WASHINGTON — In the latest in a recent series of rail safety bills, U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced on Wednesday, March 4, that they would introduce legislation requiring railroads to maintain visual track inspections in conjunction with automated track inspection systems. U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) is leading the companion […]
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have ratified a new four-year agreement with Alstom, the contract operator of Maryland Area Rail Commuter trains. The union also announced that train and engine service employees at Watco’s Austin Western Railroad have voted to join the union. The contract with Alstom, retroactive […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Transit Administration will provide $100.3 million in funding to support public transit systems in host cities for this summer’s World Cup soccer tournament, the agency announced Tuesday (March 3). The money will support planning, capital, and operating expenses for matches and related events; will be apportioned according to a formula involving […]
DUNSMUIR, Calif. — Operation of Amtrak’s Coast Starlight remains disrupted following a Sunday, March 1, derailment of a Union Pacific train at the Cantara Loop near Dunsmuir. According to a local TV report, about 19 cars derailed Sunday evening. UP told the broadcaster today (Tuesday, March 3) that no hazardous materials were involved and cleanup […]
Track maintenance projects requiring Amtrak cancellations or rescheduling are currently taking place or are forthcoming in the Southeast and West. Meanwhile, several long-distance trains continue to encounter a variety of problems as weather challenges subside. Southern California Most intercity and commuter trains traveling between San Diego and San Luis Obispo, Calif., will not operate next […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — VIA Rail Canada needs to improve service and to address some managerial practices, the Auditor General of Canada says in a report issued Friday (Feb. 27). But an audit generally found the company to be well run. The audit report’s assessment of VIA operations notes that the company owns just 3% of […]
EDINBURGH, Scotland — The operation of the internationally famous “Harry Potter” steam in the Scottish Highlands is once again threatened. More correctly known as The Jacobite, the train, started by British Rail in the 1980s, has been run since rail privatization in the 1990s by West Coast Railways, based in northern England. From April to […]
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will seek public comment as it develops an updated strategy for regional rail service, the agency announced on Thursday (Feb. 26). The MBTA’s Rail Modernization Plan will aim to identify near-term investments and long-term needs to improve frequency, reliability, and accessibility while pursuing decarbonization strategies. MBTA General Manager […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has weighed in on the Surface Transportation Board’s proposal to revise its rules regarding reciprocal switching, saying such agreements would serve national defense interests. The STB in January announced plans to repeal regulations that it says have prevented captive carload and bulk shippers from gaining access to a second railroad […]
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A bill introduced in the Illinois legislature would establish “aspirational service frequencies” of every four hours or less on 18 regional or long-distance passenger routes radiating from Chicago. HB4279, the Passenger Rail Planning Act, was introduced in January by state Reps. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) and Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). It does not include […]
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — CSX has reduced cargo theft in the Memphis area by more than 80% from a year ago through a task force targeting the issue as well as operational changes, the railroad says. Following a pandemic-era increase in criminal activity, the task force was formed in 2024 to address concerns for customer shipments, […]
COLUMBUS, Ga. — A Georgia city’s lawsuit claiming ownership of most of a Norfolk Southern rail yard landed in federal court on Wednesday (Feb. 25), where a judge will now determine if that is the proper venue for the dispute. Neither the railroad nor the City of Columbus believe it is. WRBL-TV reports Judge Clay […]
