Railroads prepare for tropical storm threat in Southeast (updated)

Satellite image of hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico

TAMPA, Fla. — After an unusual lull in hurricane activity in August and September, railroads are monitoring a new tropical disturbance that will make landfall around Tallahassee, Fla., on Thursday, Sept. 26, likely as a Category 2 or 3 hurricane. “CSX is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Helene, which is projected to intensify to hurricane strength […]

Read More…

MBTA receives $472 million for North Station bridge project

Raised draw brdige

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has been awarded $472 million in federal funding for the replacement of the North Station Draw One Bridge, a project that will increase capacity and improve train speeds for Amtrak and MBTA commuter trains. The funding announced Monday comes from the National Infrastructure Project Assistance, or Mega, program, […]

Read More…

California’s Tehachapi Loop

Steam locomotive with passenger train on broad curve

When it comes to showmanship in mainline mountain railroading, California’s Tehachapi Pass can be described as a grand theater. Located between Bakersfield and Mojave, historic Tehachapi Loop is at center stage, an impressive helix stretching three-quarters of a mile while looping over itself to gain 77 feet in elevation. The loop itself sits at about […]

Read More…

Canadian National to move operations from Jasper

JASPER, Alberta — Canadian National plans to move operations from Jasper 60 miles east to Hinton, Canada’s Global News reports. A wildfire burned through Jasper in July 2024, burning about one-third of the city and displacing thousands of residents. Caught in the fire was CN’s crew bunkhouse, which the railroad has since rebuilt. On Monday, […]

Read More…

Michigan City Quiet Zone approved on South Shore Line

Bilevel electric train approaches banner strumng across tracks

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — The Federal Railroad Administration has approved the pending South Shore Line Michigan City quiet zone. Horns in the city will cease on Oct. 21.   “We are pleased to finally have the approval for the Quiet Zone,” Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch says. “This is something I helped champion for our […]

Read More…

Short Line Safety Institute completes its first decade of operations

Three locomotives lead train reflected in water

This month, the Short Line Safety Institute enters its tenth year of operations, having marked 155 completed safety culture assessments, and numerous introductions of programs and resources to benefit the short line industry in continuously improving safety culture. Founded in response to the tragic 2013 Lac-Megantic rail accident in Quebec, Canada, on regional Montreal, Maine […]

Read More…

Report shows link between manifest train length and derailments caused by train makeup and handling issues

WASHINGTON – Long manifest trains are more likely to derail than their shorter counterparts due to excessive in-train forces – and the number of wrecks related to train makeup and handling issues has increased sharply since U.S. railroads adopted Precision Scheduled Railroading operating models that rely on ever-longer trains, according to a National Academies of […]

Read More…