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Magazine: Trains Magazine
Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern outline merger timetable

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Canadian Pacific CEO Keith Creel and Kansas City Southern CEO Pat Ottensmeyer expressed excitement today about finally being able to combine their two railways into the first system to connect Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Their merger deal, officially announced on Wednesday after Canadian National dropped its pursuit of KCS, came […]
‘Canadian Pacific Kansas City’ name is an awkward mouthful: Commentary

Now that the months-long battle for Kansas City Southern is over and Canadian Pacific has been won, let’s get down to the important part for those of us who cover railroading for a living and those of us who have reverence for great railroad titles: the name of the new company that will carry on […]
Emergency repairs halt Surfliner, Metrolink service in south Orange County, Calif.

LOS ANGELES — Amtrak and Metrolink service has been suspended in south Orange County for emergency track work to stabilize right-of-way in the San Clemente, Calif., area. The Pacific Surfliner website says no trains will operate south of Irvine. Calif., between today and Sunday. As of Monday, Sept. 20, train service will resume on a […]
German rail drivers agree to new contract

BERLIN — German rail operator Deutsche Bahn and the union representing train drivers have agreed on a new contract, ending a dispute that saw the nation hit by three rail strikes in less than a month. Broadcaster DW reports the deal with the GDL union was announced by the premiers of the German states of […]
GO Transit to launch service to London, Ontario

TORONTO — GO Transit will launch new service between Toronto and London, Ontario, as of Oct. 18, a pilot program that will extend the commuter operator’s reach about 120 miles from Toronto Union Station. The new service will extend existing Kitchener Line service with new stops in St. Marys and Stratford, as well as London, […]
Proposal for Atlanta-area commuter rail line may be scrapped

ATLANTA — A proposed Atlanta-area commuter rail line is likely to be scrapped after Norfolk Southern told the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority it would not share its rail line with the passenger operation. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the planned line would run from MARTA’s East Point station southwest of downtown Atlanta to the Clayton […]
Union Pacific, EPA reach settlement on 2016 Oregon oil train derailment and fire

SEATTLE — Union Pacific will pay more than $80,000 in penalties, along with reimbursement of cleanup costs, in a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over a 2016 derailment that spilled crude oil in the Columbia River Gorge near Mosier, Ore. The June 3, 2016, derailment saw 16 cars of a train with 96 […]
U.S. rail traffic continues to show intermodal decrease

WASHINGTON — Lagging intermodal traffic again dropped weekly U.S. rail traffic figures below 2020 levels, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Figures for the week ending Sept. 11 saw U.S. railroads move a total of 468,610 carloads and intermodal units, a 1.3% decrease from the corresponding week in 2020. It […]
Metra boosts CEO’s compensation

CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors on Wednesday gave CEO/Executive Director James Derwinski a 10% annual salary raise along with additional compensation, arguing that it must “stay competitive” with the rest of the rail industry. Metra Chair Romayne Brown lauded Derwinski as a “strong leader and innovator,” and several other board members echoed that sentiment. […]
Amtrak, developer reach agreement on restoration and update of Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station

PHILADELPHIA — Amtrak has reached agreement with developer Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia on a lease and development agreement for restoration and renovation of its main station in Philadelphia, the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station. Under the agreement, Plenary will refurbish and improve the nearly century-old building, finance the improvements, and maintain the station for […]
Canadian National drops pursuit of KCS, clearing way for Canadian Pacific-KCS merger (updated)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The four-month battle for Kansas City Southern is officially over. KCS and Canadian National ripped up their $33.6 billion merger agreement today, 15 days after the Surface Transportation Board denied CN’s request to place KCS into an independent voting trust. Canadian Pacific and KCS, with voting trust approval already in […]