A southbound Amtrak Cascades train stops at the station at Olympia-Lacey, Wash., in June 2018. The Cascades service has trimmed another round trip from its schedule and closed the volunteer-staffed Olympia-Lacey station. TRAINS: David Lassen A Friday morning update on cuts to rail service related to the coronavirus pandemic: — As of Thursday, Amtrak Cascades […]
A northbound Canadian National merchandise train overtakes a local near Byron, Wis., in July 2019. With carloads down 6% this year, CN has currently furloughed 7% of its workforce. TRAINS: David Lassen MONTREAL — Canadian National will cut costs as carload volume falls amid the coronavirus pandemic, but the railway expects bulk and domestic intermodal […]
GUELPH, Ontario — Coming off the heels of a record year for carloadings, the Guelph Junction Railway is seeking a new operator for the line. A record 5,192 carloads were moved by current operator Ontario Southland Railway in 2019, a 12% increase over 2018 levels and 8% more than the last record year in 2017. […]
More Thursday morning rail news: — The San Jose, Calif., area’s Valley Transportation Authority has suspended light rail service indefinitely after a VTA employee tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, the East Bay Times reports. In a letter to employees posted by their union on its Facebook page, VTA general manager and CEO Nuria I. […]
A westbound Norfolk Southern intermodal train passes through Goshen, Ind., in March 2018. Norfolk Southern stock has dropped 45% since Feb. 19 as part of the general market selloff triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. TRAINS: David Lassen Railroads should brace for sharp traffic and revenue declines this year as the coronavirus pandemic plunges the global […]
A Brightline train departs West Palm Beach, Fla., in 2019. The Florida passenger service has shut down indefinitely because of the COVID-19 virus. TRAINS: David Lassen Thursday morning rail news: — Florida passenger service Brightline shut down operations Wednesday and laid off 250 of its 300 employees because of the coronavirus pandemic. In an email […]
The Roots of Motive Power museum is inspecting this 1922-built Climax locomotive to determine if it can be restored to operation. Kyle Stockman Holmes Eureka Lumber No. 4 during its operating career. Martin E. Hanson collection WILLITS, Calif. – A rare Climax locomotive is under restoration on the West Coast. Holmes Eureka Lumber No. 4, […]
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending March 21, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 459,966 carloads and intermodal units, down 8.6% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending March 21 were […]
A new grant will fund placing the boiler back onto the wheels of Western Maryland Scenic No. 1309. Tishia Boggs CUMBERLAND, Md. — Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has received a John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust grant for $10,000, which will pay to have two heavy duty cranes set the boiler of 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 […]
More Wednesday morning rail news: — Bombardier is suspending production at its Canadian rail and aircraft plants, sending 12,400 workers home on unpaid leave, the Canadian Press reports. The shutdown was to begin Tuesday evening and last through April 24. The Montreal-based company will idle 9,000 workers in Quebec, with the rest in Ontario, and […]
Wednesday morning rail news, with three of the last commuter rail and transit agencies still on regular schedules announcing coronavirus-related cuts: — New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority will cut service on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad as of Friday, while cuts to subway service that begin today reflect an increasing shortage of […]
Class I railroads have begun closing some automotive ramps to inbound multilevel traffic due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with BNSF Railway taking the unusual step of placing embargoes on all 23 of its auto distribution centers. “As a result of the quickly developing conditions related to COVID-19, some car dealers and distribution […]
