BNSF marks milestone in second phase of Cicero intermodal terminal expansion

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has completed the second phase of its expansion project at its intermodal terminal in Cicero, Ill. Last month, work was completed on a new 4,530-foot production track; the reconfiguration of 43,000 feet of receiving yard trackage; a new 100-foot-diameter turntable; 470 new parking spots; and a new hostler repair […]

Read More…

Floridian debuts with delays; offers major coach travel discounts: Analysis

Train at Chicago Union Station

CHICAGO — On Sunday, Nov. 10, the first “official” Floridians departed from Chicago and Miami, ushering in some noteworthy — if not all positive — changes to Amtrak’s intercity rail network east of Chicago. After one day, it remains to be seen whether operational issues can be rectified to keep the reconstituted 1,944-mile service close […]

Read More…

Cumberland Yard improvements will enable CSX to reroute traffic to the former B&O main line

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla.— CSX is wrapping up work at Cumberland Yard in Maryland that will enable the former Baltimore & Ohio main line to handle merchandise traffic moving between the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest that’s currently routed the long way around via Selkirk, N.Y., on the former New York Central Water Level Route. CSX has been […]

Read More…

Schneider to launch intermodal service over new CPKC-CSX shortcut

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Schneider will launch intermodal service next month linking the Southeast with Texas and Mexico via CSX and Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s new Meridian & Bigbee corridor. The first interline trains over the new route are scheduled to roll on Dec. 1, CSX officials have said. “This represents a major leap forward […]

Read More…

Metra introduces locomotive honoring veterans

Locomotive with group of people

CHICAGO — Metra has added to its fleet of specially painted locomotives with an F40PH-3 honoring veterans. The Chicago Sun-Times reports the unit, introduced last week at a luncheon to honor veterans who work at the commuter rail operator, will enter service on the Rock Island District, moving to the BNSF and Milwaukee District lines […]

Read More…

BNSF logistics center in Arizona clears first regulatory hurdle

Plan for BNSF logistics center in Arizona

PHOENIX — Plans for a major BNSF intermodal and logistics facility near Phoenix have passed the first step in the permitting process. In a meeting last week, the Maricopa County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for the BNSF Logistics Park Phoenix development, the Phoenix Business Journal reports. The county’s Board of Supervisors will vote […]

Read More…

First U.S. hydrogen-powered trainset enters Phase II of testing in California

Blue and white two-car passenger trainset on display track

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — North America’s first hydrogen-powered passenger trainset planned for regular use is getting closer to entering service in Southern California. The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority’s zero-emission multiple unit trainset, which the agency is promoting as ZEMU, will enter its second phase of testing next week. After several months of tests between […]

Read More…

The Trains Interview: MTA Chief of Rolling Stock Tim Mulligan

New York subway train on elevated track at sunset

NEW YORK — Trains News Wire spoke with Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chief of Rolling Stock Tim Mulligan to discuss the agency’s robust, once-in-a-generation capital plan that involves replacing 2,000 subway cars and modernizing fleets across the agency. MTA’s five-year 2025-2029 capital plan totals $68 billion in investment, including $10.9 billion for modernized rolling stock. Mulligan […]

Read More…

Railroads ask federal courts to order FRA to take action on waylaid safety waivers

WASHINGTON – BNSF Railway, CSX, and Union Pacific filed lawsuits against the Federal Railroad Administration today for its failure to act on a half dozen safety waiver requests that in some cases would allow railroads to scale back visual inspections in areas where they have deployed new high-tech train and track inspection systems. The litigation […]

Read More…

CSX expects U.S. manufacturing growth to spur carload revival

Freight train with blue locomotives crossing diamond

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — CSX is banking on a U.S. manufacturing renaissance to fuel a billion-dollar revival of its carload traffic over the next three years. A record number of industrial development projects — largely in the Southeast but also scattered around the CSX network — should produce annual merchandise volume growth of 1% to […]

Read More…