Rail Industry News
US, Canada pursue trade, security overhaul
The U.S. and Canada agreed Friday to work more closely together to better focus infrastructure investment needed to speed cross-border trade. President Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper signed a pact Feb. 4 calling for greater U.S.-Canada cooperation in trade...
Rail-car deliveries to reach 27,000 units in 2011, EPA says
Led by strength in demand for covered hoppers and intermodal platforms, rail-car orders in the fourth quarter reached 10,853 units — a level not attained since second-quarter 2008, according to Economic Planning Associates Inc.’s (EPA) latest “Railcar Overview”...
Georgia cops ticketing trains that block traffic
PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. — A $713 parking ticket is a lot for anyone - even the railroad. Norfolk Southern has been racking up those tickets for blocking traffic through Port Wentworth. Police Chief James Melvin says his officers are writing them at a rate of about three a...
CP Rail, Canadian Auto Workers avoid strike, reach tentative agreement
Canadian Pacific Railway avoided strike action by reaching a tentative deal with the Canadian Auto Workers Union after months of negotiations. Both sides reached a deal just before midnight Friday (February 4) that is expected to be ratified by the union in about...
Alberta’s worst train crash happened 25 years ago
HINTON, Alberta — Alberta’s worst train crash happened east of Hinton 25 years ago this week in an event that forever changed the lives of people in the community and across the country. The accident killed 23 passengers and crew, who came from five provinces, while...
Hoffa kicks off Teamsters’ campaign to organize Continental-United workers
(The International Brotherhood of Teamsters issued the following on February 3, 2011.) HUMBLE, Texas — Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa addressed more than 300 Continental and United workers today to help kick off the union’s effort to organize workers at the...
New Metra boss may aid reform at agency
It was a history-making week for Metra: For the first time in its 27 years, the commuter rail line had to shut down lines because of the weather. And for the first time in more than 20 years, it hired a new boss. As swiftly as the Blizzard of 2011 swept into Chicago,...
High-speed rail hits sticking point in upstate N.Y.
Advocates for high-speed rail in upstate New York may want to cross Utica-area Rep. Richard L. Hanna off their list of potential allies on the House Transportation Committee. Mr. Hanna, R-Barneveld, said recently that he doesn't see the economic benefit of super-fast...
N.J. senators, Amtrak official to announce new commuter train tunnel project across the Hudson
TRENTON — Amtrak’s top executive and New Jersey’s two U.S. senators Monday (February 7) are expected to announce an alternative to the Hudson River commuter-train tunnel that was killed by Gov. Chris Christie in October. The "Gateway" tunnel proposed by Amtrak would...
Texas lags California in high-speed rail plans
AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Rick Perry never misses an opportunity to tweak California. Its massive budget deficit, often dysfunctional state government and high unemployment make the Golden State an easy target for Perry's jabs. Still, there is more in common between the...
Oil barrons put oil on rails
Trains once revolutionized the U.S. oil trade by getting barrels to market faster than horse and buggy. Some 150 years later crude is hopping the rails again as today's oil barons look to cash in on the biggest domestic price gap in decades. Shipments of oil in rail...
New York rail system suffers through brutal winter
When members of Congress met recently to discuss revitalizing passenger trains in the United States, they chose Grand Central Terminal, a majestic hub of New York's vaunted mass transit system. From a balcony above the main concourse, Mayor Michael Bloomberg told...
30 homes evacuated after NS train cars carrying ethanol explode in Ohio
About 30 residences near a Norfolk Southern rail line were evacuated early Sunday after a train derailed and some of its cars carrying ethanol exploded in Arcadia, Ohio. No injuries were reported when 26 cars derailed from the 62-car eastbound train at 2:20 a.m. near...
UP announces new share repurchase authorization, declares first quarter dividend
(Union Pacific issued the following press release on February 3, 2011.) OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) announced that its Board of Directors today authorized the repurchase of up to 40 million additional common shares by March 31, 2014. This new...
NS, CSX say coal shipments delayed by bad weather
Norfolk Southern and CSX Corp. said coal shipments are delayed by 48 hours because of bad weather in the U.S. Midwest. The two railroads, which move coal throughout the East, Midwest and Appalachia, are experiencing delays following a giant winter storm that slammed...
After a month on the loose, snake on a train in Boston finally snared
Penelope the pet snake’s long journey on the MBTA came to a happy end yesterday. The Dumeril’s boa had slithered away from its owner, Melissa Moorhouse of Allston, while she was riding on the Red Line nearly a month ago. Moorhouse said she first noticed the snake...
Amtrak train strikes bald eagle in rare encounter
A symbol of American rail collided with a symbol of American might Thursday on a lonely stretch of track between Wilmington, Del., and Baltimore. Sadly, the bald eagle was no match for the Amtrak passenger train. An adult eagle was enjoying a breakfast of fresh deer...
Santa Cruz-area rail line gets more funding
WATSONVILLE, Calif. — Capping a 10-year effort to buy 32 miles of coastal rail line, the county's Regional Transportation Commission voted unanimously Thursday to use $250,000 in federal funds set aside for local projects to cover costs related to the pending...
APTA: Key committee members reveal plans for surface transportation reauthorization bill
A few key Congressional committee members have begun to reveal their plans for the next surface transportation authorization bill, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Last week, in a series of meetings with transportation industry group...
Amtrak announces 40th anniversary activities
Amtrak officials are preparing a slate of activities to mark the 40th anniversary of the national intercity passenger railroad. The anniversary is May 1, but special events already have begun, including the unveiling of the first of four P-42 diesel-electric...
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