Reading & Northern plans to upgrade new line for 40-mph operation, will look to begin passenger excursions Reading & Northern owner Andy Muller plans to spend $4 million to $5 million to upgrade the 19.5-mile line he is purchasing from Carbon County, Pa., with the goal of raising track speed from the current 25-mph limit […]
LA Metro budget will restore service to pre-pandemic levels LA Metro has released an $8 billion budget for fiscal 2022 including restoration of rail and bus service to pre-pandemic levels and the start of testing for two projects: the 8.5-mile Crenshaw/LAX light rail line, also known as the K line, and the 1.9-mile Regional Connector, […]
Short line company Pioneer Railcorp becomes Pioneer Lines Holding company Pioneer Railcorp, which operates 15 railroads in 12 states as well as related services such as transloading and storage, has changed its name to Pioneer Lines. The change comes as the company marks 35 years in business, and two years after it was acquired by […]
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. […]
Texas Central, Kiewit announce deal for electrical systems Texas Central, the planned high speed Dallas-Houston rail line, has signed a $1.6 billion contract with Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. and affiliate Mass. Electric Construction Co. to build the electrical systems needed for propulsion, signaling, and communications for the system replicating the Shinkansen technology of the Central […]
BISMARCK, N.D. — After five years in which local preservation efforts have delayed efforts to replace the structure, BNSF Railway has asked the U.S. Coast Guard to allow efforts to proceed to demolish the 138-year-old Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge over the Missouri River. The Bismarck Tribune reports BNSF Director of Bridge Maintenance Mike Herzog sent an […]
History of the Northern Pacific Railway In 1864 Abraham Lincoln signed the charter of a railroad to be built from the Great Lakes to Puget Sound — the Northern Pacific Railroad. The Philadelphia banking house of Jay Cooke & Co. undertook to sell the bonds, which were to yield 7.3 percent interest, and sold $30 […]
Biden nominates former FRA official Hedlund for STB President Joe Biden has nominated Karen Hedlund to serve on the Surface Transportation Board, filling the one current vacancy on the five-person board. A White House press release says Hedland has served as chief council for the Federal Highway Adminstration, and chief counsel and deputy administrator for […]
Amtrak tickets on Northeast Corridor will now show carbon-emission savings Amtrak will add information on carbon-emission savings to Northeast Corridor tickets, showing how much they saved by not driving and by not flying. On the electrified route between Boston and Washington, D.C., Amtrak says use of its trains produces 83% less emissions than driving and […]
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific is closely watching the battle for Kansas City Southern and how an acquisition by either Canadian Pacific or Canadian National could affect its cross-border traffic. UP CEO Lance Fritz notes that U.S. regulations require that mergers between Class I railroads must enhance competition and improve service for all shippers. “For […]
Canada’s federal budget includes funds for VIA high-frequency rail, other infrastructure projects Canada’s federal budget unveiled on Monday includes $4.4 million for continued planning work on VIA Rail Canada’s proposed “high frequency rail” project, which would provide a separate, passenger-only route for part of the corridor between Toronto and Quebec City. Global News reports the […]
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific says Canadian National’s competing bid for Kansas City Southern would reduce competition, raise significant regulatory concerns, and upset competitive balance in the North American rail network. CN’s unsolicited $33.7 billion offer, announced Tuesday morning, tops the $29 billion deal CP reached last month to acquire KCS. The KCS board says […]
