PITTSBURGH – Wabtec Corp. announced this week that it has acquired RELCO Locomotives, a long-established player in the locomotive overhaul and maintenance industry. The acquisition expands Wabtec’s freight services capabilities and capacity to support growth in the remanufacturing and repair business. “This acquisition will unlock tremendous value for our customers, employees and shareholders,” said Rafael […]
Trains editors discuss rail news that’s fit to publish for the week of Jan. 10, 2020. This week, Jim and Steve talk about the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Conference, autonomous track inspection, Norfolk Southern workers’ food feud with their railroad, NYC subway doors opening unexpectedly, and more! Only from Trains! […]
A conductor and engineer pose for a photo on CSX Transportation GP38-2 No. 6237 on July 4, 2019. Joe Kohnen WASHINGTON – For the first time since the government began tracking employment statistics in the 1940s, the number of people employed by railroads has dipped below 200,000. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has industry-specific […]
A Metra BNSF train stops at Highlands station in Hinsdale, Ill., on Nov. 15, 2019 as Amtrak’s Southwest Chief approaches. Highlands is among the 31 stations to be upgraded by Metra in the next five years. TRAINS: David Lassen CORONADO, Calif — Metra’s “Big Ask” received a medium-sized answer. That’s good news for the Chicago […]
WASHINGTON – Operation Lifesaver is launching a new public service announcement campaign that brings attention to the dangerous distractions that could lead to unexpected and sometimes deadly tragedies for pedestrians on or near railroad tracks. “Walking on the railroad tracks is considered trespassing – it’s against the law,” says Executive Director Rachel Maleh. “This new […]
A GE-built ES44AH leads a westbound CSX Transportation freight through Palmer, Mass., where new signal hardware has been installed to replace Conrail-era signals. Brian Solomon CORONADO, Calif. – The advent of positive train control is bringing some unanticipated benefits to railroad signals and communications departments. So said representatives of BNSF Railway, and Canadian National, CSX […]
CORONADO, Calif. — If there’s a trend in this year’s Class I capital plans — at least as they’re being presented at the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Conference — it’s that the railroads are keeping the nature of those plans closer to the vest than they have at previous conferences. Dollar figures for […]
The new $14 million bridge over the Lehigh River at Nesquehoning Junction, Pa., will enable Reading & Northern freight trains to make their Reading to Wilkes-Barre run without changing ends. Scott A. Hartley PORT CLINTON, Pa. – Reading & Northern Railroad had another banner year breaking previous records for carloadings, freight revenue, and excursion ticket […]
Norfolk Southern No. 4271 leads the three other F units at Knoxville, Tenn., in November 2011. Reading & Northern has acquired two and will debut them on a railfan excursion in April 2020. Jim Wrinn PORT CLINTON, Pa. – The public will have its first opportunity to ride behind Reading & Northern’s recently acquired former […]
Analysts expect fourth quarter earnings to fall at four of the six publicly traded Class I railroads as cost cutting, rate increases, and share buybacks were not enough to offset the impact of traffic declines. On average, earnings per share at the six publicly traded railroads will fall by 1%, according to consensus estimates by […]
BNSF’s main line to the Pacific Northwest is shut down after this train derailed into the Kootenai River in Idaho on Wednesday. Idaho State Police BONNERS FERRY, Idaho — BNSF Railway is untangling its operations in the Pacific Northwest after a derailment in Idaho closed its northern transcontinental main line for three days. On Jan. […]
CORONADO, Calif. — Canadian Pacific CEO Keith Creel spoke for nearly an hour Monday as the keynote speaker at the NRC Conference. In addition to his remarks on mergers and Precision Scheduled Railroading, he also touched on a number of other topics. — Creel said that while railroading might eventually see significant savings through adoption […]
