Weekly U.S. rail volume remains up

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type, plus overall intermodal volume

WASHINGTON — U.S. carload and intermodal rail traffic were both up in figures for the week ending Oct. 26, 2024, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. U.S. railroads handled 228,829 carloads, up 0.9% from the same week in 2023, while intermodal volume was 290,586 containers and trailers, an increase of 6.9%. Through […]

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NTSB issues report on 2023 CSX yard fatality

Image of scene of fatal accident in rail yard

WASHINGTON — A CSX carman struck and killed by a pair of remote-control locomotives in a September 2023 accident at Walbridge Yard in Ohio failed to look both ways while crossing multiple tracks in the yard, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded in an investigation report issued on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Contributing to the Sept. […]

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CSX unveils Clinchfield heritage locomotive (updated)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The 20th heritage locomotive in the CSX fleet is ES44AH No. 1902, a tribute to predecessor and Appalachian coal-hauler Clinchfield. CEO Joe Hinrichs unveiled the locomotive today in a post on LinkedIn, as has been customary. “Here is our 20th CSX Heritage Locomotive celebrating the Clinchfield Railroad. The Clinchfield Railroad was set […]

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Canadian union files for conciliation with CPKC

Logo of Canadian union Unifor

CALGARY — Unifor has filed for conciliation in its negotiations with Canadian Pacific Kansas City, following a path the Canadian union has also taken in its contract talks with Canadian National. The union, which represents more than 1,200 mechanical workers at CPKC, said contract talks had reached an impasse. The filing of a Notice of […]

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Unifor opens negotiations with VIA Rail Canada

Logo of Canadian union Unifor

MONTREAL — Canadian union Unifor has opened contract negotiations with VIA Rail Canada, the union announced Monday, Oct. 28. The union’s Council 4000 represents 1,800 VIA employees in station services, headquarters, maintenance centers and onboard positions; Local 100 represents 700 employees working as diesel engine mechanics, electricians, railcar technicians, and general workers. “Our goal in […]

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More CRISI grants announced

Passenger train crossing bridge

WASHINGTON — Another group of awards were announced today (Monday, Oct. 28) under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program, with the latest group led by more than $72 million for work in the Milwaukee area to reroute freight trains away from the city’s primary passenger station. The full list […]

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Railfan Road: The Lone Star State

An orange freight locomotive leads a coal train through a rolling rural landscape

Amarillo to Fort Worth BNSF Railway’s route from Amarillo to Fort Worth has been twice reinvented — a secondary route rebuilt into a unit coal train conveyor, then repurposed to a primary California-Texas intermodal route.  Broad vistas, interesting topography and about 20 trains per day easily viewable from a closely paralleling U.S. highway makes the […]

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BNSF, electrical workers announce tentative contract agreement

BNSF Railway logo

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have reached a tentative agreement on a five-year contract, while the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers has ratified its agreement with the railroad. The BNSF-IBEW agreement is the ninth reached by the railroad in the last two months ahead of the […]

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Transit Workers Union authorizes strike against SEPTA

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority logo

PHILADELPHIA — Members of the union representing more than 5,300 workers at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority have voted to authorize a strike effective at midnight on Nov. 7, when their current contract expires. Members of Transport Workers Union Local 234, which represents subway, trolley, and bus operators, mechanics, and other workers, voted unanimously in […]

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10 must-see Colorado railroad attractions

A narrow gauge tank type steam locomotive in an earthen cut.

1. Take the train from Cripple Creek Our list of 10 must-see Colorado railroad attractions starts with a trip back in time. Railroads arrived in the mining town of Cripple Creek in 1893, and today the best way to see the “World’s Greatest Gold Camp” is aboard Colorado’s only 2-foot narrow-gauge steam railroad, the Cripple […]

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