Modelers supporting Ukrainian refugees: The HUB Division of the National Model Railroad Association, a 501(c)3 organization, has set up a fund to help our fellow model railroaders and prototype steam railroaders in their support of the Ukrainian refugee families who have arrived in Wolsztyn Poland. 100% of all funds donated go directly to this support. […]
EASTLEIGH, England — British container freight operator GB Railfreight has outshopped a locomotive specially painted to honor the people of Ukraine. The Class 66 locomotive, named “Glory to Ukraine,” is shown at the Arlington Fleet Services shop near Southampton in Southern England. The dual-cab locomotive was built at EMD’s General Motors Diesel factory in London, […]
BRUSSELS — European regulators have approved the pandemic-delayed merger of two high speed rail companies, Politico.eu reports. The merger of the Eurostar and Thalys companies was first proposed in 2019 [see “Proposed high speed merger …,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 30, 2019] but delayed as both companies struggled with plummeting ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
CONTAGEM, Brazil — Wabtec is introducing a new heavy-haul locomotive in Brazil designed to address decarbonization concerns while providing similar performance. The ES44ACi features a 12-cylinder Evolution Series diesel engine, producing the same 4,500 horsepower as the 16-cylinder FDL engine in its predecessor. “This represents greater energy efficiency and lower emissions,” Daniela Ornelas, Wabtec vice […]
Several of the largest steam heritage railways in Britain have announced reduced schedules or postponed special events involving multiple locomotives. The reason: a shortage of suitable coal because of transport or supply problems following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Britain once boasted the world’s largest coal export ports. Railways around the world relied on coal […]
OMAHA — Union Pacific will donate $500,000 to humanitarian relief in Ukraine, its largest-ever corporate donation for disaster relief, the company announced today. The funds will be split between the American Red Cross and Save the Children. The company had previously announced a 2-1 match for employee donations to six organizations providing direct support in […]
The thousands of refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine have rapidly become millions, and a huge number continue to rely on railways — both in Ukraine to get to the border, and in the European countries to which they are moving. Major stations across Europe, as well as those at previously insignificant rail junctions, […]
TAPACHULA, Mexico — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced plans to spend $1.4 billion to rehabilitate about 240 miles of rail lines in Chiapas and Oaxaxa states. The work will be part of the project to develop a rail line across the Tehuantepec Isthmus as an alternative to the Panama Canal. In a Friday […]
CHICAGO — In a preview of operations planned if their merger is approved, Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern have launched interline intermodal service between Mexico’s port of Lázaro Cárdenas and Chicago. The first train arrived at CP’s Bensenville Yard in Illinois on Tuesday. CP said in a press release the service was launched “out […]
PITTSBURGH — Wabtec Corp.’s philanthropic arm, the Wabtec Foundation, is donating $100,000 to Ukrainian refugee relief, the company announced Tuesday. The donation will be split between the International Rescue Committee, which works in more than 40 countries and 20 U.S. cities to help those devastated by conflict and disaster, and World Central Kitchen, which is […]
KYIV, Ukraine — The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has led to millions of civilians, most women and children (men aged 18-60 can’t leave) fleeing bombarded cities — some to the west of the country, with well over a million crossing into neighboring European nations since the war began Feb. 24. The railway system in […]
LONDON — Vivarail, the British passenger train re-manufacturing company owned by the Pittsburgh-based Railroad Development Corp., has won a contract to provide battery trains for passenger service in the suburbs west of London. Vivarail has developed a range of passenger trains using electric, diesel, and battery power which are now in regional service in England […]
