CHICAGO — The Amtrak locomotives that sustained mid-route failures on the Empire Builder in December, stranding the eastbound train in rural Minnesota, are undergoing software and hardware modifications intended to prevent the problems from recurring. Responding to a Trains News Wire inquiry asking Amtrak why the Builder didn’t operate west of the Twin Cities for […]
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SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — A series of storms that have brought significant rain to California have slowed efforts to repair an unstable slope along the Surf Line in Orange County, pushing back efforts to restore through rail passenger service between Los Angeles and San Diego while also raising the cost of the repair effort. The […]
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OTTAWA — The Canadian government will require railroads to provide more detailed information on traffic and performance under amendments to Canada’s Transportation Information Regulations, Transport Canada announced on Monday, Jan. 9. The information, to be reported weekly, will be published on the government’s Transportation Data and Information Hub. The new rules take effect April 4, […]
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WASHINGTON – The Surface Transportation Board announced on Jan. 9 that Board Member Karen Hedlund has been designated as the agency’s vice chairman. Hedlund, who has served on the board since January 2022, succeeds Michelle Schultz, who continues to serve as a board member. The board’s vice chairmanship rotates among the members on an annual […]
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Patriot Rail has added another short line to its stable. The short line holding company on Jan. 9 closed on its acquisition of the Delta Southern Railroad, which operates two line segments that are roughly 60 miles apart in Monroe and Tallulah, Louisiana. DSRR operates over 40 miles of track between the […]
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What are the purposes of locomotive lights?: Cody discusses the various lights present on diesel locomotives and what functions they serve. Are you looking to learn more about your model railroad, or do you have questions about full-size trains? Send us an email at: AskTrains@trains.com ………………………………… Ask Trains is a regular video feature of Trains.com […]
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WASHINGTON – Montana Rail Link engineers can’t have their cake and eat it too, the railroad has told federal regulators. Last week the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division 232, which represents 250 MRL employees in eastern Montana, asked the Surface Transportation Board to continue their benefits at MRL levels if it approves the […]
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BOCA RATON, Fla. — The rail industry is, understandably, embracing the influx of new federal funding for infrastructure projects. But will there be a point where there are so many new projects being funded that the marketplace has trouble delivering the materials and services they need? Kristine Storm, Genesee & Wyoming’s vice president, procurement, certainly […]
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CHICAGO — Commuter rail operator Metra will introduce a major upgrade to its SouthWest Service schedule as of Jan. 16, increasing the number of weekday trains from 12 to 30 as part of a pilot program. “As we have done on other lines, we are adjusting the schedule on the SouthWest Service to meet increasing […]
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BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority may return some of its older Orange Line trainsets to operation to address an equipment shortage as it continues to inspect and repair new equipment for the latest in a series of defects, Boston.com reports. At least nine of the new Orange Line cars built in Massachusetts by […]
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ASHWAUBENON, Wis. — The National Railroad Museum’s site plan for a 32,040-square-foot addition to its Lenfestey Center received unanimous approval at a Jan. 3 meeting of the Ashwaubenon Site Plan Review Committee, the Green Bay Press Times reports. Approval allows the museum to move forward with the expansion plan as long as it meets conditions […]
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PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Railroad Historians of the Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh Valley Chapter, National Railway Historical Society are sponsoring a “rare mileage” excursion on the Reading & Northern Railroad on April 15. R&N Budd Rail Diesel Cars will cover several lines. A revised trip plan includes the P&R mainline, the Mine Hill […]
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