French rail operations hit by one-day strike

SNCF_Frankfurt_Lassen

PARIS — French railway workers went on strike today (Wednesday, July 6), with national rail operator SNCF advising customers not to travel if at all possible. Reuters reports three of the four main unions at SNCF were taking part in the strike resulting in the cancellation of about a third of all trains. Paris commuter […]

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Second ‘Missouri River Runner’ to return July 18

Passenger train at platform

CHICAGO — Amtrak will restore a second day round trip of the Missouri River Runner between St. Louis and Kansas City as of Monday, July 18, reflecting additional funding by the state of Missouri. The additional round trip will see train No. 311 depart St. Louis at 8:15 a.m. and arrive in Kansas City at […]

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IBEW members accept arbitration, end strike against CN in Canada

Canadian National logo

MONTREAL — The strike in Canada by members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers against Canadian National Railway has ended. CN announced Monday that the union, which represents about 750 signal and communications workers, has agreed to binding arbitration, bringing an end to the strike at 12:01 a.m. EDT today (July 5, 2022). Those […]

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Southwest Chief resumes regular schedule after Missouri derailment

Locomotive switches passenger cars in foreground as train passes in background

CHICAGO — The Southwest Chief that departed Los Angeles Tuesday evening and its westbound counterpart leaving Chicago today (Thursday, June 30) are the first Chiefs to operate over the train’s full route, passing the scene of the fatal derailment in Mendon, Mo., since that accident on Monday. Monday’s westbound Southwest Chief was cancelled, and the […]

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Inflationary pressures may slow rail capacity projects: Analysis

Side-dump gondola unloads rock next to rail line

CHICAGO — Railroad capital projects to aid or accommodate traffic growth may temporarily slide to the back burner as inflation maintains near 40-year highs, driving up the costs of project materials as well as the interest rates to finance such projects. Those making decisions on projects and operating within specific capital budgets are likely realizing […]

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Transportation Safety Board of Canada finds action remains necessary on rail safety issues

Transportation Safety Board of Canada logo

GATINEAU, Quebec — A Transportation Safety Board of Canada review of outstanding safety recommendations found that none of the nine recommendations regarding rail transportation could be considered have been addressed in Fully Satisfactory fashion, the highest rating available. A Fully Satisfactory rating means a course of action has seen the issue eliminated or substantially reduced. […]

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Servicing the Olympian Hi

Milwaukee Road Olympian Hiawatha

Engine crewmen confer beside the cab ladder as the two Fairbanks-Morse diesels heading Milwaukee Road’s eastbound Olympian Hiawatha are fueled and watered during a passenger and service stop at Miles City, Mont., in the late 1940s or early ’50s. Don E. Wolter photo […]

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Norfolk Southern rolls out new, intermodal-focused operating plan

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has officially launched its TOP|SPG operating plan, which is primarily focused on improving the railroad’s intermodal network. “TOP|SPG works by making our daily operations simpler, more consistent, and executable,” Paul Duncan, vice president of network planning and operations, said in a statement on Monday. Implementing the new plan is an important […]

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