Union Pacific’s line on California coast remains shut down because of unstable bridge

Union Pacific work train rounds curve

SANTA MARIA, Calif. — A section of Union Pacific’s Coast Line that connects the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles remains closed to freight and passenger service following a series of winter storms that pummeled the Golden State during the first two weeks of January. Union Pacific crews are currently working to stabilize a […]

Read More…

Rainy weather delays effort to fix rail line to San Diego

Heavy equipment moving rocks along rail lline at beach as train waits in distance

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — A series of storms that have brought significant rain to California have slowed efforts to repair an unstable slope along the Surf Line in Orange County, pushing back efforts to restore through rail passenger service between Los Angeles and San Diego while also raising the cost of the repair effort. The […]

Read More…

Influx of grant funds may pose track-work challenges for Genesee & Wyoming

Orange diesel locomotives on low trestle in valley

BOCA RATON, Fla. — The rail industry is, understandably, embracing the influx of new federal funding for infrastructure projects. But will there be a point where there are so many new projects being funded that the marketplace has trouble delivering the materials and services they need? Kristine Storm, Genesee & Wyoming’s vice president, procurement, certainly […]

Read More…

China building more than 1,800 miles of rail lines in 2023

BEIJING – China is planning to build more that 1,800 miles of new railway lines this year, including 1,500 miles of high-speed railroad, Chinese media reports.Construction includes a total of 102 railway projects planned in the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for National Economic and Social Development and Vision 2035 of China. China […]

Read More…

CSX gets Pan Am work off the ground

Train coming around curve

BOCA RATON, Fla. — CSX Transportation put a lot of effort into upgrading newly acquired property Pan Am Railways in 2022. That effort will continue this year, Ed Sparks, the railroad’s chief engineer, bridges, design, and construction, said Saturday. The plans for the former Pan Am trackage in New England was just one part of […]

Read More…

KCS, CN offers first looks at 2023 capital plans

Illustration of trains meeting on parallel bridges

BOCA RATON, Fla. — It is probably no surprise that, as Kansas City Southern’s north-south main line becomes a focal point in its pending merger with Canadian Pacific, that route is also front and center in its capital spending plans for 2023, as well. A number of capacity projects on that route figured in the […]

Read More…

BNSF, contractors face BIG waiting game

Rendering of large intermodal terminal

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Craig Rasmussen, BNSF Railway assistant vice president, engineering services and structures, had plenty of big projects to review during his presentation today (Friday, Jan. 6) at the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Conference. But they all pale in comparison to the BIG project still to come — the Barstow International […]

Read More…

Union Pacific continues to develop tie unloading system

Railroad ties are pushed out of freight car onto ground next to right-of-way

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Ties are a big topic at the annual NRC Conference — just about every railroad mentions how many ties it will replace in the coming year —so it makes sense that Shane Keller, Union Pacific’s vice president of engineering, wanted to highlight UP’s effort to improve the tie-replacement process. Keller was […]

Read More…

Sonoma-Marin rail line to receive federal funding for design of Healdsburg extension

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit logo

PETALUMA, Calif. — Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit will receive $1.8 million in federal funding for design of its extension to Healdsburg, Calif., the agency said in a press release. The money is part of the consolidated appropriations bill passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden on Dec. 23. Healdsburg is roughly 9 miles […]

Read More…

Caltrain to receive $43 million in federal funds for electrification

Two trainsets parked at station

SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Caltrain will receive $43 million for its electrification project from the omnibus spending bill passed by Congress and awaiting the signature of President Joe Biden, the commuter rail agency said. The federal money will help fill a funding gap in the project expected to be completed in 2024. “The electrification of […]

Read More…

Gulf Coast grant application details planned infrastructure projects

View of railyard from passenger car

WASHINGTON — A new 13,500-foot bypass around CSX Transportation’s Gentilly Yard in New Orleans and four siding extensions — three in Mississippi and one in Alabama — are among the 12 projects that would be funded under a grant sought by Amtrak to upgrade the route between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., for Gulf Coast […]

Read More…

U.S. DOT announces loan for South Shore’s Double Track project

Shot of construction work on rail line, including wall between railroad track and street

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation on Thursday announced a $27.5 million loan to the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District for the South Shore Line’s Double Track Project, adding a second main line to the commuter route between Gary and Michigan City, Ind. “We are pleased to help finance the Double Track Project, which […]

Read More…