Court rejects VTA request for order to end strike for technical reasons

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority logo

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s bid for a court order to end a strike by 1,500 workers experienced a setback today (March 17, 2025), as a judge ruled the initial filing was not compliant with court rules. Public broadcaster KQED reports Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Daniel T. Nishigaya […]

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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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CPKC keeps its fingers crossed amid trade war: Analysis

Freshly painted red and black diesels with gold trim and white letters

Canadian Pacific Kansas City CEO Keith Creel is the calm in the center of an international storm that threatens to engulf his railroad. With the 2023 merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern, Creel’s CP made a $31 billion all-in bet on the combined railways’ ability to tap growing free trade in North America. […]

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From The Cab: Caboose memories

A long line of blue and yellow cabooses in a railroad yard.

I’ve been around long enough to have caboose memories. Am I really that old? I guess so. When I transferred to Amtrak after 10 years with Seaboard Coast Line, my former freight railroad, we still employed full crews of five persons — an engineer, fireman, and brakeman on the head, with a conductor, and flagman […]

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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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Santa Clara VTA asks governor to intervene in strike

White light rail train at station

SAN JOSE — The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority has asked California Gov. Gavin Newsom to intervene in the strike that enters its second week today (March 17, 2025). In a letter released on Saturday, March 15, the VTA has asked Newsom to appoint a Board of Investigation, which, under a section of the state […]

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Early Burlington Northern locomotives in review

Freshly painted green-and-black diesel locomotive in front of freight cars in yard

  When the long-anticipated “Hill Lines” merger finally created the Burlington Northern on March 2, 1970, it was time not to mourn the loss of a favorite, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, but to embrace and record the details of the changeover. I had been through this six years before, when the Norfolk & Western […]

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Bill for Amtrak Cascades improvements passed by Washington House

Cascades_Olympia_Lassen

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Legislation calling for increased frequencies and reduced travel times for Amtrak Cascades service has passed the Washington state House of Representatives and moved to the Senate. House Bill 1857 passed by a 68-29 vote last Wednesday, March 12, beating a deadline for bills to advance out of their house of origin by […]

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Santa Cruz rail project could require almost $1 billion in bridge replacement, repairs

Map of proposal rail line between Santa Cruz and Pajaro, Calif.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Bridge replacements or repairs for a proposed commuter rail service in Santa Cruz County could cost almost $1 billion, a consulting firm has determined. The news site Lookout Santa Cruz reports staff from the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and engineering firm HDR Inc. told a meeting this week that […]

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Freeland, former deputy prime minister, is Canada’s new minister of transport

Head shot of woman with dark hair in black clothing

OTTAWA, Ontario — Chrystia Freeland — who had been a candidate to become prime minister — is Canada’s new minister of transport. Freeland is part of the 24-member cabinet of new Prime Minister Mark Carney sworn in today (March 14, 2025). Anita Anand, who had been transport minister, is now minister of innovation, science, and […]

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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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STB to take closer look at NS bid to control Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will take a closer look at Norfolk Southern’s proposal to officially control Virginia terminal railroad Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line. CSX had asked the board to review competition issues involving NS and NPBL. CSX and NS have been locked in a legal dispute over the NPBL for six years. […]

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