Digest: South Shore Line Double Track construction bids are higher than expected

Commuter train stops in street at night

South Shore faces decision after receiving higher-than-expected bids for Double Track project Bids for construction of the South Shore Line’s Double Track project came in higher than expected, leaving the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District to decide whether to accept the lowest bid or reject both offers in an attempt to achieve a lower price. […]

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Digest: NTSB issues preliminary report on BNSF fatality in Missouri

National Transportation Safety Board logo

NTSB indicates safety at industrial facilities will be part of investigation of BNSF fatality The National Transportation Safety Board has indicated it will look into safety factors for rail workers at industrial facilities, as well as investigating the cause, after issuing its preliminary report into the fatality of a BNSF Railway crew member at a […]

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Digest: Woman’s petition seeks to have CP move Iowa rail yard

Canadian Pacific Railway beaver logo

Citing blocked crossings, Iowa woman seeks to have CP move rail yard An Ottumwa, Iowa, woman has started a petition asking Canadian Pacific to move its railroad yard in the community because of blocked grade crossings that result nearby. KYOU-TV reports Trisha Rea, who works near the intersection of Blackhawk Road and North Quincy Avenue, […]

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Sgt. Saunders and the Kansas City Southern

Streamlined diesel locomotive passing depot

Throughout the 1960s, my grandfather owned a filling station in the tiny town of Lanagan, south of Joplin in the southwestern corner of Missouri on the Kansas City Southern main line. Every weekend I would be at the station, and once my chores were done, I was free to wander about the area. The KCS […]

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News photos: Fire destroys buildings at Amtrak’s Beech Grove shops (updated)

Buildings on fire next to Amtrak locomotive

BEECH GROVE, Ind. — Two structures at Amtrak’s Beech Grove Heavy Maintenance Facility, used to store paint and cleaning supplies, were destroyed by an early morning fire on Sunday. WTHR-TV reports firefighters were called just after 12:30 a.m. and found no working fire hydrant inside the facility, forcing them to run hose lines from Emerson […]

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New Acela, returning from Colorado testing, due in Chicago this morning

White long nosed high speed train in station

CHICAGO — The Amtrak next-generation Acela trainset that has been testing at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colo., is due in Chicago this morning as it returns to Alstom’s Hornell, N.Y., plant following the completion of that testing. The train is currently due to arrive at Chicago Union Station at 11:59 a.m., but is […]

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Digest: Senators introduce bill to provide $2.5 billion for grade-crossing improvements

Passenger train on straight track

Senators’ legislation would provide $500 million annually for grade-crossing separation, other improvements U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Roy Blunt (R.-Mo.) have introduced legislation to provide $2.5 billion — $500 million annually for five years — for grade-crossing separation projects and other track relocation projects to improve safety or reduce congestion. “Too many people are […]

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Digest: Illinois legislator seeks funds for Metra yard relocation project

Commuter train passes station

U.S. House member seeks funds for next step in Metra yard relocation project U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) is seeking $4 million to support relocation of a Metra yard on the UP Northwest line from Crystal Lake, Ill., to rural Woodstock, which could accommodate a full-service facility not possible at the current facility, limited by […]

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Digest: Maryland turns down request to single-track part of light rail project

Logo of Maryland light rail Purple Line

Maryland DOT turns down request for single-tracking at Purple Line station, citing ‘significant risk’ to project The Maryland Department of Transportation has turned down a request to reduce the Purple Line light rail project to a single track at its Bethesda station. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich had made the request, seeking to create room […]

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News photos: Wabtec battery-electric makes appearance in Chicago

Red and black locomotive with full-width carbody to accomodate batteries

CICERO, Ill. — Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive  No. 3000 made an appearance in the Chicago area on Tuesday, showing up as the trailing unit in a three-unit set of locomotives on an eastbound train of hopper cars. The train arrived at Cicero Yard shortly before noon, and departed a little more than two hours later, […]

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Digest: Biden to appear at Amtrak anniversary event

Amtrak logo.

President Biden to appear at Amtrak event in Philadelphia President Joe Biden will travel to Philadelphia on Friday to take part in Amtrak’s 50th anniversary celebration, the White House has announced. The New York Times reports Biden will appear at an event at 30th Street Station, promoting his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, as well as […]

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