Since 2019, Union Pacific has been in the steam spotlight with its restored 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014. In 2024, CPKC stole some of 4014’s thunder with its “Final Spike Tour” using Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816. From April to July, No. 2816 operated from Canada through the central U.S. and through Mexico to Mexico […]
WASHINGTON — Five members of California’s congressional delegation have written U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, urging approval of a $536 million grant request by the California High-Speed Rail Authority for tunnel design work. U.S. Sens. Alex Pedilla and Adam Schiff, and U.S. Reps. Pete Aguilar, Jim Costa, and Zoe Lofgren — all Democrats — said […]
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A former Amtrak station in Grand Rapids is for sale, but if you’re interested in buying, be prepared for a big dent in your budget. The news site Mlive.com reports the building, on a 0.6 acre lot, is being offered for $1.5 million by developer Jonathan Bryant of the firm Underground […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — Canadian Pacific Kansas City exceeded the allowed revenue for western grain movements by almost Ca$2 million during the 2023-24 crop year, and must pay the overage and a 5% penalty, the Canadian Transportation Agency has determined. In a Dec. 24 decision, the CTA determined that CPKC exceeded the Maximum Revenue Entitlement of […]
The switch to full electrification between San Francisco and San Jose came on Sept. 21 (San Jose-Gilroy service is still diesel powered), and ridership showed an immediate jump. In October, the first full month of electrified service, ridership increased 54% from the same month a year earlier. The average weekday ridership was up 38% at […]
CALGARY, Alberta — The Canadian Pacific Kansas City Holiday Train program raised more than Ca$1.75 million and collected more than 130,000 pounds of food for local food banks during its four-week run in the United States and Canada, the railroad said on Monday, Dec. 23. Additionally, the CPKC Holiday Express, which continues a program launched […]
WASHINGTON — Alvin Brown has been appointed as vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, the board announced Monday, Dec. 23. The appointment by President Joe Biden was made on Friday, Dec. 20. Brown’s appointment to the board was confirmed by the Senate in March; he joined the agency in April [see “Brown, Inman […]
DENVER — The state of Colorado will not have to pay a fee to Union Pacific to use its track for a Denver-Craig passenger train, while the railroad will no longer pay the state annually for use of the 6.2-mile Moffat Tunnel under a new 25-year agreement announced today (Monday, Dec. 23, 2024). The […]
WASHINGTON — Just before adjourning last weekend, the U.S. Senate confirmed four nominees to Amtrak’s Board of Directors who are in position to bring different perspectives and active oversight to the organization. The last-minute legislative action early Saturday morning was championed by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) [see “Senate confirms four for Amtrak […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway and J.B. Hunt have been able to maintain above 95% door-to-door on-time performance for their Quantum premium domestic intermodal service through the fall peak season. “In October, BNSF achieved record intermodal volumes, a testament to our growing capabilities and commitment to excellence, then ramped immediately into peak season. Throughout […]
WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have scaled back the detailed railroad employment data reporting that they first ordered in 2022 amid widespread crew shortages on the big four U.S. Class I railroads. The Surface Transportation Board, in a decision released on Friday, said effective in January the Class I freight railroads will no longer have to […]
MONTREAL — Members of Canadian union Unifor have ratified new four-year agreements with Canadian National Railway, the union and railroad have announced. CN says the agreements were ratified on Sunday, Dec. 22, and cover approximately 3,300 workers in mechanical, clerical, and intermodal positions. The union did not announce any details on the ratification vote. “We […]
