PHILADELPHIA — Prosecutors said Amtrak engineer Brandon Bostian was “grossly negligent” in the fatal 2015 derailment of a Northeast Regional train during Friday’s opening arguments in the trial in Common Pleas Court. WTXT-TV reports the long-delayed trial of the 38-year-old Bostian, at the controls for the May 12, 2015, accident that killed eight, saw the […]
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Airport sues over California high speed rail project
BURBANK, Calif. — Hollywood Burbank Airport has filed suit against California’s high speed rail agency, arguing that the planned route and nearby underground station could affect airport operations. The suit comes as the California High Speed Rail Authority released the final environmental impact studies for the Northern California segment connecting San Jose and Merced. The […]
Former Amtrak employee pleads guilty to wire fraud
NEW ORLEANS — A former Amtrak employee has pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in connection with actions when she was working as an on-board service attendant. Kenya Butler-Small will be sentenced on June 15, 2022 for the charges, which carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, […]
STB clarifies earlier decision on shipper’s complaint against Union Pacific
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has clarified its decision allowing a Minnesota shipper’s complaint against Union Pacific — alleging the railroad had violated its common-carrier obligation by reducing service — saying it will consider granting relief only from the date of its original decision in November. Sanimax USA of South St Paul, Minn., processes […]
Sound Transit names interim CEO
SEATTLE — Sound Transit has named Brooke Belman, the agency’s current chief of staff, to serve as acting CEO as of May 31. Belman will succeed Peter Rogoff, who will depart on that date, until a new permanent CEO is selected. Belman joined Sound Transit in 20024 and has served in roles including Deputy Executive […]
Union Pacific engineering employee receives safety honor
OMAHA, Neb. — Chicago-based track supervisor Lakish Vanzant has been named as the 2021 recipient of Union Pacific’s J.C. Kenefick Safety Award, the highest safety honor the company can award to an individual. Vanzant, honored for work in training, field-testing curriculum, and work-rule compliance intiatives, received the honor on Feb. 24 at the Union Pacific […]
Southern Pacific locomotives remembered
Classic Trains editors are celebrating the history, heritage, and style of the Southern Pacific Lines all through February 2022. So, please enjoy this photo gallery of Southern Pacific locomotives selected from the archives of Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library. Southern Pacific locomotives were among the most distinctive in North America. The SP was one of the only […]
BNSF Railway reports record financial results for 2021
OMAHA, Neb. — BNSF Railway produced record profits in 2021 amid broad growth in traffic and revenue. For the year, BNSF’s operating income surged 13.7%, to $8.8 billion, as revenue rose 11.6%, to $22.5 billion, the railroad’s corporate parent, Berkshire Hathaway, reported on Saturday. The railroad’s operating ratio improved 0.7 points to a record 60.9%. […]
B&O Steam DVD review
You’ll relive the glory years on the Baltimore & Ohio steam operations in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. A wide area of the B&O is covered during the steam era including Cincinnati to North Vernon, Ind.; Cincinnati to Pittsburgh via Columbus; and around Wheeling, W.Va. Also shown are scenes at Cincinnati Union Terminal, including […]
DOT report critical of railroads: PSR, rising rates, and mergers
WASHINGTON – A U.S. DOT report critical of railroads discusses pandemic-related supply chain problems and cites concerns with Precision Scheduled Railroading, Class I railroad consolidation, and rising railroad rates. Among the recommendations in the 141-page report, released on Thursday in response to a Biden administration executive order issued a year ago: Increased regulation of freight […]
East Broad Top sells out Winter Spectacular
ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The East Broad Top Foundation posted a sold-out Winter Spectacular celebration Feb. 18-19, with 10 internal-combustion-powered trips over its restored main line between Rockhill Furnace and Colgate Grove and tours of the roundhouse and station archives. This year’s winter event built on the success of the Foundation’s first Winter Spectacular in […]
San Jose-area transit agency officials question future of light rail
SAN JOSE, Calif. — As it approaches the point of needing to order replacements for its light-rail vehicle fleet, the transit agency serving the San Jose area is considering a more existential question: whether its light rail system even has a future. The San Jose Spotlight reports that at a recent meeting of the Santa […]
