Europe plans new network of international high speed trains

Modern TGV Euroduplex double-deck set

BERLIN — The countries of the European Union have supported a proposal made by the German government to recreate the “Trans Europe Express” (TEE) system of international trains, which in the 1950s to 1970s represented the best and most luxurious international trains in Western Europe. Partly inspired by the Swedish “flight shaming” movement which seeks […]

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Digest: NS coal train derails in Illinois

aerial photograph of train cars derailed

More Monday morning rail news: NS coal train derails in Illinois
 Twenty-four cars of a Norfolk Southern coal train derailed in Panama, Ill., Sunday morning, according to a Facebook post by the Chris-Mont Emergency Management Agency. A press release from the agency says the Shoal Creek Fire Protection District was dispatched to the derailment at […]

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Digest: New Amtrak station opens in Buffalo

Amtrak logo

Still more Monday morning rail news: New Buffalo Amtrak station opens
 Amtrak’s new downtown Buffalo, N.Y., station opened Sunday, with the $28 million structure replacing a building from 1952 that had occupied the same spot. The Buffalo News reports the new building, at 4,800 square feet, is about three times as large as its predecessor, […]

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News Photo: Metra bike car debuts

Bike_Car_1_Lassen

CHICAGO — Metra’s first bike car — a Pullman-Standard coach with seating removed on half of the lower level, creating space for 16 bicycles — made its debut Saturday, a biking-friendly day of unseasonable temperatures in the 70s. Metra unveiled the car on Thursday, saying its debut had been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic […]

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New model trains for the week of November 12, 2020

Green diesel locomotive

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive. Burlington Northern (as-delivered scheme in three numbers, Pacific Pride II in one road number, and 1990s scheme in one number); Conrail (as-delivered scheme in three numbers, with white sill in two numbers, and “Quality” and Operation Lifesaver schemes in one number each); Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (post-delivery […]

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Norfolk Southern slims down to six divisions

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk Southern has reduced its number of operating divisions to six from nine, continuing an industry trend toward larger divisional territories. The move was effective Nov. 1, Chief Operating Officer Cindy Sanborn wrote in a memo to employees. The Southern Region, which previously included the Alabama, Georgia, and Piedmont divisions, is now […]

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