Preservation group makes arguments to North Dakota Supreme Court on BNSF bridge

Train coming off bridge on broad curve

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on a preservation group’s appeal of permits allowing BNSF to build a new bridge across the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mandan, N.D., and demolish its existing bridge — as well as the group’s separate request for the court to determine whether the state, […]

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North Dakota Supreme Court to hear arguments on BNSF Bismarck bridge

Steam-powered passenger train on large truss bridge over water

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments today on a case stemming from a preservation group’s effort to prevent BNSF Railway from demolishing its bridge across the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mandan, N.D., once it completes construction of a new bridge. The group Friends of the Rail Bridge […]

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FRA announces availability of funds for rail projects in Alaska, South Dakota, Wyoming

Logo for Federal Railroad Administration

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration will offer $139 million in funding for rail infrastructure projects in Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming, the FRA has announced. The funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is for the Special Transportation Circumstances grant program, and provides funds for states that lack intercity passenger service or are not connected […]

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Two killed in South Dakota when SUV runs through crossing gate, derailing train

ELKTON, S.D. — Two people were killed Friday when their vehicle crashed through a crossing-gate arm and struck a moving train, setting the vehicle on fire and derailing the train into a grain elevator, the Mitchell Republic reports. The incident occurred about 7 p.m. at a grade crossing on the Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern […]

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BNSF train derails near Oklahoma City

BNSF Railway logo

MOORE, Okla. — Twenty-two cars of a BNSF Railway train derailed today (Friday, Aug. 18)  in suburban Oklahoma City, blocking a grade crossing that could remain closed for several days. The derailment kept Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer from reaching its Oklahoma City terminus. The Oklahoman newspaper reports the derailment involving carloads of plastic pellets occurred about […]

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Texas tourist railroads you must visit

TSRR30Gilliam

If you’re planning a visit to Texas, make sure to include these tourist railroads, museums, and displays as part of the itinerary. They’ll be the highlights of your adventure in the Lone Star State, as recommended by Trains Magazine’s Tourist Trains Guidebook. Texas Tourist Railroads and Museums Central Texas Austin Steam Train Association – 401 […]

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Amtrak working with Texas Central to ‘explore opportunities’ for Dallas-Houston high speed rail

Illustration of high speed train at station

WASHINGTON — Amtrak is working with Texas Central on efforts to determine the viability of the Texas company’s planned high-speed service between Dallas and Houston, and the two entities have submitted applications for federal grants for study and design work, Amtrak announced in a press release today. “If we are going to add more high-speed […]

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BNSF hydrogen test locomotive donated to Oklahoma Railway Museum

Orange and green switcher parked at yard

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Oklahoma Railway Museum has taken delivery of a historic alternative fuel testbed locomotive, donated by BNSF Railway after use as a hydrogen fuel cell switcher in Southern California. Built as Canadian Pacific GP9 No. 8637 in 1957, the unit was rebuilt by CP in the mid-1980s and utilized in regular […]

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Southwest Chief, Texas Eagle compared: Lounge space, dining options make a difference — Analysis

Passenger train with two engines and four cars on curve

CHICAGO — As Trains News Wire has been reporting, a dearth of serviceable Superliners on Amtrak’s long-distance trains has limited mobility options in a year that has seen a significant surge in travel demand. Sellouts in coaches and sleeping cars for at least one segment of a route have been the rule, not the exception. […]

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Heartland Flyer’s challenging connections with the Southwest Chief

Time-exposure photo of passenger train blurred as it passes station building at night

NEWTON, Kan. — Extending the Heartland Flyer 198 miles to connect with the Chicago-Los Angeles Southwest Chief at Newton, Kan., has been a goal of passenger rail advocates ever since the state-funded train between Fort Worth, Texas, and Oklahoma City debuted in June 1999. In the meantime, passengers wishing to travel between these north-south and […]

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BNSF puts plans for Texas logistics facility on hold

Two orange diesel lead train past "Gunter" station sign

GUNTER, Texas — BNSF Railway is pulling back from plans to develop a 950-acre logistics center north of Dallas in light of community opposition. The railroad announced Wednesday that it was withdrawing an application to rezone and annex property in the community of 2,200 in Grayson County, about 45 miles from downtown Dallas, “based on […]

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Activists honored for maintaining interest in ‘Crescent’ extension to Dallas-Fort Worth

Man and woman holding framed awards

MARSHALL, Texas — A wide variety of state and local officials, as well as current and former representatives of Amtrak and its host railroads, assembled last week to honor two people in large part responsible for keeping alive a proposed extension of Amtrak’s Crescent between Meridian, Miss., and Fort Worth, Texas. Retired Harrison County Judge […]

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