SAGINAW, Mich. — Two locomotives and five cars of a train derailed on Lake State Railway trackage Sunday afternoon, Nov. 24, spilling corn into the Saginaw River, WWJ Radio reports. The incident occurred about 1:30 p.m. Images on the Detroit News website show one covered hopper ended up on its side at the edge of […]
MBTA says new Orange, Red Line cars are now exceeding requirements
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s issues with new rapid-transit equipment built by China’s CRRC have eased, CEO Phillip Eng said last week, with the equipment now arriving on the revised schedule developed earlier this year and performing reliably. “Just last month was the first month they were required to deliver three married pairs, […]
MBTA orders more bilevel commuter cars
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority board has voted to purchase 39 more bilevel commuter railcars from Hyundai Rotem, bringing to 163 the total number in service or on order. State House News Service reports the board voted Thursday, Nov. 21, to exercise a $165 million option for the additional cars. The MBTA originally […]
Pennsylvania governor’s move averts SEPTA fare increase, service cuts
PHILADELPHIA — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced he would transfer $153 million in federal highway funds to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, a move he said would avert “critically damaging service cuts and fare increases ahead of our next state budget.” In a Friday, Nov. 22, announcement, Shapiro noted recent highway-repair efforts before saying, […]
CSX brings Holiday Express event to Erwin, Tenn. (revised and updated)
ERWIN, Tenn. — The building excitement was palpable. With the first sound of the chime air horn on CSX’s newest heritage unit, Clinchfield No. 1902, children were screaming in anticipation of the arrival of a special appearance of CSX’s Holiday Express train in Erwin on Thursday night, Nov. 21. Preceding the 82nd running of the […]
New York congestion pricing plan gets federal approval
NEW YORK — New York’s congestion tolling plan has received federal approval, meaning the toll of $9 for most drivers entering lower Manhattan will take effect Jan. 5, 2025. The program, with goals of reducing traffic below 60th Street and funding Metropolitan Transportation Authority capital programs, was approved by the Federal Highway Administration on Friday, […]
Truck goes off overpass, hits and derails CN train in Winnipeg
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — A semi truck went off an overpass and struck a Canadian National train today (Friday, Nov. 22) in Winnipeg, sending the truck’s driver to the hospital and derailing an unknown number of railcars. “It appears the semi hit the train,” Winnipeg police spokeswoman Dani McKinnon told the Winnipeg Free Press. “There is […]
Amtrak restores most Empire Service through March 2
NEW YORK — Amtrak has agreed to restore most of the Empire Service between New York City and upstate New York through March 2 following requests from Gov. Kathy Hochul and part of the state’s congressional delegation, the passenger operator has announced. Beginning Dec. 2, the Adirondack and Maple Leaf will again operate as separate […]
Alstom, Norfolk Southern awarded CRISI grant for battery-diesel locomotive project
KANONA, N.Y. — Alstom and Norfolk Southern are collaborating on a project that converts two locomotives from traditional diesel engines into battery-powered hybrid locomotives that rely on a smaller Tier 4 diesel engine for battery charging. The project is made possible by a $15.9 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and […]
“F” stands for Front
If you look closely at a diesel locomotive, you’ll see the letter “F” stenciled near the stairs. As obvious as it seems, the “F” stands for Front, and it’s required under the Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards section of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Title 49 CFR Part 229.11 reads, “The letter “F” shall be […]
South Dakota rail board approves $12.6 million loan for soybean plant’s rail project
PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Railroad Board will provide $12.6 million for upgrades to rail service at the state’s largest soybeen processing plant. The South Dakota Searchlight reports that the funds, in the form of a loan to the Davison Regional Rail Authority, will be used to build 6.2 miles of rail line, 22 […]
Carload Considerations: What a new administration might mean for railroads in 2025
WASHINGTON — Railroads are winding down the final weeks of 2024 with support from strong international intermodal volumes, a healthy grain harvest, and modest GDP growth at 4% year over year. Economically, inflation is still a problem, as groceries cost more than they did four years ago. Unemployment hangs around 4% and fuel prices are […]
