Conrail society, Danbury museum combine to save hopper car

Rusting gray hopper car

DANBURY, Conn. — The Conrail Historical Society and Danbury (Ct.) Railway Museum have combined to preserve a “Flexi-Flo” hopper car built in 1966 for the New York Central by ACF Industries. One of 220 such cars, the order represented the first pressure differential cars constructed, which allowed easy unloading of the contents by applying air […]

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Digest: Union Pacific to close Palestine, Texas, car shop

Union Pacific logo with Building America slogan

Union Pacific to close Palestine, Texas, car shop, subject of lawsuit Union Pacific will close its car shop in Palestine, Texas, as of June 14, eliminating as many as 57 positions. The Palestine Herald-Press reports employees were notified Thursday; a Union Pacific spokeswoman confirmed the closure and attributed it to operational changes across the system. […]

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CSX files new regulatory review schedule for Pan Am acquisition

CSX logo

WASHINGTON — CSX Transportation today proposed a new merger review schedule that would cover its acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. The Surface Transportation Board last week said the transaction should be considered a “significant” deal, not the “minor” transaction CSX had sought, and ordered CSX to submit a new schedule and merger […]

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Digest: MTA completes work on last of Sandy-damaged subway tunnels

Workers in subway tunnel

Work on F line tunnel completed, ending Superstorm Sandy repairs The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has completed reapirs on the F line subway tunnel under the East River, concluding work on all 11 MTA under-river tunnels that were damaged by the floodwaters of Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Janno Lieber, president of MTA Construction & Development, said […]

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Digest: Federal legislators reintroduce bill supporting fare-free public transit

Train operating in the median of Interstate 90

Massachusetts legislators introduce bill to provide $5 billion annually for fare-free transit U.S. Sen Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass) have reintroduced legislation supporting state and local efforts to create fare-free public transportation. The Freedom to Move Act, originally introduced in 2020, would award $5 billion annually for a five-year period for competitive […]

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Digest: CSX train derails in Nashville

No injuries reported as CSX train derails in Nashville Sixteen cars of a CSX Transportation train derailed early this morning in Nashville, Tenn., leading to a brief shelter-in-place order from authorities until it was determined there was no hazardous-material threat. A statement from CSX reports the derailment occurred about 3:07 a.m. CDT near West Due […]

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Hot spot: Alexandria Union Station

Hot spot: Alexandria Union Station map

LOCATION: Alexandria, Va.’s Union Station is located on King Street, and is about 8 miles south of Washington, D.C., on CSX Transportation’s main line between the Northeast and Florida. Passenger service is provided by both Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express. Highway access is provided by numerous surface streets including U.S. Route 1. The Washington-area Capital […]

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Massachusetts congressional delegation asks for more thorough review of CSX-Pan Am deal (updated)

Commuter train at station

WASHINGTON — The Massachusetts congressional delegation has asked the Surface Transportation Board to consider CSX Transportation’s acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways as a significant transaction, which would put the deal under a more stringent regulatory review process. “While the STB’s procedures for a significant transaction provide additional time for interested parties to […]

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Analysis: Amtrak’s Gulf Coast STB filing to test right of access

People boarding train

WASHINGTON — Amtrak’s 826-page petition to the Surface Transportation Board, filed last week, is the latest salvo in efforts to establish passenger trains on routes of railroads not currently hosting service. The STB’s eventual decision could have a significant impact on what investment is required for service expansion. The filing argues Amtrak has made good […]

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CSX defends Pan Am acquisition in the face of opposition in New England

Front of a train

WASHINGTON — CSX Transportation has defended its proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. Vermont Rail System, along with transportation officials from Vermont and Massachusetts, claim the deal would harm rail competition in the region and should face a more thorough review from the Surface Transportation Board. Massachusetts officials and lawmakers also expressed […]

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