Virginia county owes Norfolk Southern more than $150,000 for taxation error

Norfolk Southern logo

ACCOMACK, Va. — If you’ve ever given any thought to how much a Class I railroad pays in taxes, consider this: A single county in Virginia owes Norfolk Southern more than $158,000 for a relatively small taxation error. The Eastern Shore Post reports that Accomack County, Va., will be sending NS a $158,713 refund for […]

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New Northlander paint scheme unveiled

Front view of passenger locomotive with smaller side-view image of four-car trainset

TIMMINS, Ontario — The Government of Ontario has released the exterior design for the new Northlander passenger trains being built by Siemens Mobility, and awarded a contract for construction of new platforms and installation of shelters at stops along the train’s route. Provincial Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria unveiled the design and announced the contracts […]

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Railroad bargaining group announces deal with dispatchers’ union

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Carriers Conference Committee, the negotiating arm of the organization representing Class I railroads in labor matters, has reached a tentative agreement for a new contract with the American Train Dispatchers Association. It is the fifth such agreement reached by the national group since the latest round of national bargaining, building […]

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News photo: Factory fresh from Wabtec

Black locomotives in rail yard with dusting of snow

BELLEVUE, Ohio  — Three units in the latest order for AC44C6M locomotive rebuilds make a short layover in Bellevue, Ohio, today (Friday, Dec. 6). The diesels are en route from Wabtec’s Fort Worth, Texas, factory to the company’s main facility in Erie, Pa., for final testing. Norfolk Southern ordered 330 of the locomotives, rebuilt from […]

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Indiana Rail Road’s Santa Train begins three-day journey

Logo of Indiana Railroad Santa Train

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Rail Road Santa Train begins its annual journey across the railroad today (Friday, Dec. 6), with stops scheduled in 12 communities over a three-day period. The Santa Train, launched in 1989, is an all-volunteer event providing cold-weather gear to families in need. At all stops but today’s initial location, in Bargersville, […]

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CSX asks Supreme Court to renew antitrust lawsuit against Norfolk Southern

Five locomotives on siding

WASHINGTON — CSX Transportation has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to continue its antitrust lawsuit against Norfolk Southern. CSX sued Norfolk Southern in October 2018, claiming its competitor conspired with Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad Co. to set an excessive “switch rate” on dock access to the Port of Virginia. CSX said the […]

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What Wall Street analysts are asking and railroads are saying going into 2025: Analysis

NEW YORK — Wall Street analysts are approaching 2025 with questions for railroad executives about pricing, inflation, wages, the operating ratio, and, to a lesser extent, geopolitics. Officers of Class I railroads fielded questions with these themes during the recent third-quarter earnings calls, likely their last official remarks to analysts this year. In 2024, railroads […]

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Caltrain to relocate headquarters to Millbrae

Exterior of modern offie building

MILLBRAE, Calif. — Commuter rail operator Caltrain will relocate its headquarters to Millbrae, near a station served by both Caltrain and Bay Area Rapid Transit, the agency announced Thursday, Dec. 5. Caltrain currently shares headquarters space in San Carlos, Calif., with SamTrans, the San Mateo County Transit District, which  announced in March that it would […]

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CEO of Ontario’s Metrolinx resigns

Metrolinx logo

TORONTO — Phil Verster, CEO of Ontario provincial transportation agency Metrolinx since 2017, has resigned, the provincial government announced this week. The CBC reports that a memo to employees said Verster is departing for a rail industry job outside of Canada. He will depart as soon as Dec. 16. Michael Lindsay, currently head of Infrastructure […]

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OmniTRAX parent acquires Atlanta industrial development site

Logo of short line company OmniTrax

ATLANTA — The Broe Group, the parent of short line holding company OmniTRAX, has acquired a former Kellogg’s plant in Atlanta and plans to redevelop the 14-acre property that’s served by the Fulton County Railway. “This build-to-suit project bundles proximity, power, and population centers,” Broe Real Estate Group Senior Vice President Kevin Caille said in […]

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Tennessee agency orders CSX to stop using river rock in Clinchfield rehab

Flood waters and debris at railroad bridge

ERWIN, Tenn. — CSX Transportation is being ordered to stop using river rock as fill material in the rebuild of its former Clinchfield Railroad line through the Nolichucky River gorge. WJHL-TV reports the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued the notice to the railroad following an investigation that determined CSX was using cobble bars […]

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Sauer named SEPTA interim general manager

Head shot of man in coat and open-collar shirt

PHILADELPHIA — Scott Sauer has been named interim general manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and assumed those duties this week, the agency has announced. Sauer joined SEPTA in 1990 as a train operator, following in the footsteps of his late father, Robert, who worked for SEPTA and the predecessor Philadelphia Transportation Co. for […]

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