Official suggests combining Dallas-Fort Worth area commuter rail operations

Map of Dallas-Fort Worth area rail transit

FORT WORTH, Texas — A rail authority combining four current or about-to-open commuter rail operations could be an option to help maintain service in North Texas in the face of potential funding cuts, a regional transit official has suggested According to news site Fort Worth Report, Michael Morris, transportation director of the North Central Texas […]

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Canadian ports facing container delays from weather, rail issues

Locomotive switching at container terminal

Delays are hampering intermodal operations at several container ports in North America as weather and rail woes hit gateways on both coasts, according to a DHL port update for March. On the east coast, Canada’s Port of Halifax is seeing significant vessel delays due to harsh North Atlantic weather conditions. Compounding this issue is an […]

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Ironhorse Resources to partner on Laredo-area industrial park

Aerial view of vacant land next to interstate highway and rail line

LAREDO, Texas — Railroad and logistics company Ironhorse Resources will partner with Kraus Development to develop a 2,000-acre rail industrial park as part of Kraus’ Gateway Industrial Park north of Laredo. The Gateway Rail Industrial Park will be part of a more than 3,300-acre development at the intersection of Interstate 35 and State Route 255, […]

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County Line Rail acquires Texas short line Sabine River & Northern

Logo of County Line Rail

HOUSTON — County Line Rail, which acquires and develops rail yards and terminals in the Gulf Coast region, has purchased the Sabine River & Northern, a 40-mile short line in the southeastern corner of Texas. The railroad dates to 1966. It connects three Class I railroads — BNSF, CPKC, and Union Pacific. It operates a […]

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Weather, fires disrupt Texas Eagle and Southwest Chief routes

Baggage cart next to bilevel passenger train at station

CHICAGO — Miles of downed trees and power lines through rural Missouri and Arkansas over the weekend resulted in half-day delays or truncations for two Texas Eagles. Meanwhile, a Los Angeles-bound Southwest Chief sat for 8 hours in New Mexico when a wind-driven brush fire blocked the right-of-way. Texas Eagle challenges  A Washington Post storm […]

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STB issues draft environmental statement on proposed Texas border crossing railroad

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis today issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Green Eagle Railroad’s proposed construction and operation of a 1.3-mile rail line and border crossing in Eagle Pass, Texas. The draft reviews two potential routes for the line, which was proposed in December 2023, as well as […]

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Patriot Rail to build transload facility on CPKC in Texas

Patriot Rail logo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Short line and regional rail company Patriot Rail Co. is set to expand its transload services in Texas. In partnership with Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Patriot Rail will establish a new multicommodity transload facility on CPKC’s network in Denton, Texas. The move aims to enhance transload services and logistics solutions for customers […]

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Following court ruling, UP says it will close Palestine, Texas, shop

Aerial view of rail yard and shop buildings

PALESTINE, Texas — Union Pacific on Monday notified employees at its Palestine, Texas, car shop that their current jobs would be eliminated following the latest ruling in a long-running court battle over an agreement dating to 1872. The Dallas Morning News reports the railroad notified the 57 employees it would close the shop after the […]

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STB approves new operator for former Blackwell Northern route

Map of rail line between Wellington, Kan., and Blackwell, Okla.

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has granted Land Rush Rail Corp., part of Farmrail, permission to lease and operate 37.26 miles of track in Oklahoma and Kansas previously operated by the Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad. The route, from Wellington, Kan., to Blackwell, Okla, is owned by the Blackwell Industrial Authority and the Oklahoma Department […]

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South Dakota Senate votes down Amtrak resolution

Map of rail route between Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul through South Dakota

PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota’s Senate has voted down a bill calling for support for introduction of Amtrak service in the state. House Concurrent Resolution 6008 calls for state’s congressional delegation and the Trump administration to work for development of a route through the state connecting Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul [see “South Dakota resolution …,” […]

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Amtrak hit by simultaneous Northeast Corridor stoppages (updated)

Long-distance passenger train behind elecric locomotive on S curve

WASHINGTON — All service between New York Penn Station and Newark, N.J., was suspended for about an hour today (Saturday, March 1) after debris apparently fouled electrical transmission wires over the tracks at Newark, according to an advisory on Amtrak’s website. Meanwhile, “ongoing switch and signal issues” at Washington Union Station has primarily affected trains […]

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