Rail Industry News
Officials say rail safety has improved since 2013 Casselton oil train derailment
(Source: Bismarck Tribune, December 30, 2015) BISMARCK, N.D. — Officials say two years after a fiery derailment in the eastern part of the state improvements have been made in rail safety, as well as increased training of first responders, but it’s a work in progress....
Amtrak ridership holds steady in Kansas, while low gas prices cut share in Missouri
(Source: McClatchy News Service, December 28, 2015) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak served more riders in Kansas in 2015, while Missouri ridership slid 5.3 percent from 2014, in large part due to lower gasoline prices. Full story: www.mcclatchydc.com
Shots fired at Norfolk Southern police vehicle near Chicago
(Source: ABC 7 Chicago, December 30, 2015) CHICAGO — Chicago police are investigating after shots were fired at a railroad law enforcement officer's vehicle in the Englewood neighborhood. Full story: ABC 7 Chicago
Norfolk Southern fights to put brakes on takeover attempt
(Source: Register-Herald, December 28, 2015) BECKLEY, W.Va. — Again last week Norfolk Southern’s board of directors tried to put the brakes on a merger between itself and Canadian Pacific by rejecting the latest takeover bid, this time issuing a testy letter calling...
NTSB: Placement of control signals a factor in UP’s 2014 crash in Kansas
(Source: Salina Post, December 23, 2015) GALVA, Kan. — The National Transportation Safety Board says that the accident involving two Union Pacific freight trains in McPherson County in September of last year, was caused by poor placement of control signals just west...
Amtrak suspends Kansas City to St. Louis service due to flooding
(Source: ABC News, December 31, 2015) ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Amtrak has suspended traffic on a route that runs from Kansas City to St. Louis because of flooding in Missouri. Full story: ABC News
New federal funding for Northeast Corridor brings optimism
(Source: Associated Press, December 29, 2015) HARTFORD, Conn. — While $19 million is a far cry from the estimated $21.1 billion that's needed to address a backlog of projects along the Northeast Rail Corridor, advocates hope it's a signal there will be more to come...
Craftsmen restore old train cars for luxury travel on nation’s rails
(Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 26, 2015) MADISON — It looks like a cemetery for old passenger trains — tight rows parked along sidings behind a high fence. Faded plywood covers shattered windows. Nearby is a jumble of rusting wheels. It’s a different story...
Amtrak sees drop in ridership through Twin Cities
(Source: Star-Tribune, December 27, 2015) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Amtrak’s Empire Builder passenger rail service, which passes through the Twin Cities, suffered the biggest drop in ticket revenue this year of any of the 15 major lines on its national network. The $4...
Feds allocate $19 million for Northeast Corridor Amtrak improvements
(Source: CBS New York, December 28, 2015) HARTFORD, Conn. — The federal government has allocated $19 million into the federal budget specifically for rail improvements on the Northeast Corridor. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy said some of the funding will go to...
NS opens new rail facility in W.Va.
(Source: Associated Press, December 26, 2015) PRICHARD, W.Va. — Halfway between a Virginia seaside port and one of the busiest U.S. rail yards in Chicago, a new railroad facility has opened in Appalachia as officials look to drum up business in West Virginia and...
BNSF offers reward for tips on shooter who fired into KCK yard, injuring rail worker
(Source: Kansas City Star, December 23, 2015) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The BNSF Railway on Wednesday asked for help identifying a person who fired shots last weekend into the Argentine Yard in Kansas City, Kan., injuring a railroad worker. Full story: Kansas City Star
NS says ‘no’ for the third time; CP will ‘review strategic alternatives’
(Source: Railway Age, December 23, 2015) NEW YORK — Norfolk Southern on Dec. 23, 2015 rejected Canadian Pacific’s third and most recent proposal to acquire NS. CP on Dec. 16 offered $32.86 in cash, a fixed exchange ratio of 0.451 shares in a new company that would own...
CSX could be eyed for merger again as NS-CP standoff gets personal
(Source: Jacksonville Business Journal, December 24, 2015) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. could once again be the target of Canadian Pacific's unflappable quest for a merger, now that Norfolk Southern has once again turned down the Canadian railroad's offer. Full...
Floodwaters sweep away rails in Missouri
(Source: Neosho Daily News, December 29, 2015) NEOSHO, Mo. — At about 9:30 a.m. Sunday, flood waters washed out the track at the back of a BNSF train in Neosho, Mo., causing nine railcars to fall over that carried about 30 intermodal containers. Additionally, a Kansas...
AAR: Total weekly rail traffic down 9.5 percent from 2014 for week ending December 19
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, December 23, 2015) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Dec. 19, 2015. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 525,555...
BNSF lays off 100 North Dakota employees, more may follow
(Source: Television station KVRR, December 28, 2015) FARGO, N.D. — In the last couple of weeks, close to 100 BNSF employees have been laid off. The job cuts are affecting employees in Dilworth, Grand Forks, Bismarck, and Minot. Full story: www.kvrr.com
Riding the Amtrak rails across the country
(Source: CNN, December 23, 2015) ABOARD THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF — There's something about taking a shower as you hurtle at 90 mph through Kansas cornfields. Full story: CNN
MBTA board says it faces ‘unpopular, even painful’ choices
(Source: Boston.com, December 22, 2015) BOSTON — The board that oversees the MBTA says toppling the transit system’s $7.3 billion repair backlog is high on its priority list. But getting there will require “unpopular, even painful” choices and a steady annual...
TSB: Inadequate track conditions led to 2014 CN derailment near Faust, Alberta
(Source: Transportation Safety Board of Canada press release, December 22, 2015) EDMONTON — In its investigation report (R14E0081) released today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) found that inadequate track conditions led to the June 2014 derailment of...
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