GATX projects significant gains from railcar fleet expansion

Covered hopper with blue GATX lettering

CHICAGO — GATX expects 98% to 99% utilization of its newly expanded railcar leasing fleet in North America by the end of 2026, with North America profits projected to jump by $55 million to $65 million to about $415 million, the company said on its quarterly earnings call last week. The Feb. 13 investor call […]

Read More…

BNSF, TCU intermodal employees reach contract agreement

Freight train with orange locomotives leaves yard as commuter train approaches

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has reached a tentative five-year agreement with members of the Transportation Communications Union Intermodal group, the railroad announced on Friday, Feb. 20. “This new tentative agreement reflects the vital role our TCU intermodal team members play in our operation,” BNSF CEO Katie Farmer said in a press release. “Open, […]

Read More…

Passengers injured in low-speed collision between City of New Orleans, CN freight

Passenger train on curve

MEMPHIS — Three passengers were injured on Sunday (Feb. 22) in a low-speed collision between Amtrak’s City of New Orleans and a Canadian National freight train. Amtrak said in a statement that the incident occurred about 11 a.m. in New South Memphis, Tenn., when southbound train No. 59, which was stopped, was “contacted by a […]

Read More…

Northeast rail operations prepare for blizzard (updated)

Amtrak logo.

NEW YORK — Amtrak is making “service adjustments” today (Sunday, Feb. 22) and Monday, Feb. 23, because of dangerous weather conditions, the passenger railroad said on Saturday. New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NJ Transit, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and CTRail’s Hartford Line and Shore Line East have also announced service changes. More than 50 […]

Read More…

FRA proposes Amtrak become holding company, overseeing three divisions, passenger group says

Passenger train passing white, barn-like station

WASHINGTON — Federal Railroad Administration officials have briefed the Rail Passengers Association on a plan that would recast Amtrak as a holding company that would oversee separate entities responsible for operations, equipment management and leasing, and infrastructure and construction. According to a statement on the RPA website, there are only cursory details of how the […]

Read More…

California to loan Bay Area transit agencies $590 million

Man speaking at podium while surrounded by people in transit maintenance facility

COLMA, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation providing a $590 million loan to transit agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area, avoiding service cuts until a ballot initiative can go to voters. The money provided under AB 117 will go to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the agency coordinating transit funding and planning […]

Read More…

Santa Barbara agency votes to fund additional Surfliner service

Locomotive pushing passenger train stops at station

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments has approved plans to help fund expanded Pacific Surfliner passenger service, which would create a rail commuting option for Ventura County residents working in the Santa Barbara area. The new service could begin in late April or early May. At its Feb. 19 meeting, […]

Read More…

VIA equipment shortage leads to cancellations, sellouts: Analysis

MONTREAL — Shortened consists resulting from a Jan. 11 accident involving VIA Rail Canada’s triweekly Ocean continue to limit capacity even though the Montreal-Halifax, Nova Scotia, train resumed operation on Jan. 30. Meanwhile, 1950s-vintage Rail Diesel Cars serving remote Ontario communities between Sudbury and White River on CPKC’s main line are finally set to return […]

Read More…

Work on Portal Bridge cutover ‘on schedule,’ officials say

KEARNY, N.J. — Work is about 25% complete on the cutover of the first track of the new Portal North Bridge, Amtrak and NJ Transit officials said at a Thursday news conference at the construction site. “We’re on track and on schedule,” Jason Hoover, Amtrak assistant vice president, major programs-bridges, said, according to a NorthJersey.com […]

Read More…

Pere Marquette No. 1225’s 2025 Operating Season: Shaky Start; Strong Finish

Steam locomotive departing on a cloudy day.

OWOSSO, Mich. — The 2025 season for Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. 1225 was nothing short of eventful. The Berkshire-type locomotive, owned by the Steam Railroading Institute (SRI), was sidelined in late 2024, missing all of its North Pole Express excursions due to serious superheater concerns. [See “Pere Marquette No. 1225 sidelined…,” News Wire, Nov. 30, […]

Read More…