A look at Wednesday morning rail news: — The city of Palestine, Texas, is demanding a jury trial in Union Pacific’s lawsuit over an agreement requiring it to base a certain number of jobs in the community [see “UP sues to end employment provision in Texas town,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 2, 2019]. Attorney James […]
MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile City Council has pledged its financial support to returning Amtrak service to the Gulf Coast, voting 6-1 to support the Southern Rail Commission’s grant application for the New Orleans-Mobile service, WKRG-TV reports. With the vote, the council pledges up to $3 million toward operating expenses over the first three years […]
Seven new coaches en route to Metra were spotted in Leesburg, Ind. Matt Glassman CHICAGO — Metra is receiving seven new bilevel coach cars as part of a 2017 settlement with Sumitomo Corp. of America. The settlement is in exchange for releasing the company from the option Metra acquired from Virginia Railway Express to purchase […]
A look at Tuesday morning rail news: — Problems with overhead wires led to about five hours of significant delays for trains in and out of New York’s Penn Station on Monday, WABC-TV reports, beginning about 4:30 p.m. Amtrak and NJ Transit trains were delayed for up to two hours. Schedules finally returned to normal […]
Notable rail news for your day-after-the-Super-Bowl Monday: — The Federal Railroad Administration will hold a hearing for rural landowners to comment on the Texas Central high speed rail project. The Dallas Business journal reports that U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), who opposes the project, announced the hearing last week. No date or location has been […]
Construction work continues on the extension of San Diego’s light rail system to La Jolla, Calif. Increased spending on public transportation is a part of the platform of most major Democratic presidential candidates. TRAINS: David Lassen The campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination is about to move into a new phase, with the Feb. 3 […]
NJ Transit trains meet in Elizabeth, N.J., in August 2019. A highly critical state auditor’s report says the commuter railroad is at risk of missing the deadline for positive train control implementation, among other issues. TRAINS: David Lassen Friday morning rail news of note: — A state auditor’s report says NJ Transit is at risk […]
As an eastbound clears in the distance, Nickel Plate 779, Lima’s last 2-8-4, and a sister placed five cars back because of bridge weight restrictions, leave NH Tower near North East, Pa., in March 1957. Jim Shaughnessy History and major events of the Nickel Plate Road The New York, Chicago & St. Louis opened between […]
Your morning look at rail news headlines: — The Associated Press reports that Virginia’s House of Delegates is scheduled to vote next week on a transportation bill that includes creation of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, to oversee state rail operations. — As part of its efforts to find alternative funding, the Southeast Pennsylvania has […]
BNSF has completed the process of removing these locomotives, which derailed in a Jan. 1 accident, from an Idaho River. Idaho State Police A morning look at notable rail news: — BNSF Railway has completed the process of removing two locomotives from the Kootenai River in Idaho following a Jan. 1 derailment, KHQ TV reports. […]
Weeds have begun encroaching on remnants of the former Seaboard S Line at Norlina, N.C., in this 2007 view. Bob Johnston Third article in a series on Virginia’s rail plans. The first, on the impact near Washington, D.C., is available here. The second, on the statewide passenger rail impact, is here. NORLINA, N.C. — Nowhere […]
Charger locomotive No. 4627 leads an Amtrak test train through Wauwatosa, Wis., on Tuesday afternoon. Amtrak is testing the locomotives for use in long-distance service. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — People along Amtrak’s Empire Builder route are getting a preview of the future of long-distance passenger service this week as the railroad runs a test […]
