Passengers board the southbound City of New Orleans at Greenwood, Miss., on Sept. 10, 2015. Rural and mid-sized communites could lose intercity passenger service under the corridor-focused plans put forward by the Trump administration and Amtrak. Bob Johnston WASHINGTON — More details have emerged from President Donald Trump’s proposed Amtrak cuts in the 2020 federal […]
The increased use of locally mined frac sand in America’s largest shale oil field, the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, is rapidly crowding out rail-hauled sand from the Midwest. On Union Pacific, for example, frac sand volume was down 45 percent this year through the first week of March, a trend the railroad […]
Big Boy steam locomotive 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 is in tow between two Union Pacific diesel locomotives in April 2014 near Rock Springs, Wyo. Small cities along the route of the Big Boy this year say they’ve not specifically prepared for tourists. TRAINS: Jim Wrinn EVANSTON, Wyo. — Union Pacific’s move of restored Big Boy No. […]
DENVER — Colorado has become the fifth state in the U.S. to pass a law requiring at least two people in the cab of a freight train. The bill, which was passed in both houses of the state legislature earlier this month and was signed into law on Thursday, was backed by the Brotherhood of […]
PHOENIX — The Phoenix City Council voted this week to formally delay planning for the proposed West Phoenix Transit Corridor light rail line and divert $153 million to street repair instead. The West Phoenix line would extend from the existing Valley Metro line at Camelback Road and North 19th Avenue, but was already in doubt […]
Walla Walla, Washington Google Maps WALLA WALLA, Wash. — A small operator of short lines plans to extend the reach of one of them in southeastern Washington. CWW LLC has filed with the Surface Transportation Board to operate on 55.56 miles of UP track in two segments, one running south from Walla Walla to Weston, […]
Watch Trains editors discuss all the rail news that’s fit to publish for the week of March 22, 2019. This week, Trains Editor Jim Wrinn and Digital Editor Steve Sweeney talk about Midwest flooding, NJ Transit’s new summer of hell, steam in the Caribbean, and more! Only from Trains! […]
CSX line sales in Florida CSX Transportation’s line sales are highlighted in yellow on the map. TRAINS: Rick Johnson/Steve Sweeney JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation’s deal to sell its Florida Panhandle route to short line operator RailUSA is back on. The newly created Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad is scheduled to make its debut over […]
HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut officials are encouraging visitors to NCAA basketball tournament games to ride the rails. On March 20, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced that additional late night return rail and bus services will be provided for the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournaments, which will be held in the […]
WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have scheduled a May hearing on Class I railroads’ higher demurrage and accessorial charges, which can hit shippers who don’t load or unload freight cars quickly enough. The May 22 hearing, which the Surface Transportation Board announced on Wednesday, comes as shippers are complaining about the charges that have become more […]
Mid-Continent Railway Museum’s proximity to the swollen Baraboo River in March 2019. Mid-Continent Railway Museum The recent deadly flooding across the Midwest has caused scores of problems for railroads, and after some close calls, railroad museums and preservation operations across the nation’s heartland continue to monitor nearby waterways for signs of trouble. Trains “News Wire” […]
McCormack with Nickel Plate Road-painted PA1 No. 190 in 2014. Justin Franz PORTLAND, Ore. – Preservationist and steam locomotive engineer Doyle McCormack has stepped down as president of the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation after 15 years. McCormack, best known as the engineer aboard Southern Pacific 4-8-4 No. 4449, will remain on the board of directors […]
