SAN DIEGO — Autonomous-truck technology firm TuSimple will begin moving freight for Union Pacific between Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., on a fully automated route developed by TuSimple. Union Pacific’s wholly owned subsidiary, Loup Logistics, will coordinate movement between rail and truck when the program starts this spring. “Partnering with TuSimple allows us to extend our […]
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GATINEAU, Quebec — Failure of a key component caused a coupler to fall from a rail car, triggering a 22-car derailment in New Brunswick in January 2021, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said in a report issued Tuesday. The board also cautioned that if design of such components is not reassessed based on changes […]
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EAGLE, Colo. — Officials in a Colorado county plan to challenge the Surface Transportation Board’s approval of a new rail line in Utah over concerns about resulting crude-oil shipments that will pass through their area. The Vail Daily News reports commissioners in Eagle County have approved pursuing action in U.S. District Court, in either Denver […]
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CHICAGO — “Give yourself a big round of applause,” conductor Erik Newsom enthusiastically announced over the public address system of Amtrak train No. 303 as it left Chicago for St. Louis on Tuesday morning. “You’re the very first to ride Amtrak’s new Midwest cars!” Clapping followed, but that was the extent of the morning’s fanfare […]
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FILLMORE, Calif. — Sierra Railroad of Davis, Calif., announced today it has purchased the majority of the remaining locomotives, rolling stock and other assets from the former Fillmore & Western Railroad operation in Ventura County. The Montalvo-to-Piru line, owned by the Ventura County Transportation Commission, has been operated by Sierra Railroad’s Sierra Northern Ventura Division […]
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BERLIN — German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn formally launched its new Siemens-made “ICE3 neo” 200-mph high speed trainset on Tuesday at its Berlin Rummelsburg shop. Along with presenting the first of 30 Class 408 trains, which will enter service in December, DB CEO Richard Lutz announced an order for a further 43 trains, to be […]
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WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has set details for its upcoming hearing on Amtrak’s effort to launch passenger service on the Gulf Coast. The initial phase, public comments, is set for Feb. 15, with the hearing on Amtrak’s request to begin on March 9. Public comment will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 15. […]
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MIAMI — The executive director of commuter operator Tri-Rail has said he will resign in the wake of criticism over the agency’s handling of problems with the platform at Brightline’s MiamiCentral station, which is intended to also host Tri-Rail service. Steven Abrams announced his intent to resign at a board meeting last week, then told […]
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WASHINGTON — Amtrak has announced a new series of cancellations because of a winter storm, this time for today (Wednesday, Feb. 2) and Thursday, Feb. 3, on Midwest state-supported routes and some long-distance trains beginning or ending in Chicago. Trains affected today include City of New Orleans departures from Chicago and New Orleans; the westbound […]
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Cody Grivno answers these two questions regarding transporting materials on a train. What determines if lumber is shipped wrapped or unwrapped? Also, what determines if a load goes in a boxcar or a centerbeam flatcar? […]
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In every issue News p. 4 The Surface Transportation Board orders railroads to resubmit service plans Preservation p. 44 National Railroad Museum restores a unique hospital car Train-Watching p. 46 Hot spot: The small town of Fort Montgomery, N.Y. on the Hudson River has big-time train action […]
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How to rerail a freight car: When things go bang that shouldn’t on the railroad, it usually means trouble and most likely a derailment. Derailments are a fact of life, and when one occurs on a main line of a Class I railroad, it usually results in many cars on the ground with extensive media […]
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