BRUNSWICK, Md. — More than 10 years after its closure by CSX Transportation, the preservation of WB Tower in Brunswick, Md., has been assured by its move from railroad to city property. The tower, built in 1910 by Baltimore & Ohio, made a short move uphill on Saturday, April 2. Wolfe House & Building Movers […]
LEBANON, Ore. — The Albany & Eastern Railroad’s Santiam Excursion Trains had a new feature this weekend: A tribute to late Trains Editor Jim Wrinn. Dave Bertz sent these photos of a message added to the cab of the train’s locomotive, Santa Maria Valley No. 205, a 1924 Baldwin 2-6-2, as seen during an excursion […]
SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Caltrain will resume its 104-train weekday schedule today (Monday, April 4), after reducing midday operations as of March 2 to accommodate work on the ongoing electrification of the San Francisco-San Jose main line. However, another service reduction is planned in about a month. The signal work that was the reason for […]
Second of two parts. Part 1 is available here. CHICAGO — Amtrak’s ability to meet increasing customer demand has been hampered by a shortage of equipment on both short-haul and long-haul trains. State-supported trains in California and the Midwest are still awaiting the Siemens Venture cars, even though the first cars were delivered in 2020. […]
In every issue News p. 4 Lessons from the soon-to-be late Montana Rail Link Preservation p. 46 A new future for Rock Island’s Silvis Shops Train-Watching p. 48 Short line: Wisconsin & Southern’s Northern Division […]
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has turned down a request to order mediation in the Amtrak Gulf Coast case. CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama State Port Authority/Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks had requested mediation, which Amtrak had opposed. In the decision released today (Friday, April 1), the board says it “unfortunate” that […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX Transportation has hired Steve Fortune, a longtime BP executive, to be its executive vice president and chief digital and technology officer. “We are pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Fortune and welcome him to CSX’s executive leadership team. CSX is focused on growing through innovation and being a leader in […]
WASHINGTON – BNSF Railway is taking several steps to improve its service to grain shippers, including boosting crew and locomotive availability, CEO Katie Farmer wrote in a letter to the National Grain and Feed Association this week. The trade group representing grain shippers complained to the Surface Transportation Board last week regarding deteriorating service from […]
BRUSSELS — European regulators have approved the pandemic-delayed merger of two high speed rail companies, Politico.eu reports. The merger of the Eurostar and Thalys companies was first proposed in 2019 [see “Proposed high speed merger …,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 30, 2019] but delayed as both companies struggled with plummeting ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
First of two parts CHICAGO — Delayed deliveries of new Siemens-built Venture rolling stock for Midwest and California routes have added to a cascading lack of equipment at a time of surging travel demand — a problem felt beyond the areas where the new equipment will operate, and extending into the long-distance fleet. Cars in the […]
PHILADELPHIA — Amtrak has released images of the interiors for the new Acela trainsets currently under construction or in testing, and now not expected to debut until 2023. “Between the sleek design of their interiors, state-of-the-art technology, and sustainable amenities, and innovative safety features, our new Acela trains will help revolutionize American train travel,” Amtrak […]
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Forest products company Canfor will cut production at sawmills in Western Canada because of “extreme supply chain challenges” relating to rail service, the news site Business in Vancouver reports. Subsidiary Canfor Pulp Produces had previously announced it would continue to curtail production at its plant in Taylor, B.C., for at least […]
