FORT WORTH, Texas — There are plenty of barriers to be faced in equipping the U.S. freight car fleet with telematics, the use of GPS equipment and other sensors to provide real-time information about car location and all sorts of additional information. One is just getting all parties to agree on the benefits, and what […]
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The fatal collision and derailment of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief appears to have spurred action by officials in Missouri to address grade-crossing safety. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Missouri Department of Transportation is seeking $50 million from the state’s general budget to address grade-crossing improvements. Currently, the state budgets about $1.5 […]
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has had to cancel more excursion trains because of riverbank erosion along its route. All trains but the Cleveland Dinner and Event Train, which will operate on an abbreviated route, have been cancelled through Nov. 6. The dinner train will continue to run on Fridays through Oct. […]
CHARLESTON, S.C. — South Carolina Ports has broken ground on a new near-dock rail facility, the Navy Base Intermodal Facility in North Charleston, to bolster the competitive position of the Port of Charleston. The facility is about a mile from the port’s Leatherman Terminal; containers will move to and from the terminal on a dedicated […]
REDLANDS, Calif. — San Bernardino County’s Arrow rail service, connecting Redlands to downtown San Bernardino and a connection with Metrolink commuter rail service, will begin revenue service on Monday, Oct. 24, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority has announced. The 9-mile, five-station route will debut with Stadler diesel multiple-unit trainsets offering service between Redlands and […]
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Hitachi Rail has released final designs for a $70 million factory to be built on a 41-acre site in Washington County, Md., which will begin operations by building a 256-car order for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The factory, projected to open in the first quarter of 2024, will employ up […]
MONTREAL — An independent consultant’s inspection requested by VIA Rail Canada management has prompted the company to immediately assign non-revenue buffer cars at the rear of all trains that utilize HEP-1 and HEP-2 stainless steel equipment manufactured more than 60 years ago. The action was taken unilaterally by VIA last week as a safety precaution, […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — Railroading’s path is clearly heading away from the diesel-electric locomotive, the builders of those locomotives agree. Where that path leads is far less clear, representatives of Alstom, Progress Rail, Siemens, and Wabtec said in a discussion at last week’s Railway Supply Institute Conference. Battery power, hydrogen, and hybrids of all sorts […]
KEYTESVILLE, Mo. — Amtrak and BNSF have requested a change of venue for state lawsuits resulting from June’s fatal derailment of the Southwest Chief. KMIZ-TV reports the companies are asking that at least three suits be moved from Chariton County — site of the accident near Mendon, Mo., that killed four people — under a […]
SALT LAKE CITY — If you’ve ever wanted your own Comet, here’s your chance. A Comet commuter coach, that is. KSTU-TV reports the Utah Transit Authority is selling its 25 ex-NJ Transit Comet commuter cars at auction. TNT Auction is offering the cars in an online auction through Nov. 1, with an opening bid of […]
CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors has awarded a $14.5 million contract to renovate its portion of the Metra Electric District station at Homewood, Ill., which has already seen significant improvements by Amtrak for its portion of the shared structure. The contract includes construction of a new headhouse, including an ADA-accessible ramp, platform renovation, improvements […]
WATERBURY, Conn. — Nine passengers suffered minor injuries after a Metro-North train on the Waterbury Branch struck a tractor-trailer at a grade crossing late Monday morning, WTNH-TV reports. Thirty to 35 people were reported on the train when the accident occurred about 11 a.m. The driver of the tractor-trailer refused medical attention. Patch.com reports that […]
