Four rail bridges on list of those needing assessment of collapse risk in ship collision

Some of the nation’s most famous bridges, including four that carry rail or rail transit traffic, are on a list of 68 the National Transportation Safety Board says need to be assessed to determine their vulnerability to collapse if struck by an ocean-going vessel. The list — which includes such landmarks as the Golden Gate […]

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Canadian ports facing container delays from weather, rail issues

Locomotive switching at container terminal

Delays are hampering intermodal operations at several container ports in North America as weather and rail woes hit gateways on both coasts, according to a DHL port update for March. On the east coast, Canada’s Port of Halifax is seeing significant vessel delays due to harsh North Atlantic weather conditions. Compounding this issue is an […]

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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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NS says route through Asheville, N.C. will reopen this month

Map of Norfolk Southern line damaged by Hurricane Helene

NEWPORT, Tenn. — Norfolk Southern is set to begin replacing a collapsed bridge today (March 12) on its line between Newport and Asheville, N.C., and should reopen the route closed by Hurricane Helene by the end of the month. New spans for the bridge across the Pigeon River in Newport will be placed today, Blue […]

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Lionel City of Miami train set

yellow and green model train on track

The City of Miami was a vibrant orange and palm green streamliner of the Illinois Central Railroad. Operating between 1940 and 1971, the train provided service from Chicago to Miami, and was powered by a single EMD E6 diesel locomotive. The first jaw-dropping feature of Lionel’s latest rendition of the set isn’t the locomotive  itself, […]

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CSX Virginia terminal railroad antitrust complaints are a ‘ghost story,’ Norfolk Southern says

WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern has urged the Surface Transportation Board to continue a case of regulatory housekeeping involving control of Virginia terminal railroad Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line. Last month CSX told the STB that the Justice Department was probing its allegations about anticompetitive conduct involving NS and NPBL at a major Norfolk container terminal. […]

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Parent agencies of Virginia Railway Express approve funding to purchase Manassas Line

Map of the rail lines of Virginia Railway Express

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The parent agencies of Virginia Railway Express have approved a $155 million agreement to help purchase the commuter operator’s Manassas Line from Norfolk Southern. The nonprofit news site Virginia Mercury reports the boards of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac and Rappahannock River Transportation Commission approved the agreement in separate […]

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Justice Department probing antitrust concerns involving Norfolk Southern and Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division is investigating Norfolk Southern and Virginia terminal railroad Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line for alleged anticompetitive conduct against CSX at a major Norfolk container terminal. CSX, which says NPBL operates like an alter ego of NS, disclosed the investigation in a filing with the Surface Transportation Board last […]

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Florida legislation seeks membership in Southern Rail Commission

Passenger train crossing long bridge at dusk

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida lawmakers are considering legislation to allow the state to join the Southern Rail Commission — but the motivation for that legislation could face a roadblock. Bills in the state’s House of Representatives (HB 833) and Senate (SB 966) indicate the goal in joining the SRC is to revive service to Pensacola, […]

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Kentucky Steam halts planned auction of Nickel Plate steam locomotive

Steam engine crossing small wooden bridge

IRVINE, Ky. — An auction by Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. to sell former Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 No. 587 has been halted on the day the auction’s winner was to be announced. Kentucky Steam said in a brief post on its Facebook page today (March 3, 2025) that the sale has been withdrawn because the […]

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FRA personnel cuts could further delay languishing rail initiatives: Analysis

Man in crowd on platform next to passenger train

WASHINGTON — Disbursement of funds from grants awarded under a variety of Federal Railroad Administration continue to be held up by a lengthy approval process involving FRA personnel. These investments are threatened by potential staff reductions at the agency, as well as possible vetos by overseers invoking new Trump administration ideological criteria. Concerned about such […]

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