Metro-North set to buy 27 dual-mode locomotives from Siemens The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a $334.9 million contract for Siemens to build 27 dual-mode locomotives for the Metro-North Railroad. A document in the board package for Wednesday’s meeting says the purchase, an order for 19 locomotives with exercise of […]
Michigan City OKs eminent domain to acquire land for South Shore project The city council of Michigan City, Ind., is moving forward on eminent domain proceedings to complete the land acquisition needed for the South Shore Line’s Double Track project, which will drastically remake the single-track street running in the community that is a unique […]
The layout at a glance Name: Midwest Lines Layout owner: Rolf Plachter Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 33 x 52 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Rock Island; and Union Pacific Locale: Denver to Milwaukee Era: mid-1960s Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 400 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2 […]
BERLIN — In Germany. where the world’s first hydrogen powered train entered service in 2018, the new propulsion technology has not resulted in large contracts for new trains, although some have been ordered. Almost every European country has signed up to remove diesel-powered trains by 2050 to lower future carbon emissions. Some are aiming to […]
Ontario’s Huron Central will continue operating until at least June 30, marking at least the third time owner Genesee & Wyoming has reversed plans to close the 173-mile line between Sault St. Marie and Sudbury. CTV News reports the company, which had planned to cease operations on Dec. 18, extended the deadline because of progress […]
DC Metro releases report saying earlier claims of misconduct are ‘unsubstantiated’ DC Metro has released a report on an independent investigation into its Rail Operations Control Center that says complaints about misconduct by officials at the facility are “unsubstantiated.” The Washington Post reports the WMATA report, released Friday, is in response to an audit by […]
ANTONITO, Colo. — The Durango Railroad Historical Society and Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad will perform the Federal Railroad Administration-required 15-year inspection on D&RGW C-18 locomotive No. 18, the 2-8-0 built by Baldwin for the Florence & Cripple Creek. The work will be performed in the Cumbres & Toltec’s Antonito shops, with historical society volunteers […]
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Intermodal traffic will grow in 2021 but carload traffic will continue to struggle to recover from the pandemic in the new year, according to a freight forecasting firm’s outlook. Todd Tranausky, vice president of rail and intermodal at FTR Transportation Intelligence, projects that intermodal volume will grow by 5.4% next year. […]
Metra adds second bike car to Milwaukee North line Chicago’s Metra has introduced a second bike car on the Milwaukee North Line, expanding the program to offer bike car service on 14 weekday trains and eight on weekends. The bike cars, with a distinctive blue and gray paint scheme, can accommodate 16 bicycles rather than […]
FRA issues new rule on brake inspections The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a new rule increasing the amount of time freight equipment can be left “off-air” (stopped with the air brake system depressurized) before requiring a new brake inspection. In a press release, the agency says the rule should reduce the number of idling […]
Legislators seek transfer of federal park land for Long Bridge project Virginia’s Congressional delegation is attempting to get a small section of National Park Service land transferred for use in the Long Bridge project that is an essential part of the state’s plan to ease rail congestion, with the state’s senators considering a move to […]
WASHINGTON — The agencies overseeing state-sponsored Amtrak trains in California have asked Congress to address the national passenger railroad’s method of charging them for operations, focusing new attention on a long-simmering dispute. A Nov. 30 letter by San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission Executive Director Stacey Mortenson, obtained by Trains News Wire, urges “that states only […]
