MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Class I railroad chief executives told an investor conference today that their crystal ball is as cloudy as anyone’s regarding the potential impact of the tariffs that President Donald Trump has threatened to impose on Mexico and Canada. The 25% tariffs initially were due to begin this month, but Trump subsequently […]
PHILADELPHIA — A new company has announced plans to develop a private sleeper-train service connecting major destinations, and says it aims to have a demonstration unit in the second half of 2026. Lunatrain, which describes itself as “a private, early-stage company,” says it will develop a network of express, non-stop night trains in the Midwest […]
MONTREAL — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced plans to build a high speed rail line linking Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City, calling it “the largest infrastructure project in Canadian history.” The 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) system, to be known as Alto, will have a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour (186 mph), with intermediate […]
NEWARK, N.J. — Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 19, NJ Transit will begin a combination of limited train service and bus substitution to replace operations on its Raritan Valley Line, the transit agency has announced. Service was blocked earlier today (Feb. 18) because of the derailment of a Norfolk Southern intermodal train on a section of Conrail […]
WASHINGTON — A rail that broke because of the failure of a weld led to the Oct. 15, 2023, derailment of a BNSF coal train at a bridge over Interstate 25 near Pueblo, Colo., leading to the death of a truck driver, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report. The investigation report was released […]
WASHINGTON — A Federal Railroad Administration study on mainline electrification recommends that the railroad industry develop a prototype dual-mode freight locomotive and battery tender that could test the feasibility of leaving cost-saving gaps between sections of overhead catenary. Over the decades, North American freight railroads have studied electrification but have always reached the same conclusion: […]
CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs is not one to shy away from a tall task. Since arriving at CSX in September 2022, he has been on a mission to repair the railroad’s damaged relationship with its employees. His goal: Build a culture of respect and trust, where workers feel valued and appreciated. It’s the cornerstone of […]
MONTREAL — The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has ratified a new four-year contract with Canadian National Railway, CN has announced. The union represents approximately 750 signals and communications workers in Canada. The deal includes annual 3% wage increases. “The ratification of this agreement by our employees with the IBEW union represents a mutually beneficial […]
Despite a few public setbacks, including the short-notice replacement of the previous Transport Secretary, the British government’s plans to restructure the passenger rail industry are moving ahead. Plans are to create a new national rail holding company, bringing together the railway network infrastructure and the operation of most passenger trains for the first time since […]
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and Gulf Gateway Terminal LLC have announced expanded storage capacity for liquid bulk traffic at Gulf Gateway’s facility at the Port of New Orleans. The terminal is a liquid storage and distribution on 40 acres at the port with access to all six Class I railroads […]
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The tourism organization that owns the Las Vegas Monorail is considering spending up to $12 million to keep the 3.9-mile, seven-station transit system running for at least another decade. The monorail, which dates to 2004, was purchased by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in 2020. Now the authority is […]
Railroad-related non-profit organizations are typically dedicated to preservation and educating others about the past. One such non-profit, however, is focused on the future of railroading and rail preservation: Next Generation Railroaders (NGR). Bridging the Gap, Passing the Torch The future of both industries depends on the next generation, but transferring knowledge and passion isn’t always […]
