Digest: UP CEO says vaccine process has been challenging

Union Pacific’s Fritz says railroad’s process of getting vaccine for workers has been complex Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz says railroad employees have begun receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, but that the process is a challenging one. “We serve 23 western states, and in every state the process to get a vaccine into an arm is different,” […]

Read More…

Digest: Transportation Safety Board of Canada releases report on 2019 CP collision, derailment

Locomotives off track after collision

Crew misunderstanding, lack of ‘physical defenses’ play part in CP Calgary accident, TSB says A yard crew’s misunderstanding of track permission granted to an intermodal train, along with a lack of “physical defenses” such as signals, led to a collision and derailment of two Canadian Pacific trains near Calgary’s Alyth Yard in March 2019, the […]

Read More…

Amtrak asks STB to require CSX, NS to allow Gulf Coast service (updated)

Amtrak logo.

WASHINGTON — Amtrak is taking its effort to start service along the Gulf Coast to the Surface Transportation Board. The passenger railroad is asking the regulatory body to require CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern to permit operation of two daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. In its filing, Amtrak is asking for […]

Read More…

Vermont Rail System opposes CSX acquisition of Pan Am Railways (updated)

Vermont Rail System logo

WASHINGTON — Vermont Rail System has urged federal regulators to reject CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of neighboring New England regional Pan Am Railways, saying the deal would reduce competition. Much of VRS’s opposition, disclosed in regulatory filing on Tuesday, flows from a separate element of the Pan Am deal: The naming of a Genesee & […]

Read More…

Digest: One rail union files objection to Rocky Mountaineer request to STB; another sues CSX

BLET logo

BLET files opposition to Rocky Mountaineer petition to STB The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has informed the Surface Transportation Board it is opposing some aspects of the effort by Rocky Mountaineer to launch luxury train service between Denver and Moab, Utah. In a filing, the union said it opposes American Rocky Mountaineer’s request […]

Read More…

Martinsburg, W.Va., roundhouse receives locomotive, seeks funds for move

Brick circular roundhouse

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The Berkeley County Roundhouse Authority has been given a former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Alco S-2 switcher for display and interpretation at the former B&O roundhouse in Martinsburg. The non-profit authority is seeking funds to transport the locomotive from West Chester, Pa., to Martinsburg. Due to several factors, the locomotive must be […]

Read More…

Amtrak announces new paint schemes in YouTube video

Side-view front portion of an illustration of an Amtrak locomotive in a new, blue paint scheme.

WASHINGTON — Amtrak will paint at least six locomotive in new and heritage paint schemes in the coming months in honor of the railroad’s 50th anniversary this year. In a YouTube video launched Tuesday, March 16, an Amtrak representative discusses the history of the railroad’s liveries and detailed the newest paint schemes well into the […]

Read More…

Digest: Savannah port sees first traffic at new container terminal

Logo of Georgia Ports Authority

Savannah port sees first traffic at new container terminal; rail capacity project advances The Port of Savannah, Ga., has welcomed the first container ship to call on its Ocean Terminal, partially converted from roll-on/roll-off cargo to handle container traffic. The Savannah Morning News reports the conversion adds 210,000 twenty-foot-equaivalent units, or TEUs — the standard […]

Read More…

Digest: Minnesota bill would fund state share of improvements needed for second passenger train

Amtrak logo.

Minnesota state senator introduces bill to fund rail improvements for second daily Amtrak train The president of the Minnesota state Senate has introduced a bipartisan bill to fund rail infrastructure improvements needed for the addition of a second daily Chicago-Twin Cities passenger train. The bill introduced by Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) would provide the state […]

Read More…

Digest: LA Union Station to be one of two sites for Academy Awards

Large waiting room at LA Union Station

LA Union Station to host part of Oscars ceremony Los Angeles Union Station will be one of the two venues for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, Variety reports. The station, built in 1939, is a frequent setting for films, but has never been part of the Oscars. It will be used this year, along with […]

Read More…

Digest: Union ratifies new contracts with VIA

VIA Rail Canada logo

Union ratifies new agreements with VIA Rail Canada Unifor, the union representing more than 1,600 VIA Rail Canada employees, has ratified tentative agreements with the passenger carrier reached in January. The two-year agreements include a 2% wage increase, benefit improvements, and a review of several work rules. “We are delighted by the ratification of the […]

Read More…