Trucking firm countersues Union Pacific, blames crew and crossing design for fatal Texas crash

PECOS, Texas — The heavy haul trucking company whose rig was stopped on a grade crossing and struck by a Union Pacific Z-train a year ago, killing the train crew, has filed a lawsuit against the railroad. The countersuit, filed last week by Boss Heavy Haul and Optimized Process Designs in Reeves County District Court […]

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The 2-8-4 Berkshire-type steam locomotive

Nickel Plate Road

It isn’t much of a stretch to proclaim the 2-8-4 Berkshire-type steam locomotive as the “poster child” of the Super Power era of steam locomotives. “Berkshire,” “Kanawha,” “Big Emma” — regardless of what they were called, the wheel configuration helped advance steam technology through size, speed, and power. The development of the Berkshire all started […]

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News Photo: CPKC takes delivery of 100th new ET44AC from Wabtec

Last week, CPKC took delivery of its 100th Tier 4 @WabtecCorp Evolution Series diesel electric locomotive, unit number CP 7549, as part of a multi-year investment in American manufactured locomotive power. These locomotives, being built in Fort Worth, Texas, already are in… pic.twitter.com/O9zRUzaS8A — CPKC (@CPKCrail) December 8, 2025 CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific Kansas […]

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Seven billion reasons for Amtrak to rethink its Superliner plan: Analysis

Amtrak should be asking itself a $7 billion question about the future of its long-distance trains. Should it spend that Bipartisan Infrastructure Law windfall on nearly 600 new bilevel cars that would replace aging Superliner equipment — and continue with a problematic procurement process? Or would that money be better spent on a national single-level […]

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Thomas named president of TTX

Man in coat and light blue shirt

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Marty Thomas has been named president of TTX Co., the railcar pooling company announced today (Dec. 8, 2025). The promotion is effective immediately. Thomas will assume day-to-day leadership of TTX, reporting directly to CEO Tom Wells. Thomas joined TTX in November 2024 as executive vice president, overseeing supply chain, information technology, finance, […]

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Agency pursuing Milwaukee-Kenosha rail service holds first meeting

Map of rail route between Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Chicago

RACINE, Wis. — A new agency leading a revived and revised effort to develop passenger rail service between Kenosha, Wis., and Milwaukee has been launched. The Milwaukee Area-Racine-Kenosha (MARK) Passenger Rail Commission held its first meeting last week in Racine. The commission met Dec. 5 at Racine City Hall, the Racine County Eye reports, adopting […]

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FRA action opens door for increased automated track inspections (updated)

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration today (Dec. 5) approved a five-year waiver allowing expanded use of automatic track inspection, ending a long period when the FRA had not acted on requests regarding the technology. In a letter to the Association of American Railroads, Karl Alexy, the FRA’s chief safety officer, said the FRA’s Railroad Safety […]

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Alstom names Bernier as vice president of Rolling Stock and Components for North America

head shot of man in blue shirt in outdoor setting

NEW YORK — Alstom has named Marc Bernier as vice president, Rolling Stock and Components, North America, the company announced this week. Bernier had previously served as chief financial officer for the Americas and before that was chief financial officer for Bombardier Transportation in North America, which he had joined in 2019 from Bombardier Inc. […]

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Court ruling certifies class-action suit against CN, CP for 2021 Lytton, B.C., fire

View of railroad track from locomotive

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A British Columbia Supreme Court justice has certified a class-action lawsuit against Canadian National and Canadian Pacific (now CPKC) over the 2021 wildfire that destroyed the community of Lytton, B.C., saying in a ruling this week that there is “some basis in fact” to support allegation that railroad operations caused the […]

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Choe named as Virginia Railway Express CEO

Head shot of woman in red jacket and white blouse

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Katie Choe has been named as the new chief executive officer of commuter rail operator Virginia Railway Express. The appointment, effective Jan. 20, 2026, was made at the Thursday, Dec. 4, meetings of the two agencies that oversee VRE, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission. Choe replaces […]

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New York MTA site makes it easier to track capital projects

Screen shot of web page with map of New York subway system

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has launched a new online dashboard to monitor its capital projects, allowing viewers to see what is being built or replaced, the project budget, spending thus far, and the expected completion date. The Capital Program Dashboard, now available here in a Beta version, addresses projects on the Long […]

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SEPTA to miss latest FRA repair deadline because of wire shortage

Men in high-visibility safety clothing looking at equipment under commuter railcar

PHILADELPHIA — A shortage of thermal wire will prevent the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority from meeting a deadline today (Dec. 5) for ongoing repairs to its fleet of Silverliner IV electric multiple-unit cars. The agency is about 7,000 feet short of the wire needed to add additional fire-detection measures to the 1970s railcars, the subject […]

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