SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — In separate bills, Illinois legislators are proposing to limit train lengths in the state to 8,500 feet and provide multiple actions to address trespassing along rail lines. The train length bill, HB 2524, sponsored by state Reps. Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville) and Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park), was prompted by increasing complaints from constituents […]
Judge rules against railroads on evidence in fuel-surcharge case A federal judge has denied a request by four Class I railroads to exclude certain evidence from a long-running case over fuel surcharges that involves more than 200 major shippers. The motion by BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific contended that federal law permits limited […]
WASHINGTON — Control of Chicago Union Station emerges as the key issue in the latest filings in Metra’s dispute with Amtrak over its station lease, with Metra reviving a question whether Amtrak lawfully owns the property, while Amtrak claims Metra’s proposals “would wrest from Amtrak control over its own facility.” The latest documents, filed Friday […]
Longmont, Colo., city council to meet on legal options regarding Northwest Rail project The Longmont, Colo., city council is planning a closed-door meeting Tuesday to consider the city’s legal options to push Denver’s Regional Transportation District to commit to building a long-planned, much-delayed commuter rail line to the community. The Longmont Times-Call reports the executive […]
BNSF, UP update recovery efforts from winter weather The most recent updates from BNSF Railway and Union Pacific as they recover from last week’s severe weather: — BNSF notified customers in a Friday update that it would take some time to clear traffic backlogs, particularly on the southern portion of the railroad, while all four […]
East Troy Electric to begin season March 27; regular operations start April 24 The East Troy (Wis.) Electric Railroad has announced its 2021 schedule of regular operations and special events, opening the year with health measures including pinpoint ionizations for air filtering, socially distant seating, and mask. The first special-event trains of the year will […]
News report: Design changes lead to $800 million in overruns for California high speed segment A 65-mile section of California’s high speed rail line in the San Joaquin Valley is facing more than $800 million in cost overruns because of design changes proposed by its contractor as a cost-saving move. The Los Angeles Times reports […]
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — Responding to heavy demand, the East Broad Top added several trips during Saturday’s Winter Spectacular, a revival of the event held 1966-81. Scheduled trips with Brill gas-electric M-1 and a caboose all sold out within hours of tickets going on sale, so the EBT added trips, and sold all those out, […]
NJ Transit seeks solution to rail delays at Meadowlands stadium events NJ Transit has issued a Request for Proposals to address lengthy delays that occur for people using rail service to and from major events at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands. The Press of Atlantic City, noting past events that have seen fans stranded for […]
FORT WORTH, Texas – Although BNSF Railway’s operations have been disrupted by the widespread snow, ice, and record-breaking cold that swept across the southern areas of its system and crippled the Texas power grid this week, the railroad’s headquarters and Network Operations Center dodged a bullet. The headquarters campus, including the Network Operations Center and […]
CSX intermodal sites remain open, some transload facilities closed In a Thursday afternoon update to customers, CSX Transportation reported all intermodal terminal are open despite recent and continuing weather issues, although subject to weather-related regional delays. Four of the railroad’s Transflo transloading sites — in Nashville, Tenn.; Richmond, Va.; Wilmington, Del; and Baltimore, Md. — […]
Maine’s WW&F museum cancels Spring Work Weekend The WW&F Railway Museum in Alna, Maine, has cancelled its annual Spring Work Weekend due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The museum’s Board of Directors took the action at its monthly meeting on Feb. 13. The three-day work weekend typically brings 80 or more volunteers together to build track, […]
