CREATE partners outline bid for Mega Grant to advance 75th Street project

Map of complex group of rail lines in South Chicago

CHICAGO — It’s a measure of how large CREATE’s 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project is that, even having been divided into more manageable parts, it’s still too big, from a financial standpoint, for one of those parts to be fully funded through the federal government’s Mega Grant program. So, when CREATE — the Chicago Region […]

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Union Pacific earnings fall amid volume slump, but operations and service improve

Freight train with yellow locomotives in mountains

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific reported lower third quarter revenue and profits today (Oct. 19) as volume fell and cost pressure increased. “No doubt about it: It was a tough quarter,” new CEO Jim Vena told investors and analysts on the railroad’s earnings call this morning. But he said he was pleased with the railroad’s […]

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CSX announces sick-time agreement with Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen

CSX logo

JACKSONVILLE — The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen has ratified a paid sick leave agreement with CSX Corp. covering former Seaboard Coast Line properties, CSX announced today (Oct. 19, 2023). The agreement covers close to 400 employees. “We value the hard work and dedication of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen and all our employees who keep […]

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EPA orders more work to address creeks near site of East Palestine derailment

Burned out tank cars and standing water around derailment site. East Palestine street along NS main line to reopen Monday.

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Norfolk Southern to perform additional cleanup work on creeks in the area of the Feb. 3 East Palestine, Ohio, derailment, saying disturbance of sediment on those streams can lead to an “oily sheen” in the water. The order issued Wednesday covers a 5-mile area […]

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Three nominees for Amtrak board advance to full Senate

Man at table in congressional hearing room

WASHINGTON — The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Wednesday approved three nominations for the Amtrak Board of Directors, advancing those nominations to the full Senate for approval and ending a deadlock that has seen board members with long-expired terms continuing to serve, pending the approval of new nominees. The news site Roll […]

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Charlotte commuter rail proposal revived by Norfolk Southern willingness to discuss deal

Portion of map showing proposed Charlotte-area commuter rail line

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Norfolk Southern has revived hopes for a long-stalled commuter rail line between Charlotte and communities in the Lake Norman area by indicating its willingness to “consider … a possible transaction” over the NS line that would be a necessary part of the route north of the city — a change from the […]

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Hydrogen fuel conversion planned for Irish EMD-built locomotive

Orange and black double-cab locomotive coupled to similar locomotive with gray paint

Irish national rail company Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) has announced plans to convert one of its EMD-built locomotives to burn hydrogen instead of diesel fuel. IÉ is working in partnership with Latvian rail engineering firm DIGAS to test the use of a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine in an existing Class 071 diesel freight locomotive. Since earlier […]

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South Dakota board backs six infrastructure projects for federal grants

Track hanging unsupported over creek

PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Railroad Board will support six of the eight projects which have applied for Federal Railroad Administration infrastructure grants, KELO-TV reports. Some $58.9 million is available for projects in the state under the Special Transportation Circumstances program, for states that lack intercity passenger service or are not connected to the […]

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J.B. Hunt set a weekly intermodal volume record in September as traffic rebounds

LOWELL, Ark. – J.B. Hunt had its biggest intermodal volume week ever in September and demand remains strong this month in a potential indication that the intermodal doldrums are finally over. J.B. Hunt’s intermodal third-quarter volume entered positive territory for the first time in three quarters, executives said on the company’s earnings call on Tuesday. […]

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Intermodal growth propels overall gain in weekly rail traffic, AAR says

Intermodal train on triple-track railroad

WASHINGTON – Total U.S. weekly rail traffic eked out a 0.5% gain for the week ending Oct. 14, the Association of American Railroads reported today. Total carloads down 2% compared with the same week in 2022, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was up 2.8% compared to a year ago. Six of the 10 carload commodity […]

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CN names two operations executives to succeed retiring chief operating officer

Canadian National logo

MONTREAL — Canadian National today appointed two operations executives to take over for retiring Chief Operating Officer Ed Harris. Patrick Whitehead was named executive vice president and chief network operating officer, while Derek Taylor was named executive vice president and chief field operating officer. Both appointments are effective Nov. 15. Railroads traditionally have a lone […]

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Metra lands federal grant to purchase battery-powered trainsets

Yellow and white multiple-unit trainset on straight track

CHICAGO — Metra will receive a federal grant of almost $170 million — the largest discretionary grant in its history — to buy battery-powered trainsets, the commuter rail operator announced Tuesday. The grant under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program was approved last week by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the […]

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