Amtrak adds Floridian, Heartland Flyer to list of cancellations (updated)

Passenger train at station

CHICAGO — Amtrak has added the Floridian and Heartland Flyer to its list of trains canceled because of forecasts of extreme winter weather. Subsequent additions to the list include the Lake Shore Limited, Cardinal, and one round trip of the Wolverine. The Chicago-Miami Floridian is canceled in both directions both today and Friday (Jan. 22-23); […]

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Norfolk Southern orders 40 Wabtec ES44AC locomotives

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has ordered 40 Wabtec ES44AC locomotives, its first purchase of new locomotives since 2022. Delivery from Wabtec’s plant in Fort Worth, Texas, is expected in the second half of the year, NS said today. They will be sent to the NS locomotive shop in Chattanooga, Tenn., for final preparation for service. […]

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VIA, Amtrak schedules hobbled by dearth of standby equipment

Passenger train on straight track with mountain backdrop

Although frigid winter weather has played a major role in disrupting service recently on VIA Rail Canada and Amtrak long distance routes, both operators’ lack of readily available reserve passenger cars and locomotives has clearly exacerbated the situation. VIA stretched thin A significant setback occurred last week when VIA’s venerable Vancouver, B.C.-bound Canadian was delayed […]

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RCP&E purchase of South Dakota-owned trackage approved

Map of South Dakota showing Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad and other rail lines

PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota’s State Railroad Board has approved the sale of two segments of state-owned trackage to Genesee & Wyoming’s Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad for $3.125 million. The purchase was approved by a 4-0 vote at the board’s meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 21. It include 19.5 miles of track — the […]

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Colebrookdale Railroad introduces sensory car

Green heavyweight combine car.

BOYERTOWN, Pa. — The Valhalla, a 1924 Canadian National coach, has become another first for the Colebrookdale Railroad. The car is now a one-of-a-kind, barrier-free, sensory-friendly classroom on rails. “For 15 years, our nonprofit has established a record of doing things differently in service to our community and economic development mission,” says Nathaniel Guest, executive […]

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Metra to reduce service Friday because of expected severe weather

Commuter train in snow

CHICAGO — Metra will reduce operations on all routes on Friday, Jan.23, because of the severe cold forecast for the Chicago region, the commuter operator has announced. Severe-weather schedules are posted here on Metra’s website; passengers are advised to review the schedules before traveling. In general, service on most lines will be similar to that […]

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UP-NS merger filing omits billions in intermodal costs, analyst tells STB

Yellow locomotives lead container train in snowy landscape

WASHINGTON — The Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger application omits $2.69 billion in additional costs that intermodal marketers will incur if the railroads’ deal diverts the promised 2 million loads off the highway, according to an analysis submitted to federal regulators. The railroads’ traffic diversion projection is a key part of their case that the merger […]

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CPKC announces 135-unit locomotive order, divided between Progress Rail and Wabtec

CALGARY, Alberta — CPKC has ordered 65 new EMD SD70ACe-T4 Tier 4 locomotives from Progress Rail and 70 Wabtec Evolution Series ET44AC Tier 4 locomotives as part of the railway’s $800 million, multiyear fleet renewal program. The SD70ACe-T4s, which will be manufactured at the Progress Rail facility in Muncie, Ind., feature a new energy management […]

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Dallas interlocking tower

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An interior view at Tower 19 near Dallas (Texas) Union Terminal shows the track diagram (“model board”) of the territory controlled by the tower and some of the levers that controlled the switches and signals. This is an electro-pneumatic interlocking, in which switches are operated by compressed air. Historic American Engineering Record photo […]

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Winter weather forecast leads to several days of Amtrak cancellations

Train kicking up snow

CHICAGO — Amtrak has canceled several long-distance trains in and out of Chicago for multiple days because of a forecast of extreme cold weather. The regional Borealis is also affected. The first cancellations begin today (Wednesday, Jan. 21). The eastbound and westbound Empire Builder departures slated for today through Saturday, Jan. 24, have been canceled. […]

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Canadian high-speed project could require lengthy tunnel to reach Montreal

Map of area between Toronto and Quebec City

MONTREAL — Canada’s high-speed rail project could could involve the construction of lengthy tunnels in Montreal, the company responsible for the project says in a route description on its website — which could greatly increase the cost of the project. A tunnel could also be an option in Toronto. Alto, the Crown corporation that will […]

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