City Council closes Yakima Valley Trolley … for now

Red and cream-colored trolley car running along city street.

YAKIMA, Wash. — At its regular meeting on Dec. 9, the Yakima City Council voted five to two in favor of postponing discussion and action on a new operating agreement with the Yakima Valley Trolleys until its Jan. 20, 2026 meeting. The nonprofit group operates trolleys on what remains of the Yakima Valley Transportation Co. […]

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Union Pacific adds retiring CF Industries CEO to its board

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific has appointed W. Anthony “Tony” Will to its board of directors, effective Jan. 5. Will has served as president, CEO and board member of CF Industries Holdings, a global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products, since 2014. He plans to retire Jan. 4, and will serve in an advisory role […]

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Short Line Safety Institute names Machenberg to lead hazardous materials programs

Head shot of man in suit and tie

WASHINGTON — The Short Line Safety Institute has named Chris Machenberg as its hazardous materials program director, the organization announced today (Dec. 15). Machenberg, a veteran of nearly 30 years in the rail industry, has worked as a conductor, engineer, yardmaster, and trainmaster, with increasing levels of responsibility for hazardous materials shipments and safety. He […]

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D&I workers vote to join BLET

Yellow and black locomotives lead train crossing truss bridge over river

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Eleven workers at the D&I Railroad have voted to join the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the union has announced following certification of election results earlier this month by the National Mediation Board. The BLET says it is the 14th short line where workers have voted to join the union since […]

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Winter woes plague some Amtrak trains in Midwest

Passenger train at station with circular roof on platform

CHICAGO — With temperatures hovering around zero over the weekend of Dec. 12-14, most Amtrak trains were able to leave Chicago on time, but a number were delayed more than two hours at their points of origin, while others had to contend with disabled freight trains. Meanwhile, service resumed through areas flooded earlier in the […]

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Senate bill seeks to increase funding for transit

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — Legislation re-introduced by two U.S. Senators seeks to increase funding for state and local transit funding to help add new routes, increase service frequency, and prevent service cuts. The “Moving Transit Forward Act” was introduced Dec. 11, and is sponsored by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.). Eight other Democrats […]

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Progress Rail’s big battery electric locomotive arrives in Australia

Progress Rail’s EMD SD70J-BB — billed as the largest battery electric locomotive in the world — has arrived in Port Hedlund, Australia, for customer Fortescue, the locomotive manufacturer said on Friday. The 265-ton, 14.5 megawatt-hour locomotive is part of Fortescue’s plan to reach net zero emissions across its operations by 2030. The unit will help […]

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NS and CPKC are trying to iron out differences over Meridian Speedway

Map of eastern U.S. highlighting route between Meridian, Miss., and Shreveport, La.

WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern told federal regulators this week that it hopes to smooth over its dispute with Canadian Pacific Kansas City regarding operations over their joint Meridian Speedway. But NS also said it disagrees with nearly everything CPKC has told the Surface Transportation Board about service over the 302-mile corridor that runs from Meridian, […]

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First segment of Canadian high-speed rail to be built between Montreal, Ottawa (updated)

Dark green high speed train in snowy landscape

GATINEAU, Quebec — The first segment of Canada’s planned high-speed rail line will be built between Montreal and Ottawa, Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced today (Dec. 12). Construction will begin within four years — half the time that had originally been projected, MacKinnon said during a morning news conference in Gatineau. “This segment represents a […]

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