PITTSBURGH — U.S. Steel will sell its subsidiary which operates the company’s six remaining railroads to a subsidiary of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors for $640 million, the steelmaker announced Tuesday. Trains Wire reported almost a year ago that U.S. Steel was seeking a buyer for Transtar [see “U.S. Steel looks to sell remaining rail […]
The year 2020 was not a good one for tourist railroads. The COVID-19 pandemic closed some lines and forced others to run at greatly reduced capacities. Amazingly, there have been few casualties among the well-established ranks of U.S. tourist railroads. Let’s look at how one immensely popular scenic railroad made it through. John Smith, president […]
FILLMORE, Calif. — Southern California short line and excursion railroad Fillmore & Western Railway will officially cease operations June 30, 2021. The current operators, Dave and Tresa Wilkinson, are retiring from the tourist railroad business after more than 30 years. They have successfully operated excursion trains, Mystery Dinner trains, and Santa Claus, specials among others. […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn says the company opposes CSX Transportation’s acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways, saying the deal in its current form “represents a significant threat to the American traveling public” and “will negatively impact current passenger train service and future routes in Massachusetts and Northern New England.” Amtrak has […]
CSX Transportation remains confident that it will receive regulatory approval to acquire New England regional Pan Am Railways despite two setbacks at the Surface Transportation Board. “We’re just in the early stages of seeking authority to complete the transaction from the Surface Transportation Board,” CEO Jim Foote told an investor webcast today. “And I’m confident […]
ASLRRA honors 346 railroads for safety with Jake Awards The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association has honored 346 member railroads with its “Jake Awards,” recognizing safety performance above the industry average in 2020. Of those, 316 will be honored “with distinction” for injury-free performance based on Federal Railroad Administration standards. The honorees include […]
Steam-powered train to mark end of Florida sugar cane harvest The public is invited Monday to see U.S. Sugar’s Sugar Express steam locomotive, 4-6-2 No. 148, operate on the last cane train of the season, signaling the end of the sugar cane harvest. The train is slated to depart the Sugarton Elevator west of Clewiston, […]
Deal will provide $33 million for Huron Central route repairs The threatened closure of Ontario’s Huron Central Railway appears to have again been averted. Northern Ontario Business reports the co-chair of a task force working to save the 173-mile line between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury says the railroad is “comfortable that it will in […]
WASHINGTON — It’s back to the drawing board for CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. The Surface Transportation Board today rejected as incomplete CSX’s application to acquire control of Pan Am. “The Board finds that the application fails to include all of the information needed to satisfy the Market Analysis […]
Agracel Rail Holdings launches with agreement at Ohio industrial park A company providing industrial development services to rural communities is launching a rail affiliate. Agracel Rail Holdings, a subsidiary of Agracel, Inc., will begin operations by redeveloping and operating rail infrastructure at The Point Industrial Park in South Point, Ohio. “Our goal in becoming a […]
New study to further delay safety fence along Del Mar, Calif., rail line The North County Transit District will further delay its effort to build a fence to deter trespassers from crossing railroad tracks in Del Mar, Calif., to complete an additional study on the issue. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the fence — which […]
Canadian government announces $21 million in funding for rail safety projects The Canadian government announced it would spend more tha C$21 million to help fund 135 projects across Canada under the Rail Safety Improvement Program — Infrastructure, Technology, and Research. The funds will address grade crossing improvements, small projects such as fencing and pedestrian crossings, […]
