Stadler unveils first hydrogen train for U.S., announces order for up to 29 more

Blue and white two-car passenger trainset on display track

BERLIN — The first hydrogen-powered trainset for use in the U.S. has been presented to its owners at the InnoTrans trade fair by manufacturer Stadler — which also announced an order for more of the equipment for use in Amtrak California intercity service. The two-car trainset was ordered by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority […]

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Progress Rail to offer diesel-battery hybrid locomotives

Blue and gray end-cab locomotive with three-axle trucks

BERLIN — Progress rail will begin offering diesel-battery-electric hybrid locomotives, with the first two such units to be delivered this year to Rumo, a Brazilian railway and logistics company. The company announced the addition of the hybrid locomotive to its offerings on Tuesday at the InnoTrans rail trade fair. Rumo will begin testing two GT38H […]

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Rail workers’ group calls for Wednesday picketing

People with picket signs on sidewalk

An ad-hoc rail workers’ group is calling for informational picketing on Wednesday to address what it calls “the staffing shortages and lack of a decent quality of life” for employees as railroads, employees, and customers wait to see if unions will ratify tentative agreements that averted a strike last week. Meanwhile, the International Association of […]

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Coal mining companies complain about rail service, particularly in the East

Blue and yellow locomotive and train of hopper cars passes under signal bridge

WASHINGTON — The trade group representing coal mining operators has asked federal regulators to take action regarding erratic rail service, particularly in the east on CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. Mines have had to curtail production due to poor rail service that’s only getting worse even as demand for coal rises, the National Mining Association […]

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Innotrans trade fair opens in Berlin

Cab ends of red trainset and blue and white trainset on adjacent display tracks

BERLIN — The world’s biggest rail industry trade fair, InnoTrans, has returned after a four-year gap caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The show opened its doors in Berlin today (Tuesday, Sept. 20), with 2,834 exhibitors from 56 countries using the entire Messe Berlin exhibition grounds, which includes 26 buildings covering more than 1.7 million square feet, […]

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Livonia, Avon & Lakeville acquires controlling interest in Ontario Midland Railroad

Black and gold circular logo of Lovnia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad

LAKEVILLE, N.Y. — The Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad Corp. has completed acquisition of a controlling interest in the Ontario Midland Railroad Corp., operator of 52 miles of track in New York’s Wayne and Monroe counties. The LA&L now owns 55% of Ontario Midland stock, giving it ownership or control of four railroads, the others […]

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As stopgap to relieve crew shortages, CSX seeks transfers to Water Level Route terminals

Intermodal train with two blue and yellow locomotives at grade crossing

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation expected train crew availability to improve at its Selkirk, N.Y., hub after Labor Day as the summer vacation season wound down. But it appears crew shortages at Selkirk and elsewhere on the former Water Level Route across New York are getting worse, not better. In system notices sent last week, […]

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Vote on rail labor deal awaits final contract language

Logo of SMART-TD union

WASHINGTON — Ratification of the tentative agreement between railroads and a dozen unions remains in limbo while final contact language is being formalized, according to a message from one of the operating unions to its members. A final version of the tentative agreement not expected until sometime this week at the earliest, the International Association […]

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OmniTRAX has agreement in principle to buy San Luis & Rio Grande, bankruptcy trustee says

Train pulling up to the station

ALAMOSA, Colo. — Denver-based short line operator OmniTRAX has signed an agreement in principle to purchase the bankrupt San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad, Colorado’s Valley Courier newspaper reports. Bankruptcy trustee William Brandt told the newspaper that a letter of intent has been signed but negotiations are continuing to purchase the former Iowa Pacific Holdings […]

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Union Pacific drops Canadian Pacific from EMP intermodal program

Yellow locomotives moving double-stack cars with container crains in background

Union Pacific is booting Canadian Pacific out of the EMP domestic container pool. EMP, which rosters a 44,000-unit fleet of green 53-foot containers, is an interline intermodal partnership between UP and Norfolk Southern. CP, Canadian National, Kansas City Southern, and Florida East Coast also participate in EMP, which allows intermodal marketing companies to book loads […]

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Details emerge of 20-hour meeting that produced labor deal

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — Details of the negotiations that led to a tentative agreement between railroads and unions began emerging Thursday night, with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh saying he kept the two sides in his office for more than five hours at the end of 20 straight hours of talks. “The unions were very persistent on what […]

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Carload Considerations: Lessons from a near strike

Crew member walks across front of locomotive as another train passes on adjacent track

CHICAGO — Class I railroads reached tentative agreements with unions in the early-morning hours of Thursday, Sept. 15, putting to rest uncertainties about the prospect of a widespread work stoppage that could have begun as soon as today (Friday, Sept. 16). In the days leading to Thursday’s tentative agreements, Class I railroads started curtailing certain […]

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