Landfill receives 2.5 million pounds of debris from BNSF derailment

Tractor moves debris at landfill

LA CROSSE, Wis. — As cleanup from last week’s BNSF derailment near De Soto, Wis., continues, the La Crosse County landfill is processing some 2.5 million pounds of debris from the incident. The county says in a press release that the railroad asked La Crosse County for support as it had the nearest facility with […]

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South Shore to replace trains with buses to and from South Bend May 8-19

South Shore commuter train on S curve

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — South Shore Line commuter service, which is already busing passengers between Gary, Ind., and Michigan City while it double tracks the main line between those cities, will also be busing passengers from South Bend for 11 days beginning next week. Buses will operate between South Bend International Airport and Gary Metro […]

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Penn Central history remembered

Black-and-white locomotives on Penn Central history freight train curving through mountains

Penn Central history began existence on Feb. 1, 1968. More accurately, it was incorporated in 1846 as the Pennsylvania Railroad; changed its name to Pennsylvania New York Central Transportation Co. on Feb. 1, 1968, when it merged the New York Central; and adopted the name Penn Central Co. on May 8, 1968. On Oct. 1, […]

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News photos: Flooding along the Mississippi

A BNSF train tiptoes through high water at Savanna, Ill., on April 29, 2023. Jeremy J. Schrader.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said high water and flooding may have been a factor in last week’s derailment of a BNSF derailment near De Soto, Wis., although investigation is continuing. That incident sent some cars into the Mississippi River [see “BNSF reopens track at site of Wisconsin derailment,” Trains News Wire,” April 29, 2023]. But […]

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BNSF reopens track at site of Wisconsin derailment (updated)

BNSF Railway logo

DE SOTO, Wis. — BNSF Railway operations resumed today (Saturday, April 29) past the site of a Thursday derailment that injured four crew members and sent some cars into the Mississippi River. Clean-up at the site is continuing. The derailment occurred about 12:15 p.m. Thursday between the towns of De Soto and Ferryville, Wis., blocking […]

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Driver of truck in accident that killed NS conductor pleads not guilty

Diagram of grade-crossing accident

CLEVELAND — The driver of a dump truck involved in a Cleveland grade-crossing accident that killed a Norfolk Southern conductor has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter. WOIO-TV reports driver Ryan Hundley entered the plea Thursday in an appearance in Cleveland Municipal Court. Bond was set at $10,000. The March 7 accident occurred shortly after […]

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Two Metra lines disrupted as Amtrak locomotive derails at Chicago Union Station

Commuter train arrives at station

CHICAGO — The locomotive of an Amtrak Michigan Service train derailed at Chicago Union Station on Friday, leading to some Metra delays and cancellations  as well as Amtrak delays. No injures were reported. Patch.com reports the derailment occurred as the Amtrak train arrived from Michigan. Metra informed customers on Twitter that three SouthWest Service trains […]

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Prison inmate sues Norfolk Southern over East Palestine derailment

Workers and equipment around burned out tank cars

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — In the latest twist on lawsuits stemming from the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, a prison inmate is suing Norfolk Southern and its CEO, Alan Shaw, over alleged exposure to chemicals as a result of the Feb. 3 incident. Reuters reports that Joshua Turner, incarcerated at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown, […]

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Injuries reported in BNSF derailment along Mississippi River (updated)

BNSF Railway logo

DE SOTO, Wis. — Four people are now reported to have required medical treatment after a BNSF Railway train derailed along the Mississippi River on Thursday afternoon, with two cars entering the river. Spectrum News reports an ambulance service transported four patients to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries in relation to the injury. A BNSF […]

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Michigan bills seek to limit train size, require two-person crews

Blue and white diesel locomotives peek out from behind metal grain elevator

LANSING, Mich. — A Michigan legislator has introduced bills seeking to require two-person operating crews in the state, as well as limiting train size. Both bills introduced by State Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor, Mich.) would amend the state railroad code of 1993. Senate Bill No. 100 would require freight trains to have two-person crews, while […]

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New CPKC Chicago-Mexico intermodal service to debut May 11

Red locomotive with single intermodal car

CALGARY, Alberta — CPKC’s first new service — a pair of intermodal trains linking Chicago and Mexico — will launch on May 11, carrying containers from new customers Schneider and Knight-Swift. Daily hotshots 180 and 181 will link Chicago with Laredo, Texas; Monterrey, Mexico; and Mexico City. With third-day service to Laredo, fourth-day to Monterrey, […]

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