Canadian government approves land expropriation for Lac-Mégantic bypass

Map of Lac-Megantic Bypass

LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — Transport Canada’s request to expropriate land for the planned rail bypass around Lac-Mégantic has been approved, the Canadian government announced Wednesday, setting the stage for the government to take possession of the land on Aug. 1. “We understand how this may be difficult for some,” Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said in a […]

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Transportation Safety Board of Canada remains concerned about uncontrolled rail movements

Transportation Safety Board of Canada logo

GATINEAU, Quebec — Matters regarding unplanned or uncontrolled movements of trains or equipment are the primary unresolved matter in the rail industry for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which this week issued its annual assessment of responses to the board’s outstanding safety recommendations. Across air, marine, and rail transportation, the TSB issued 62 recommendations […]

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Sluggish intermodal traffic continues to define rail volume

Weekly table showing U.S. rall carload traffic by commodity type plus intermodal totals

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic continued its recent pattern in the week ending June 10,  with carload volume showing a slight increase while intermodal traffic remained down significantly compared to the same week a year ago. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads show total weekly traffic of 471,141 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease […]

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AAR calls for ‘pragmatic’ policies to address climate change

Freight train with two yellow locomotives with small town in distance

WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads on Tuesday issued a report calling for government policies it says can address climate change through “economically grounded solutions” as a partnership with the rail industry. The nine-page white paper report, “Freight Railroads & Climate Change: Reducing Emissions, Enhancing Resiliency,” says policies “must leverage market-based competition, be grounded […]

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Metro-North, Tri-Met honored twice in APTA safety, security, emergency management awards

Electric multiple-unit trainset rounds curve

PITTSBURGH — Metro-North Railroad and Portland’s Tri-Met each were honored twice when the American Public Transportation Association announced its 2023 Rail Safety, Security, and Emergency Management Awards on Teusday. The awards recognize transit organizations for innovative and proactive safety and security programs, and beginning this year include a category to recognize excellence in the management […]

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Eurostar to be blocked from Amsterdam for a year

Blue, yellow, and white high speed train outside large station trainshed

AMSTERDAM — Despite objections from international high speed rail operator Eurostar and passenger groups, the Dutch government has agreed to a plan by state-owned infrastructure operator ProRail to suspend all Eurostar services in the Netherlands for up to a year beginning next summer. Separately, Eurostar has also dropped its service between London and Disneyland Paris. […]

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South Carolina short line begins construction of new route

Map of planned rail line

RIDGEVILLE, S.C. — Palmetto Railways, the short line owned and operated by the state of South Carolina, has begun construction of a new rail line to serve the Camp Hall Commerce Park in Ridgeville and the adjacent Volvo auto plant. The 22.7-mile line will cost $185 million and take about 2½ years to build, Palmetto […]

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Texas budget includes funding for heritage railroad

Front view of red and yellow F unit

PALESTINE, Texas — The Texas State Railroad, a heritage railway in East Texas, will receive $10 million under the budget passed last month by the state legislature. The Palestine Herald-Press reports funding will go toward capital projects that could include tie and ballast work, replacement of 100-year-old rails, railcar maintenance, safety improvements, and other projects. […]

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