Engineer sues Amtrak over fatal ‘Cascades’ derailment NEWSWIRE

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The engineer in the fatal December 2017 Amtrak Cascades derailment in suing Amtrak, alleging he was not properly trained. Steve Carter TACOMA, Wash. — The engineer at the controls of an Amtrak train involved in a fatal Washington state derailment in 2017 has sued the passenger railroad, alleging that he was not properly trained. On […]

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Portland & Western files notice to discontinue service on northwest line NEWSWIRE

SEATTLE — Portland & Western Railroad, owned by Genesee & Wyoming, has filed with the Surface Transportation Board for permission to discontinue service on a 22.6-mile line between Astoria and Wauna in Clatsop County, Ore. “The subject line is an out of service segment of line the underlying property of which is owned by the […]

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Update: BNSF closures, Amtrak bus connections continue in Pacific Northwest NEWSWIRE

BNSF Railway Merritt, Wash., Robert W. Scott

BNSF Railway train Q-CHCSSE (Chicago to South Seattle) emerges from a snow squall at Merritt, Wash., on the east side of Stevens Pass on the BNSF Scenic Subdivision on Jan. 5, 2020. Robert W. Scott Updated Jan. 16, 2020, 9:45 a.m. SEATTLE – Less than favorable weather conditions yesterday afternoon and overnight prevented the opening […]

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Winter weather hits BNSF hard in the Northwest NEWSWIRE

BNSF Railway Berne, Wash., photo by Robert W. Scott

BNSF Railway train Q-CHCSSE (quality intermodal, Chicago, Ill., to South Seattle, Wash.) pulls up the 2.2% grade at Berne on BNSF’s Scenic Subdivision in Washington Jan. 5, 2020. The train is about to enter the Cascade Tunnel under Stevens Pass. The snow on this day was the beginning of a multiple-day weather event in the […]

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BNSF plans recovery of locomotives in Idaho river NEWSWIRE

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BNSF locomotives remain in the Kootenai River following a Jan. 1 derailment. Idaho State Police BONNERS FERRY, Idaho – BNSF Railway is going fishing for locomotives. More than a week after a derailment along Idaho’s Kootenai River closed BNSF Railway’s main line to the Pacific Northwest for nearly three days, two locomotives are still in […]

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BNSF reopens main line following Idaho derailment NEWSWIRE

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BNSF’s main line to the Pacific Northwest is shut down after this train derailed into the Kootenai River in Idaho on Wednesday. Idaho State Police BONNERS FERRY, Idaho — BNSF Railway is untangling its operations in the Pacific Northwest after a derailment in Idaho closed its northern transcontinental main line for three days. On Jan. […]

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BNSF main line still closed after Idaho derailment

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BONNERS FERRY, Idaho — BNSF Railway’s main line to the Pacific Northwest is still closed, more than a day after a derailment sent a locomotive into a frigid Idaho river. On Wednesday night, a westbound manifest freight derailed on BNSF’s Kootenai River Subdivision near Katka, about 10 miles east of Bonners Ferry. Three locomotives and […]

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Move to industrial park brings traffic to Montana shortline, sets stage for new rail trail NEWSWIRE

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The last Mission Mountain local into downtown Kalispell, Mont., prepares to depart on Dec. 27. Justin Franz KALISPELL, Mont. — The last train into Kalispell rolled out of town on Dec. 27, just four days shy of the 128th anniversary of the Great Northern Railway’s arrival in the community. But despite the finality of the […]

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Reduced operations on tap for Sound Transit light rail NEWSWIRE

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SEATTLE — Sound Transit’s Link light rail service will see service reductions for a 10-week period beginning Jan. 4, including three weekends when bus service will substitute for part of the route. The reductions will allow construction connecting existing tracks to the new 19-station East Link line to Redmond, Wash. Trains will run on 12-minute […]

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