Tri-Rail service resumes; SunRail still shut down

Crew members work at railroad crossing gates

MIAMI — Tri-Rail commuter operations resumed this morning (Friday, Nov. 11) after being suspended Wednesday evening and Thursday because of Hurricane Nicole. In the Orlando area, SunRail remains shut down. Tri-Rail crews spent much of Thursday inspecting the right-of-way for the 73.4-mile, 18-station system and reinstalling crossing gates, the operator said on its Twitter feed. […]

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STB grants delay in final Gulf Coast hearing (updated)

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — Having been told  there is a “substantial probability” the parties involved can reach an agreement through mediation, the Surface Transportation Board has agreed to postpone the final two days of hearings over Amtrak’s efforts to launch Gulf Coast passenger service until Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. The hearings had been scheduled for Nov. […]

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Florida’s SunRail, Tri-Rail to suspend operations because of storm

Light blue locomotie with bilevel commuter cars crossing street

ORLANDO, Fla. — SunRail, the Orlando-area commuter operation that suffered significant damage on part of its route from the recent Hurricane Ian, has once again halted operations because of an approaching storm. Miami-area operator Tri-Rail, meanwhile, is also preparing to shut down. SunRail announced Tuesday afternoon it would halt operations today (Wednesday, Nov. 9) for […]

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Amtrak makes changes to Florida service because of approaching tropical storm

Passenger train with blue and silver locomotive at dusk

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has announced a series of changes and cancellations for Silver Star, Silver Meteor, and Auto Train departures scheduled for today (Tuesday, Nov. 8) through Friday, Nov. 11, because of the approach of Tropical Storm Nicole, which is being forecast to reach hurricane status by the time it arrives in Florida. The first […]

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Suits filed over CN derailment and acid spill in Louisiana

Tank cars off track with material leaking from one car

ST. JAMES PARISH, La. — Two lawsuits have been filed in state court by residents evacuated because of an acid spill from a Canadian National derailment on Wednesday — even before the evacuation order for the rural community of Paulina had been lifted. Nola.com reports CN or related corporations are the sole defendant in the […]

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Most residents return home after derailment, acid leak in Louisiana

Tank cars off track with material leaking from one car

ST. JAMES PARISH, La. — Residents of all but two homes evacuated after leak of hydrochloric acid were cleared to return home Thursday, a day after a Canadian National derailment that breached a tank car carrying 20,000 gallons of the hazardous material, the Advocate newspaper reports. And the evacuation is expected to be lifted for […]

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Meeting explores prospects for passenger route linking Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth

Map of rail route west from Meridian, Miss., to Shreveport, La., and Dallas-Fort Worth

MONROE, La. — Officials and other interested parties from Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama met Thursday in Monroe to discuss funding efforts needed to launch service I-20 Corridor Passenger Rail Service, a proposal for an Amtrak route linking Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth, as well as existing Texas Eagle, City of New Orleans, and Crescent operations, […]

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CN derailment in Louisiana leads to acid leak, evacuations (updated)

Tank cars off track with material leaking from one car

ST. JAMES PARISH, La. — Acid leaking from a tank car has led to evacuations near a Canadian National derailment that occurred Wednesday afternoon. The Advocate newspaper reports the derailment occurred about 2 p.m., with the leak from a car carrying about 20,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid reported about 3:15 p.m. That led to evacuation […]

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STB orders more mediation in Gulf Coast case, keeps hearings as scheduled, for now

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation board has granted the request for more mediation in the Amtrak Gulf Coast case — but not to delay its scheduled hearings on the matter. At least, not yet. In a decision issued Wednesday evening, Nov. 2, the board calls for further mediation, to extend through Dec. 1, as requested […]

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Amtrak, freight railroads ask for still more mediation in Gulf Coast case

aerial view of land along railroad tracks near water

WASHINGTON — The parties involved in the fight over Amtrak Gulf Coast service want to make one more effort to settle the matter without resuming their hearing before the Surface Transportation Board. Just five days after the STB issued its schedule for additional hearings, and indicated it could vote on a resolution as soon as […]

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More Gulf Coast STB hearings set as mediation efforts fail (updated)

People on station platform to welcome special Amtrak train

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has scheduled two more days of hearings next month on Amtrak’s efforts to launch Gulf Coast passenger service after the passenger carrier, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and the Port of Mobile, Ala., failed to reach an agreement through board-sponsored mediation. The evidentiary hearings will be Nov. 17-18, beginning at […]

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Central of Georgia locomotives remembered

Colorful Central of Georgia locomotive passing through station without train

Central of Georgia locomotives bought a great deal of variety to the South. When the Central of Georgia Railway was organized in 1895, it had 214 steam locomotives of the 4-4-0, 4-6-0, and 2-6-0 types. The roster was expanded in the early 1900s with 2-8-0s, 2-8-2s, 2-10-2s, 4-6-2s, 4-8-2s, and, briefly, 2-6-6-2s. Many of these […]

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