a minute, NTSB investigator tells township council

Locomotives on riverbank after derailment

LOWER SAUCON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A National Transportation Safety Board investigator has filled in town officials on additional details of last weekend’s incident collision and derailment involving three Norfolk Southern trains, saying a total of nine railcars derailed in the incident, WFMZ-TV reports. Ruben Payan, who is leading the NTSB team looking at train operations, […]

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U.S. rail traffic up in February

Double-stack container train at convergence of several main lines

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic was up 4.9% in February compared to the same month a year ago, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads, while volume for the week ending March 2 was also up, the sixth straight week of gains compared to 2023. The February gains came after January’s traffic levels […]

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NTSB chair tells Senate hearing East Palestine chemical burn could have been avoided

Black cloud of smoke above town

WASHINGTON — The controlled burn of vinyl chloride following last year’s derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, was unnecessary, National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy told a Senate hearing today — and might have been avoided with better communication. Homendy, testifying at a Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on NTSB investigations, said in […]

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Bill to end cuts to railroad unemployment insurance advances in Senate

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — The Senate Budget Committee has unanimously voted to advance a bill that would permanently exempt railroad workers’ unemployment and sickness insurance benefits from sequestration cuts, and end current cuts. Industry and labor groups had jointly written members of the committee earlier this week asking for support for S.1274, the Railroad Employee Equity and […]

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California Zephyr resumes full route after a week of cancellations

Passenger train on three-track main line

CHICAGO — Beginning today (Wednesday, March 6) Amtrak’s westbound California Zephyr will depart Chicago for California for the first time the Feb. 27 departure encountered freight congestion and weather obstacles that resulted in arrival into Emeryville, Calif., 10 hours, 35 minutes late. Those cars and locomotives, stranded for more than a week at Amtrak’s Oakland […]

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Venture cars officially launched on Amtrak San Joaquins

Passenger cars with multicolored striping on siding

STOCKTON, Calif. — The operating agency for Amtrak’s San Joaquins and the California Department of Transportation officially launched San Joaquins service using Siemens Venture equipment on Tuesday, March 5, with ceremonies featuring Caltrans director Tony Taveres, state Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin, and other officials. The first Venture cars debuted in San Joaquins service without […]

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Norfolk Southern, Florida East Coast further expand intermodal service

Map of intermodal services offered by Norfolk Southern and Florida East Coast Railway

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern and Florida East Coast have announced further expansion of their international and domestic interline service, with logistics, marine, and energy company Crowley using the two railroads’ Florida Express service to move textile products to and from Charlotte, N.C., for garment and apparel manufacturing. “We are focused on providing reliable service and […]

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