Trains.com
Subscribe

Tag: Union Pacific

Athearn Genesis General Electric Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive

By | October 5, 2022
Orange and dark green diesel locomotive with no logos

General Electric Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $259.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $359.99. Add $10 for Primed for Grime models. Era: 1994+ to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com General Electric Dash 9-44CW diesel locomotive features: Trainline and […]

Read More…

STB gets an earful about KCS-NS Meridian Speedway joint venture

By Bill Stephens | October 3, 2022
NS9656

WASHINGTON – Surface Transportation Board members appear skeptical about CSX Transportation’s bid to force its way on to the Kansas City Southern-Norfolk Southern Meridian Speedway. The Meridian Speedway — which runs from Meridian, Miss., to Shreveport, La., — is the shortest, fastest route between the Southeast and Southwest. NS and KCS formed the Meridian Speedway […]

Read More…

UP, BNSF say CP-KCS merger traffic will melt down Houston terminal

By Bill Stephens | September 30, 2022
Train of auto racks meets locomotives

WASHINGTON – Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern executives say there’s plenty of capacity in Houston to handle the eight additional trains per day they’ll run through the busy terminal within three years after their merger. But Union Pacific and BNSF Railway told federal regulators, in testimony Thursday and Friday, that they have grave concerns […]

Read More…

UP train in fatal collision hit cars stored on siding since December 2021

By | September 29, 2022
Aerial view of collision between Union Pacific train and railcars on siding

WASHINGTON — A Union Pacific train was routed into a siding that had contained stored railcars for nine months when two crew members were killed in an accident earlier this month, according to the preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board. The accident occurred Sept. 8, 2022 at about 2:40 a.m. near Mecca, Calif. […]

Read More…

HDR gets design contract for UP-led portion of CREATE 80th Street project

By | September 29, 2022
Map showing tangle of rail junctions in south Chicago

CHICAGO — Union Pacific has selected engineering firm HDR to provide final track design and engineering work for the UP-led portion of the 80th Street Junction Replacement project, part of the CREATE program’s larger 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project. HRD will produce design for relocation of two Union Pacific mainline tracks between 80th Street and […]

Read More…

CP and KCS tout and defend their merger on first day of regulatory hearings

By Bill Stephens | September 28, 2022
Container train under overhead signals

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday’s first day of public hearings regarding their proposed merger, Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern sought to blunt criticism of their $31 billion combination by preemptively addressing concerns raised by other Class I railroads, Chicago-area commuter railroad Metra, and lineside communities in the Midwest. Merger opponents — including Metra and communities […]

Read More…

Machinists’ union reaches second tentative agreement with railroads

By Bill Stephens | September 27, 2022
Numerous yellow locomotives parked in service area. Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena asks FRA for rolling stock inspection data.

WASHINGTON – The machinists’ union has reached a second tentative agreement with Class I railroads, just under two weeks after the rank and file rejected the union’s first tentative deal. “We are pleased to announce that the nation’s freight railroads have reached a tentative agreement with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM),” […]

Read More…

To avoid next crew crisis, railroads need to broaden their appeal to younger workers

By Bill Stephens | September 26, 2022
Man throwing switch as train with blue and yellow locomotive waits

PITTSBURGH – In order to attract, hire, and retain conductors – and avoid crew shortages that snarl operations and hurt service – Class I railroads need to make the job more appealing to today’s workers. That was the consensus of shippers, railroaders, and analysts who spoke at the North East Association of Rail Shippers conference […]

Read More…

Looming power-plant retirements to put coal traffic back into decline over next five years

By Bill Stephens | September 26, 2022

NEW YORK – Coal is enjoying a day in the sun amid low stockpiles at power plants and high natural gas prices. Overall railroad coal volumes have improved since the second quarter of 2021 and the trend is expected to continue into next year. But then a wave of coal-fired power plant retirements will put […]

Read More…

Major shipper says reopening of hump yards has helped improve rail service

By Bill Stephens | September 23, 2022

PITTSBURGH — Service on the big four U.S. Class I railroads is improving slowly but remains uneven amid ongoing and sporadic crew shortages, shippers said this week at the North East Association of Rail Shippers conference. One thing that’s helped improve service is the resumption of hump operations at several yards over the past few […]

Read More…

Two biggest rail unions won’t tally contract votes until the middle of November

By Bill Stephens | September 23, 2022
People holding signs while standing on sidewalk

The two biggest rail unions don’t expect to tally members’ votes on their tentative contract agreements with the Class I railroads until the middle of November. The SMART-TD union that represents conductors and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen that represents engineers both outlined ratification vote timelines this week in updates to their members. […]

Read More…