National Steel Car stops manufacturing because of virus outbreak Canadian freight car manufacturer National Steel Car has voluntarily shut down because of a COVID-19 outbreak in its manufacturing division. Global News reports the company in Hamilton, Ont., announced the decision on Friday, saying the closure will last for two weeks and was made in consultation […]
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific is closely watching the battle for Kansas City Southern and how an acquisition by either Canadian Pacific or Canadian National could affect its cross-border traffic. UP CEO Lance Fritz notes that U.S. regulations require that mergers between Class I railroads must enhance competition and improve service for all shippers. “For […]
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific’s operating profit and revenue declined in the first quarter, but executives said the railway was gaining momentum as volume reached an all-time high in March. Quarterly operating income declined 6%, to $780 million, as revenue declined 4%, to %1.95 billion, CP reported on Wednesday. Earnings per share, adjusted for the impact […]
Chicago Transit Authority begins testing in-service of new railcars on Blue Line The Chicago Transit Authority announced Wednesday it has begun in-service testing for its newest railcars, the 7000-series cars being built by CRRC Sifang, an affiliate of Chinese rail equipment giant CRRC, at its Hegewisch plant on Chicago’s Far South Side. The cars are […]
Oakland ballpark plan creates grade crossing issues, memo says The head of the agency operating California’s Capitol Corridor Amtrak service has voiced concerns about grade-crossing issues new a proposed new ballpark for the Oakland Athletics. The Waterfront District Ballpark adjacent to Jack London Square will require stadium visitors to cross a busy Union Pacific line […]
Canada’s federal budget includes funds for VIA high-frequency rail, other infrastructure projects Canada’s federal budget unveiled on Monday includes $4.4 million for continued planning work on VIA Rail Canada’s proposed “high frequency rail” project, which would provide a separate, passenger-only route for part of the corridor between Toronto and Quebec City. Global News reports the […]
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific says Canadian National’s competing bid for Kansas City Southern would reduce competition, raise significant regulatory concerns, and upset competitive balance in the North American rail network. CN’s unsolicited $33.7 billion offer, announced Tuesday morning, tops the $29 billion deal CP reached last month to acquire KCS. The KCS board says […]
MONTREAL — Canadian National argues that its proposed combination with Kansas City Southern will offer shorter, faster, and more efficient routes than tying together the Canadian Pacific and KCS networks. And that less complicated route structure, CN contends, will enable a CN-KCS system to successfully gain north-south traffic that currently moves by truck between Mexico, the […]
SkyTrain network could double under TransLink long-term expansion plans British Columbia transit agency TransLink has unveiled options for long-term expansion that could double the size of the SkyTrain rail transit system, or see more than 400 additional kilometers (240-plus miles) of SkyTrain, light rail, and bus rapid transit routes. The website Daily Hive reports the […]
Families sue CP, Transport Canada over 2019 derailment that killed three The families of two of the Canadian Pacific crew members killed in the derailment of a runaway CP train in February 2019 are suing the railroad, officials including CEO Keith Creel, police department, and federal agency Transport Canada. The CBC reports the families of […]
VIA says operations will continue despite new travel restrictions While new restrictions on travel in and out of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec begin today, VIA Rail Canada says in a notice on its website that it will “continue all scheduled services,” adding, “Passengers are responsible to comply with provincial restrictions.” The CBC reports […]
STB prepares for passenger rail oversight, will consider office, advisory group for passenger issues The Surface Transportation Board has created a staff working group to prepare the board for its oversight of passenger rail issues, board chairman Martin J. Oberman has announced. Under a recently enacted Federal Railroad Adminstration rule, the STB oversees standards for […]
