Seeking answers on ‘loss of shunt:’ Special Report

Closeup of locomotive wheelset with antenna mounted next to rail.

Second of two parts Part one of this report appeared Tuesday, Sept. 5 EFFINGHAM, Ill. —The latest round of tests investigating ways to ensure trains always activate track circuits — the process known as “shunt” — involves shunt-enhancing antennas mounted on both trucks of a state-owned locomotive in Amtrak service in California. Here’s how the […]

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The quest to counteract ‘loss of shunt:’ Special Report

Amtrak train with Charger locomotive and Superliner cars

First of two parts EFFINGHAM, Ill, —What happens when electrical current connected with signal systems doesn’t reliably travel from one rail to another when a train passes? Dispatchers “lose” the train — it disappears from their screens — and warning lights don’t flash or gates don’t lower at highway crossings as the train approaches. The […]

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Amtrak tentatively sets Sept. 11 date to resume ‘Adirondack’ service to Montreal

Passenger train at station next to body of water

  PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Amtrak has resumed selling tickets for the much-interrupted Adirondack to Montreal and plans to resume service on Sept. 11, WAER radio reports, but the station quotes an Amtrak spokesman as saying the company still needs to “work out several operational details to make that date happen.” Operations north of Albany were […]

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Rail data firm shows impact of British Columbia fires on CN, CPKC operations

Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City operations have returned to normal in wildfire-ravaged British Columbia, where a fire halted rail traffic for a day last week, according to RailState, a company that tracks freight rail movements across Canada. The Kookipi Creek Fire shut down the railroads’ directional running zone in the Fraser River Canyon […]

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Union charges CN has used company-issued tablets to track off-duty employees

Locomotive moving cars of containers with ship and dock in background

OTTAWA, Ontario — A union representing more than 5,000 Canadian National Railway employees in Canada has charged the railroad has been tracking the off-hours location of employees through company-issued computer tablets. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, in a message to members earlier this month on its website, said it had “become aware CN is utilizating […]

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News photo: Not the usual end of train

Red and black locomotive and three passenger cars on end of intermodal train

HAMILTON, Ontario — Canadian National train No. 148 passes Bayview Junction on the Dundas Subdivision on Aug. 28, with AC44C6M rebuild No. 3309 serving as the distributed power unit, followed by three cars from the railroad’s business-train fleet. Reports are the business train equipment is to operate out of Montreal later this month. — Stephen […]

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British Columbia travel restrictions, fires lead to Rocky Mountaineer cancellations

Passenger train crossing bridge across wide river

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The government of British Columbia has announced new restrictions on non-essential travel because of wildfires in the province, leading to the cancellation of at least two scheduled trips of the Rocky Mountaineer luxury tour train. The government order announced Saturday restricts people from staying in hotels for non-essential purposes in several […]

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Canadian National becomes title sponsor of Montreal Canadiens practice facility

Building with CN logo on one corner

MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway has become the title sponsor of the Montreal Canadiens’ training facility in suburban Brossard, which will now be known as the CN Sports Complex, the National Hockey League team has announced. “We are proud to welcome CN as a partner of the Montreal Canadiens,” France Margaret Bélanger, president, sports and […]

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Court turns down class-action suit against railroads over British Columbia fire

View of railroad track from locomotive

COURTENAY, British Columbia — An effort to launch a class-action lawsuit against CPKC, Canadian National Railway, and other parties over the wildfire that destroyed the Village of Lytton, B.C., in 2021 was turned down Wednesday by the British Columbia Supreme Court. But the Vancouver Sun reports Chief Justice Christopher E. Hickson left room for the […]

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No injuries reported as CN trains collide in Alberta

Two derailed red and black locomotives and derailed freight cars

WAINWRIGHT, Alberta — Two Canadian National trains collided west of Wainwright about 10:30 a.m. today (Aug. 8), Global News reports. No injuries were reported. CN, in a statement to Global News, said two of its trains “came into contact with each other, resulting in several derailed rail cars in various positions.” The railroad said no […]

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Canadian National releases 2023-24 grain plan

Cover of CN 2023-24 grain plan

MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway this week released its 2023-24 Grain Plan, outlining its initiatives for handling Canada’s upcoming grain harvest. Efforts to handle grain traffic include deliver of another 750 new grain hoppers in 2024 and the recently announced expansion of the railroad’s locomotive modernization program [see “CN orders 60 more modernized diesels …,” […]

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Dock workers warned against turning down latest agreement in Canadian port dispute

Logo of International Longshore & Warehouse Union Canada

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The government agency charged with  settling British Columbia’s port labor dispute has warned the union representing dock workers that failing to ratify a new tentative agreement would be an “unfair labor practice.” The Canadian Press reports the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and BC Maritime Employees Association reached a new […]

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