Operation Lifesaver, partners award more than $219,000 for rail safety campaigns

Black and yellow locomotive on passenger train

WASHINGTON — Rail safety organization Operator Lifesaver Inc., in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration and Pittsburgh’s Posner Foundation, has awarded more than $219,000 for rail safety awareness campaigns in 11 states, OLI announced today (April 24, 2025). “We are thrilled to announce this year’s grant recipients, whose innovative approaches are advancing rail safety education,” […]

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Jury decides GATX won’t have to help pay East Palestine derailment settlement

Black cloud of smoke above town

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — GATX, the rail equipment leasing company that owned one of the railcars in the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment, will not have to pay a portion of Norfolk Southern’s $600 million settlement with residents. After a trial that lasted more than three weeks, a federal jury in Youngstown on Wednesday found GATX Corp. […]

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Union Pacific posts flat quarterly results despite volume growth

Yellow locomotive leading freight train with Chicago skyline in background

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific reported flat quarterly earnings today (April 24, 2025) as a decline in fuel surcharge revenue offset record freight revenue that flowed from industry-leading volume growth. “We had a solid start to the year … we delivered record first quarter operating performance,” CEO Jim Vena told investors and analysts on the […]

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Weekly U.S. rail volume continues above 2024 levels

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type, plus total intermodal volume

WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic continues to run ahead of 2024 levels, with increases in both carload and intermodal traffic. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads for the week ending April 19 shows total traffic of 496,053 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 4.5% over the same week a year ago. The […]

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Model Railroader Tips & Tricks | Installing roadbed at turnouts

Installing roadbed at turnouts | Watch and learn how to lay cork roadbed material under track switches of any scale or gauge. Follow along with David’s helpful tips and tricks, and you’ll be well under way to providing a smooth and level base for under the most critical locations of your model railroad trackwork! Be […]

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NTSB report on NS rear-end collision urges FRA to finish research on patching hole in PTC

WASHINGTON — The probable cause of a rear-end collision between two Norfolk Southern freight trains near Easton, Pa., last year — an incident that involved three trains in all — was the engineer’s failure to follow restricted speed requirements, the National Transportation Safety Board said today (April 23, 2025). But the lack of positive train […]

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Colorado member of U.S. House seeks to remove funding for Front Range passenger project

Map of proposed Fort Collins-Pueblo rail service

DENVER — One of Colorado’s members of Congress is calling for the U.S. Department of Transportation to rescind funding to the state’s Front Range Passenger Rail project, claiming it a waste of federal funding. Colorado’s governor says no federal funding has been allotted to construction for the project. U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Windsor, Colo.), in […]

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Wabtec revenue and profits increase while order backlog grows

Locomotive cabs in primer paint on factory floor

PITTSBURGH — Wabtec reported higher quarterly revenue and earnings today thanks to growth in its freight and transit business segments. “The Wabtec team has started the year strong, delivering over 20% in earnings per share growth and highlighting the continued business momentum across both the Freight and Transit segments,” CEO Rafael Santana said. Operating income […]

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Cost improvements boost Norfolk Southern profits despite impact of winter storms

Norfolk Southern train crossing bridge

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern posted higher profits in the first quarter despite flat revenue and the impact of harsh winter weather. “There’s a lot to be pleased with this quarter,” CEO Mark George said, including delivering financial results in line with expectations despite a “vicious winter” that included 18 storms. “Our network resiliency was evident […]

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Mount Vernon Railroad launches service at Indiana port

MOUNT VERNON, Ind. — The Mount Vernon Railroad, a partnership between OmniTRAX and the Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon, marked its grand opening on Tuesday with ceremonies including a ribbon cutting and a visit by local elementary school students to see the two locomotives they named in a context. OmniTRAX will serve as switching operator for the […]

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National Conference of Firemen and Oilers ratifies UP contract

Logo of National Conference of Firemen and Oilers

OMAHA, Neb. — Members of the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers have ratified a five-year agreement with Union Pacific, the railroad announced. “I want to thank the NCFO’s leadership and members for all their hard work during negotiations and for approving this agreement,” Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said in a press release. “We […]

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Little rail content in platform of Canada’s Conservative Party

Two men walking in front of tank cars

OTTAWA, Ontario — Rail projects and the rail industry get little attention in the 30-page policy platform released Tuesday by Canada’s Conservative Party ahead of national elections to be held April 28. The platform for the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, highlights a promise of a 15% cut in income taxes, cutting the federal budget […]

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