DOT report critical of railroads: PSR, rising rates, and mergers

Train yard

WASHINGTON – A U.S. DOT report critical of railroads discusses pandemic-related supply chain problems and cites concerns with Precision Scheduled Railroading, Class I railroad consolidation, and rising railroad rates. Among the recommendations in the 141-page report, released on Thursday in response to a Biden administration executive order issued a year ago: Increased regulation of freight […]

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What’s behind those doors?

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Cody Grivno explains what the two little doors on each side of the headlight on an F7 or F9 nose are. He also explains what the MU receptacles (behind the doors) are used for. Do you want to know more about the details on diesel locomotives? Or would you like more information about model railroading? […]

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East Broad Top sells out Winter Spectacular

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The East Broad Top Foundation posted a sold-out Winter Spectacular celebration Feb. 18-19, with 10 internal-combustion-powered trips over its restored main line between Rockhill Furnace and Colgate Grove and tours of the roundhouse and station archives. This year’s winter event built on the success of the Foundation’s first Winter Spectacular in […]

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Metra schedules station ‘safety blitzes’

Metra logo

CHICAGO — Commuter rail operator Metra announced it will hold Operation Lifesaver “Safety Blitzes” at 51 of its stations during 2022 as part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness about safe behavior around trains and tracks. Each blitz will see Metra employees visit a station during the morning rush hour to distribute educational materials about […]

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Chicago suburban group aims to ‘stop’ CP-KCS merger

Commuter train arrives at two-story station

ITASCA, Ill. — Some two months after announcing plans to do so, eight western Chicago suburbs have formalized their formation of a coalition to address concerns over the impact of the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger. And while many communities along the routes of the CPKC, the company that would be formed by the merger, […]

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News photo: Former Fillmore & Western diesel at work at new home

Black and yellow diesel with a few freight cars at grade crossing

GUADALUPE, Calif. — Equipment from the former Fillmore & Western continues to find its way to new locations. A GP35 from the defunct tourist and movie-filming operation in Southern California is now in operation at the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, the 14-mile operation on the Central California coast interchanging with the Union Pacific at Guadalupe. […]

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New York to try platform barriers at three stations

Barricades along edge of subway platform, with train in station

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will test platform barriers at three subway stations — including parts of its busy Times Square station — after incidents including one that saw a woman killed when she was shoved in front of an oncoming train. MTA CEO Janno Lieber said the program will cost more than […]

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Tennessee legislators seek study of in-state Amtrak service

Map showing passenger routes in Tennessee and neighboring states

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two Nashville lawmakers have introduced a bill in the state legislature asking for a study of possible Amtrak service connecting Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis. The Nashville Tennessean reports state Rep. Jason Powell and state Sen. Heidi Campbell, both Democrats, are sponsoring the legislation which would direct the Tennessee Advisory Commission on […]

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Weekly rail traffic figures skewed by 2021 weather woes

Weekly table showing U.S. carload traffic by commodity plus overall intermodal totals

WASHINGTON — The latest weekly U.S. rail traffic figures show a massive increase over the same week last year — a reflection of a week in 2021 when rail traffic experienced massive weather disruptions. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads show U.S. railroads handled 497,822 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Feb. […]

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