Brightline receives last of its Siemens trainsets (with video)

Two locomotives and passenger trainset arrive at maintenance facility

ORLANDO, Fla. — Brightline has received the last of the 10 trainsets for its Florida operation, and the last of the five ordered for its upcoming expansion of service to Orlando. The “Bright Orange 2” train arrived at the company’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Orlando on Sunday, Feb. 19, after a 10-day trip from the […]

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Quebec town votes against Lac-Mégantic bypass

Map of Lac-Megantic Bypass

FRONTENAC, Quebec — The town of Frontenac has voted in resounding fashion against the planned bypass to remove Canadian Pacific’s rail line from Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, but the results of the referendum apparently will not change the plans for the project. The CBC reports 92% of those in the community of 1,600 who cast ballots in […]

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Transportation Secretary calls for increased fines for rail safety violations

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will ask Congress to increase the maximum fine for railroad safety violations, Buttigieg said Sunday in a letter to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw. In another development stemming from the Feb. 3 derailment and fire of a NS train in East Palestine, Ohio, the chair of the Senate […]

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Arizona bill to limit trains to 8,500 feet advances in state legislature

PHOENIX — A bill to limit the length of freight trains in the state of Arizona has cleared its first legislative hurdle, advancing through the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Friday by a 10-0 vote with one abstention. HB 2531 would limit trains to 8,500 feet. Capitol Media Services reports that Rep. Consuelo […]

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Medical clinic to open this week in East Palestine

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

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The state of Ohio will open a medical clinic this week in the village of East Palestine to evaluate those concerned about symptoms or otherwise worried about the aftereffects of the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Friday. The Associated Press reports that DeWine also said […]

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Illinois legislators again ask STB to delay decision on CP-KCS merger

Train with black locomotive approaches curve at commuter rail station

WASHINGTON — Four federal legislators from Illinois have repeated a call for the Surface Transportation Board to delay a decision on the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger until the STB undertakes a separate assessment of the merger’s impact on the Chicago area. That decision could come as soon as the end of this month. The […]

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Norfolk Southern CEO Shaw visits East Palestine

Man speaking at conference

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw made his second visit to East Palestine today (Saturday, Feb. 18), visiting the ongoing cleanup from the Feb. 3 derailment and chemical release, as well as meeting with Mayor Trent Conaway, U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, and other officials. WBKN-TV reports Shaw said the controlled release of […]

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EPA administrator tries to reassure residents during East Palestine visit

Men in high-visibility vests in front of fire-damaged tank car

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan tried to reassure residents during a Thursday visit to the area concerned about the aftereffects of the Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train, saying he would feel comfortable returning to the area based on results of ongoing air and water testing. “I […]

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Amtrak named to Forbes list of America’s Best Large Employers

Passenger train on middle of three tracks during snowfall

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has been named as one of America’s Best Large Employers in a Forbes survey, which identifies the top 500 companies with 5,000 or more employees. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with 15,722 employees, topped the Forbes list. The ranking is based on a survey of about 45,000 workers at such companies, who […]

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TransmetriQ introduces Asset Manager software

Logos for Transmetric and parent company Railinc

CARY, N.C. — TransmetriQ, the rail software brand of data and information firm Railinc, has introduced Asset Manager, designed to provide railcar fleet owners with single-source information on location, status, and health of their equipment. “Asset Manager helps car owners get to the insights they need faster than any other product on the market,” TransmetriQ […]

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Intermodal, railroading’s growth engine, could use a tune-up: Analysis

Intermodal train snakes through curves

Intermodal has long been the rail industry’s growth engine. But it hasn’t been firing on all cylinders in recent years. Yes, 2018 was a record-setting year for volume, and 2021 was intermodal’s second-best year ever. That’s all well and good — except that intermodal hasn’t been keeping pace with economic growth and has lost market […]

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Public expresses frustration at East Palestine meeting

Aerial view of derailment cleanup and track work

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Large crowds, changes of format, and public frustration marked Wednesday night’s public meeting over the aftermath of the Feb. 3 derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine. The town hall meeting at the East Palestine High had been switched beforehand to an informational session featuring a series of tables with officials […]

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