Rail Industry News

(Source: Associated Press, October 6, 2017) ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester's new train station is officially open for business. Gov. Andrew Cuomo joined local leaders such as Rep. Louise Slaughter, a fellow Democrat, and other state officials for Friday's grand opening...

(Source: Philly Voice, October 6, 2017) PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Amtrak officials have finally committed to renaming Philadelphia's 30th Street Station after the late Congressman William H. Gray III – a move mandated by Congress three years ago. Full story: Philly...

(Source: Associated Press, October 6, 2017) DENVER — Passengers and crew aboard a Chicago-bound Amtrak train spent the night stopped in northern New Mexico hill country after the lead engine struck a boulder and partially derailed. No serious injuries were reported...

(Source: Associated Press, October 7, 2017) SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The agency overseeing California's bullet train project recommended Friday that a U.S. subsidiary of a German rail company design and operate a train segment from the Central Valley to Silicon Valley in...

(Source: Railway Age, October 6, 2017) NEW YORK — Amtrak’s Avelia Liberty, the Alstom-built integrated high-speed trainset that will replace the equipment currently used to provide Amtrak’s premium Acela Express service on the Northeast Corridor, will be significantly...

(Source: Reuters, October 6, 2017) CALGARY — TransCanada Corp’s decision this week to scrap its $12 billion Energy East pipeline and delays to other export pipeline projects look set to increase producers’ reliance on costly crude-by-rail to bring barrels to market....

(Source: New York Times, October 9, 2017) NEW YORK — Amtrak officials knew for years that they would have to replace large sections of deteriorating track in Pennsylvania Station in New York City. As engineering crews applied short-term fixes to rows of rotted ties,...

(Source: Railway Age, October 6, 2017) NEW YORK — Approximately one week before the Oct. 11 Surface Transportation Board hearing (curiously called a “public listening session” by the STB) on CSX service issues, the railroad is pointing to extended “positive trends” as...

(Source: Norfolk Southern Service Alert, October 8, 2017) NORFOLK, Va. — Recovery efforts are underway to restore service to areas impacted by Tropical Storm Nate. Operations to and in New Orleans, LA have been restored to service and Norfolk Southern will begin to...

(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, October 6, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Teamsters are mourning the deaths of two members and one retired member who were killed this week in the senseless Las Vegas shooting that claimed the lives of 58...

(Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 5, 2017) SEATTLE, Wash. — Amtrak Cascades announced that in December it will add two more daily roundtrips between Seattle and Portland, as well as shifting part of the route to cut travel time by 10 minutes. Full story:...

(Source: National Observer, October 3, 2017) OTTAWA — Months after a train derailment caused a deadly explosion in Lac-Mégantic, Que. and spilled six million liters of crude oil, the Government of Canada approved a $95-million plan to clean up contaminated soil and...

(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, October 5, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court, as expected, last week decided to hear a case in the next few months that would threaten the ability of unions to collect “fair share” fees from...

(Source: Commercial Appeal, October 5, 2017) MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A $10.9 million upgrade of West Memphis port facilities is under way, increasing connectivity among river, road and rail traffic and offering potential for up to 3,000 new jobs. Full story: Commercial...

(Source: Norfolk Southern service alert, October 5, 2017) NORFOLK, Va. — With recent heavy rains and the anticipated impact from Tropical Storm Nate, the City of New Orleans has activated plans to prepare for flooding. Norfolk Southern is taking precautions by...

(Source: NorthJersey.com, October 5, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A former CSX executive who lobbied Gov. Chris Christie to veto an oil train transparency bill this year is now poised to lead the federal agency that regulates oil trains. Full story: www.northjersey.com

(Source: Global Rail News, October 6, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak has launched a campaign to obtain funding for five critical investments. They are: The Hudson Tunnel Project, Portal North Bridge Project, Major Stations Development, Susquehanna River Bridge...

(Source: Progressive Railroading, October 5, 2017) The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials yesterday held a hearing to gather stakeholders' perspectives on what's needed to improve the...

(Source: CBC News, October 5, 2017) MONTREAL — The provincial police sergeant in charge of the investigation into the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster said he made at least four trips to the U.S. to meet dozens of employees of Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway (MMA), to...

(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, October 5, 2017) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Teamsters from across the country are on the ground in Puerto Rico assisting with disaster relief, following a chartered flight of over 200 union volunteers that...