LOS ANGELES — The former Pacific Harbor Line engineer who intentionally derailed his train at the Port of Los Angeles in 2020 was sentenced this week to three years in prison, the Los Angeles Times reports. Eduardo Moreno, 46, had pleaded guilty in Decmeber to committing a terrorist attack and other violence against railroad carriers […]
Section: News Wire
VIA runs test train of new Siemens equipment

TORONTO — A trainset of VIA Rail Canada’s new Siemens-built equipment made a circuit of corridor stations in Ontario stations April 13-14, 2022, testing track geometry and passenger loading and unloading. Running as special train No. 649, the Charger locomotive and full set of Venture cars stopped at all station between Ottawa, Brockville, Ont., and […]
News photos: Brightline introduces temporary Loxahatchee River bridge

JUPITER, Fla. — Replacing a 96-year-old, bascule drawbridge while keeping both rail and river traffic moving requires round-the-clock activity and lots of compromise. This was obvious Sunday, April 10, with the latest step in the project to replace a Florida East Coast Railway bridge over the Loxahatchee River at Jupiter, improving both operational reliability and […]
Caltrain commuter train hit three on-track vehicles in March collision

WASHINGTON — A Caltrain commuter train hit three hi-rail maintenance vehicles — two flatbed trucks with cranes and a heavy-duty pickup truck — in the March 10 collision in San Bruno, Calif, that injured 14 people, according to the preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board. The preliminary report outlines details of the accident […]
News photo: D&I SD40-2 debuts

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — D&I Railroad SD40-2 No. 3023, one of five SD40-2s new to the railroad’s roster, leads an eastbound train at Sioux Falls, S.D., on April 13, 2022. Photographer Kevin J. Ryan says it is believed to be the locomotive’s first revenue trip on the railroad. The 138-mile D&I, a wholly owned subsidiary […]
Regulators approve CSX Transportation’s acquisition of Pan Am Railways (updated)

WASHINGTON – Federal regulators on Thursday gave the green light to CSX Transportation’s acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. The Surface Transportation Board’s unanimous, 75-page decision approving the merger becomes effective on May 14. But CSX said it planned to close on the transaction on June 1. Regulators largely agreed with CSX’s arguments […]
Food and beverage producers forced to curtail production due to delayed rail shipments

WASHINGTON – The trade group representing sugar shippers has told federal regulators that rail service problems have forced some of its members to stop or curtail production of food and beverages. The Sweetener Users Association, which wrote to the Surface Transportation Board on Wednesday, is the latest trade group to complain about poor rail service […]
Shippers complain about Union Pacific’s plans to meter traffic

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific’s request that shippers reduce the number of private freight cars in their pipelines – or face strict quotas starting on Monday – has been met with a mix of understanding and outrage. Some shippers say they understand UP’s need to reduce car inventory to help ease congestion that has slowed […]
Trains Magazine, Kalmbach offices closed Friday

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Trains Magazine, and all other publications and offices of Kalmbach Media, will be closed on Friday, April 15, for Good Friday. Normal office hours will resume on Monday, April 18. Our staff wishes everyone a Happy Easter and thanks you for your continued patronage. […]
Metrolink converts to 100% renewable fuel

LOS ANGELES – Metrolink publicly shared its switch to renewable fuel, on April 13, 2022, making the agency the first in the nation to completely power all its locomotives by the cleaner burning alternative. The agency began using only renewable fuel in February. “It’s a proud achievement to be the first rail agency in the […]
Utah’s FrontRunner to remove Comet cars from service

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Transit Authority’s FrontRunner commuter service will remove its fleet of single-level Comet passenger cars from service April 18. The 25 cars were built for Erie Lackawanna in the early 1970s and used in commuter service in New Jersey by EL and New Jersey Transit. The cars have served UTA […]
Report: Minnesota light rail construction plays minor role in condo cracks
MINNEAPOLIS – Construction can resume on a light rail tunnel in Minneapolis after an engineering analysis determined that construction played only minor role in cracks that developed at a nearby condo building. The Twin Cities Metropolitan Council, which is building the 14.5-mile Southwest Light Rail/Metro Green Line Extension from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie, halted construction […]