Stockton Diamond project gains $14 million in funding

Map of crossing of BNSF, Union Pacifi mainlines in Stockton, Calif.

STOCKTON, Calif. — The Stockton Diamond Grade Separation project, which seeks to eliminate an at-grade crossing of BNSF and Union Pacific main lines, has received $14 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding. The funding has been approved by the San Joaquin Council of Governments, or SJCOG “The last thing our farmers and […]

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U.S. rail traffic remains ahead of 2024 levels

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type, plus overall intermodal volume

WASHINGTON — U.S. weekly rail traffic remained ahead of 2024 levels in the week ending April 5, the sixth straight week of such gains and just the second showing a double-digit increase. According to information from the Association of American Railroads, volume for the week was 500,584 carloads and intermodal units, an 11.2% increase over […]

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News photo: NS train reaches Asheville, N.C.

Train of hopper cars crossing concrete bridge across river

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The continuing work to restore service on Norfolk Southern’s line into Asheville reached a milestone on Tuesday (April 8) as an NS ballast train became the first train to reach Asheville since it was closed Sept. 27, 2024, by Hurricane Helene. More than 21,500 feet of track was washed out, and another […]

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Fuchs: Efficient Surface Transportation Board will foster rail competition, growth

Man speaking at podium with purple curtain as backdrop

DENVER — Surface Transportation Board Chairman Patrick Fuchs says he is transforming the regulatory agency into a more efficient body that will help support competition and growth for railroads. “We want to break down barriers to growth, encourage competition and elevate the role of markets instead of government,” Fuchs told the American Short Line and […]

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Reading & Northern: Mining success in anthracite country

Gray and black diesel locomotives roll through a railroad yard.

The Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (RBMN), also marketed as Reading & Northern, has evolved from a humble 13-mile short line into a significant 325-mile regional freight and passenger carrier in Pennsylvania. Its origin traces back to 1983 when Andrew Muller Jr., a retired businessman, leased a segment of the former Pennsylvania Railroad between […]

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Central Oregon & Pacific to take over Union Pacific operations in Eugene, Ore., this weekend

WASHINGTON — Genesee & Wyoming short line Central Oregon & Pacific can take over local operations from Union Pacific in Eugene, Ore., as soon as Saturday, federal regulators have ruled. In a unanimous decision today, the Surface Transportation Board denied the SMART-TD union’s request to scrutinize and reject the lease deal. The decision also denied […]

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Northwest Territories seek federal action to restore CN service to Hay River

Map of northern Alberta and Northwest Territories

HAY RIVER, Northwest Territories — The Government of the Northwest Territories has asked Canadian federal regulators to examine Canadian National Railway’s decision not to repair its damaged rail line to Hay River, which had been the northernmost point on the North American rail network. Vince McKay, infrastructure minister for the Northwest Territories, said on Monday […]

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Union Pacific CEO ‘very comfortable’ working through tariffs

Man in suit gesturing while speaking on stage

DENVER — Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena says his company will work through tariff shocks gripping the economy the same way it worked through the pandemic. “I can’t control what governments do,” Vena said Monday (April 7) as keynote speaker at the annual conference of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association. “It’s noisy, […]

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Freight arm of German national rail operator seeks end of single-carload traffic

Red electric locomotive with freight cars

​​BERLIN — The head of the freight subsidiary of German national rail company Deutsche Bahn is calling for the end of single-carload freight operations, saying such traffic is not profitable. “I cannot afford a permanent loss-making operation,” Sigrid Nikutta, CEO of DB Cargo, told DPA, the German Press Agency. “Either we succeed in making single-wagon […]

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CSX updates storm issues in Southeast

Yellow CSX letters with web address on side of locomotive

New issues continue to develop while other problem areas are improving, CSX Transportation said in an update today (April 7, 2025) on storm recovery efforts. Also, BNSF has provided an update on one of two weather-related derailments that closed the Thayer South Subdivision in Arkansas. CSX had highlighted three areas as especially problematic in a […]

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