Rail Industry News

(Source: Bergen Record, December 6, 2017) BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — NJ Transit has made little progress on installing a required rail safety system, according to the agency's most recent report to federal regulators, even though the deadline to complete the complex system...

(Source: Post and Courier, December 5, 2017) CHARLESTON, S.C. — A plan to let Palmetto Railways buy the land it needs to link the Volvo Cars manufacturing campus with a CSX rail line, even as it waits for permits for the new tracks, received initial approval Tuesday...

(Source: Herald & Review, December 5, 2017) LINCOLN, Ill. — As a youth growing up on the north side of Lincoln, Bill Gossett spent a lot of time in the Lincoln Depot. Full story: Herald & Review

(Source: Streetsblog New York City, December 4, 2017) NEW YORK — German transit planners have a saying: organization before electronics before concrete. The idea is that to make the most efficient use of resources, decisions should flow from a particular logic....

(Source: Progressive Railroading, December 5, 2017) New Jersey Transit announced yesterday that it has finished winterizing hundreds of rail cars and locomotives. Full story: Progressive Railroading

(Source: Column by Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa published in the Detroit News, December 6, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pensions supply a secure retirement for millions of Americans across the country. But increasingly, some plans have faced financial...

(Source: Minot Daily News, December 5, 2017) MINOT, N.D. — Canadian Pacific Railway officials said CP is phasing out its recrew site in Harvey. There are 73 train and engine positions based at Harvey. About 12 of those positions will remain after the move is complete,...

(Source: The Messenger, December 6, 2017) BARNUM, Iowa — Six rail cars hauling full loads of ethanol from Valero Renewables — Fort Dodge were derailed Tuesday night near Barnum, according to Lt. Tom Ubben, of the Fort Dodge Fire Department. Canadian National Railway...

(Source: CBC News, December 5, 2017) MONTREAL — The 31st — and last — Crown witness in the trial for the three men charged with criminal negligence causing death in connection the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster finished his testimony at the Sherbrooke courthouse Tuesday....

(Source: Progressive Railroading, December 5, 2017) On December 4, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) repealed a May 2015 rulemaking that would have required the installation of electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes on certain tank cars,...

(Source: Reuters, December 6, 2017) SEATTLE — The investigative arm of the U.S. Congress is launching a probe into the safety of increasingly long freight trains being operated by CSX Corp., Union Pacific Corp. and other major U.S. railroads to boost profitability,...

(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, November 1, 2017) CHICAGO — Railroad retirement beneficiaries are reminded that receipt of a private railroad pension may reduce the amount of a supplemental annuity payable by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). The...

(Source: Kansas City Star, December 3, 2017) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The BNSF Holiday Express on its 10th anniversary took some 400 military service men and women and their families on a festive ride with Santa on Sunday. Full story: Kansas City Star

(Source: CBC News, December 1, 2017) MONTREAL — Two federal cases related to the 2013 Lac-Mégantic rail disaster are now unlikely to proceed to the Federal Court of Canada, following an agreement between the Crown and the defense. Full story: CBC News

(Source: Peoria Public Radio, November 30, 2017) PEORIA, Ill. — Plans to introduce new, high-speed rail passenger cars in Illinois are in motion, but a spokesperson for Amtrak says it could be two or three more years before they are in place. Full story: Peoria Public...

(Source: Progressive Railroading, December 4, 2017) The Association of American Railroads (AAR) late last week filed comments with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) called for a federal regulatory approach that recognizes the railroad industry's private...

(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, December 1, 2017) HARVEY, Ill. — Workers at ITS ConGlobal, an intermodal rail transportation company in Harvey, Ill., voted overwhelmingly this week to join Teamsters Local 710. There are 133 crane...

(Source: Bloomberg, December 5, 2017) NEW YORK — New Jersey Transit is suppressing internal documents subpoenaed by state legislators investigating how the once-model commuter system fell into a safety and financial crisis. Full story: Bloomberg

(Source: Reuters, November 29, 2017) NEW YORK — CSX Chief Executive Officer Hunter Harrison said on Wednesday he was “trying to stay back a little bit” to give his management team space to steer the No. 3 U.S. railroad through a major operations overhaul, a move he...

(Source: Portland Press Herald, December 5, 2017) PORTLAND, Maine — A plan by the Brunswick Police Department and the Federal Railroad Administration could make the department the first in the country to use drones to patrol for trespassers along railroad tracks in...