BERLIN — German national passenger rail operator Deutsche Bahn has dropped fares for intercity travel for the first time in 17 years, with a 10% on tickets for intercity travel of more than 31 miles (50 kilometers). The lower fares reflect a decrease in the German government’s value-added tax on rail travel, from 19% to […]
DALLAS — Progress Rail has sold its rail maintenance-of-way equipment leasing company to affiliates of Paceline Equity Partners, Paceline announced Thursday. Paceline is a Dallas-based private equity manager with investments in assets, corporate debt, and private equity. Progress Rail Equipment Leasing Corp., headquartered in the Detroit area, provides equipment for maintenance work including tie replacement, […]
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has dismissed a complaint from a coalition of rail shippers taking issue with what they characterized as unfair fuel surcharges. The STB’s decision to deny the petition for reconsideration on Dec. 30 is the latest in a long-brewing conflict over fuel surcharges. Railroads say they are simply trying to […]
Trains editors discuss all the rail news that’s fit to print for the week of Jan. 3, 2020. This week, Jim and Steve talk about a BNSF Railway derailment in Idaho, a judge’s ruling on a Durango & Silverton lawsuit, and more. […]
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 — A BNSF Railway crew was briefly trapped inside a partially-submerged locomotive following a derailment in northern Idaho Wednesday night. BNSF spokesperson Gus Melonas tells Trains News […]
Bombardier’s contract to operate and maintain the AirTrain system at New York’s JFK Airport has been renewed. Bombardier NEW YORK — Bombardier Transportation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have renewed Bombardier’s contract to operate and maintain the automated AirTrain system at John F. Kennedy Airport, which connects airport terminals with […]
DURANGO, Colo. — A federal judge in Colorado has recommended the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit seeking costs associated with a 2018 wildfire be thrown out. In July 2019, attorneys for the federal government filed a lawsuit demanding the narrow gauge railroad pay $25 million to compensate the U.S. […]
BOSTON — Preliminary indications are that a low-speed derailment of a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter train on Dec. 26 came when the train crew attempted to pass through a switch that was not properly aligned, a finding that is sparking plans for more crew training. The MBTA, contract operator Keolis Commuter Services, and the […]
MOBILE, Ala. — As expected, the Mobile City Council has delayed its vote on providing funding support for the restoration of Amtrak service to the Gulf Coast. Fox 10 News reports the vote is now set for Jan. 28. Mobile is asked to being commit to providing $2 million to $3 million to match a […]
Canadian Pacific was the only Class I railroad to show volume growth in 2019. CP eked out 0.9% growth in total traffic, well above the industry average of a 3% decline in total volume measured by carloads and intermodal units, according to a Trains News Wire review of the railroads’ weekly carload reports. CP also […]
VIA Rail Canada’s train from Churchill, Manitoba, to Winnipeg derailed on Tuesday, injuring five people on board. Manitoba RCMP, via Twitter KATRIME, Manitoba — VIA Rail Canada’s remote-service train from Churchill, Man., derailed Tuesday morning near Winnipeg, sending two passengers and three crew members to the hospital. Train No. 692 derailed at 6:44 a.m. at […]
Florida East Coast’s single-track right-of-way through downtown Melbourne, Fla., shown in 2014, is being converted to two tracks to support Virgin Trains USA passenger service. An appeals court decision has upheld Virgin Trains’ right to use private activity bonds as part of the funding package for that project. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — The U.S. Court […]
