Shippers ratchet up warnings about impact of potential rail strike

Man throwing switch as train with blue and yellow locomotive waits

WASHINGTON – The National Industrial Transportation League, the largest and oldest group of rail shippers, has asked congressional leaders to prevent a railroad strike or lockout that could begin as early as 12:01 a.m. on Friday. Meanwhile, the Class I railroads today reached a tentative agreement with the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers, SEIU, […]

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Amtrak begins suspending service because of possible freight rail work stoppage

Amtrak logo.

CHICAGO — Amtrak will begin suspending service on some long-distance trains as of tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept. 13) in preparation for a possible railroad work stoppage later this week. Trains immediately affected will be the longest-duration trains — the Chicago-Los Angeles Southwest Chief; Chicago-Seattle/Portland Empire Builder; Chicago-Emeryville, Calif., California Zephyr; and the Los Angeles-San Antonio portion […]

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Hudson tunnel timeline pushed back three years

Man speaking with microphone on a train.

NEW YORK — New Northeast Corridor tunnels connecting New Jersey to New York’s Penn Station will not be completed before 2035 — three years later than previously planned — and will cost at least $2 billion more than previously projected, the commission overseeing the project said last week. The New York Times reports that the […]

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Amtrak set to resume service to Vancouver, B.C.

Blue and silver road-switcher locomotive on passenger train

Passengers line up at Pacific Central Station the Vancouver, British Columbia, for that afternoon’s Amtrak Cascades departure. The round-trip that includes this train is to be restored at the end of September. (Bob Johnston) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak will resume single daily round-trip Cascades service between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sept. 26, two […]

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Santa Fe No. 3751 steams for Fullerton event

steam locomotive and Amtrak engine pulling train

FULLERTON, Calif. — Santa Fe steam locomotive No. 3751 will return to operation for the first time since 2017 when it travels from its home base in Los Angeles to appear at Amtrak’s Track Safety Community Event, scheduled for Sept. 24 and 25 at the Fullerton Transportation Center. The 4-8-4 is owned by the San […]

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Another Amtrak employee files suit over Chief derailment

Amtrak logo.

KEYTESVILLE, Mo. — A Hemet, Calif., man has become at least the third Amtrak employee to file suit against the passenger carrier over the June derailment of the Southwest Chief. KMIZ-TV reports Matthew Rafferty has filed suit against Amtrak and MS Contracting, owner of the truck that was hit at a grade crossing, derailing the […]

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More Chicago Amtrak cancellations

Passenger train along track lined by weeds

CHICAGO — Lack of serviceable equipment and qualified staff have again caused a series of Amtrak state-supported service cancellations out of Chicago. Late last week, the company announced morning eastbound Wolverine service train No. 350 to Pontiac, Mich., and its evening return counterpart, No. 355, would be cancelled today (Monday, Aug. 29) through Friday, Sept. […]

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STB grants request for more mediation time in Gulf Coast dispute

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has granted a request by the parties in the Amtrak Gulf Coast dispute to extend board-sponsored mediation for an additional 30 days. Amtrak, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama State Port Authority and Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks had filed the request on Aug. 24, saying they agreed […]

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Amtrak Coach-class travel aboard the Empire Builder

Amtrak looks to expand its services and routes across the nation, including the Upper Midwest. In this candid look at Coach-class travel aboard the Empire Builder between St. Paul, Minn., and Milwaukee, Wis., you’ll discover how easy and comfortable it is to travel about the United States by passenger train. First-time traveler Gerry Leone has […]

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St. Louis Merchants Bridge project reaches final major milestone

Red crane hovers over bridge truses in front of St. Louis Arch

ST. LOUIS — The culmination of the Merchant’s Bridge rebuild project, which began in 2018, is scheduled to take place today (Friday, Aug. 26), with the third and final new span being floated into place on the Mississippi River. Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) owns the bridge. The 4,340-foot-long bridge, completed in 1889, […]

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