CPKC train carrying hazardous materials derails, catches fire in North Dakota (updated)

CPKC logo

CARRINGTON, N.D. — Multiple cars of a CPKC train carrying hazardous materials derailed and caught fire early today (July 5) in east-central North Dakota. The Associated Press reports that 29 cars derailed, including cars carrying anhydrous ammonia, sulfur, and methanol, according to an official from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. Wind was blowing […]

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Teamsters Canada Rail Conference members reauthorize strikes against CN, CPKC

LAVAL, Quebec — Members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference have voted to reauthorize strikes at Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Canadian National, the union announced Saturday, June 29. Overall, 89.5% of union members participated in the vote, with 98.6% voting to reauthorize the strike, the union said. At CN, conductors, engineers, and yard workers […]

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Crew member injured as CPKC train derails in Iowa (additional update)

Locomotives from Saturday's derailment near Midway Beach, Iowa, have been uprighted in this view of cleanup efforts on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Cate Kratville-Wrinn

MIDWAY BEACH, Iowa — One crew member was reported airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries after the derailment of a CPKC train that reportedly ran away on a spur line on Saturday, June 29, near Montpelier, Iowa. The incident occurred about 7 p.m. near Midway Beach in Muscatine County, Chris Jasper, Muscatine County Director […]

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Teamsters Canada holding second vote on CN, CPKC strike authorization

CN intermodal train stopped in mountain setting

The union representing more than 9,000 CN and CPKC workers is holding a second strike vote amid stalled contract negotiations with the railroads. “It is clear we cannot rely on a timely conclusion to these unfortunate circumstances and must protect our rights regardless of outcome,” the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) said in a press […]

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CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour | Canadian Pacific No. 2816 on KCS

After a spirited run from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 steam locomotive No. 2816 “Empress” set off in late May 2024 on new mileage, covering the former Kansas City Southern system with the CPKC Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour en route to Mexico City.  Come along with Trains.com as […]

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CPKC to pay fine for derailment-related violations of the Clean Water Act

View of damaged track and derailed train

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with Canadian Pacific Kansas City for violating the Clean Water Act following two derailments that resulted in oil spills in Maine. The derailments on the former Central Maine & Quebec occurred in 2022 and 2023 following washouts. Nearly 15,000 gallons of contaminants were spilled into nearby […]

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CPR No. 2816 returns to the U.S. after completing CPKC’s Final Spike steam tour in Mexico (update)

Steam train rounds curve on a rainy day.

LAREDO, Texas — With SD70ACU No. 7013 and two FP9 diesels at the head end, Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 pulled into Laredo on June 11 after recrossing the Rio Grande at the International Railway Bridge, reentering the United States. Roughly 2 weeks prior on May 30, The Empress led the three diesels and office […]

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Canadian railways reject Teamsters’ union request for staggered contract talks

OTTAWA, Ontario — Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City have rejected a Teamsters Canada Rail Conference proposal to stagger negotiations with both railways by two weeks. The union — which represents engineers and conductors on both railways, as well as rail traffic controllers on CPKC — said that staggering contract talks would avoid simultaneous […]

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Woman struck, killed by CPKC steam tour train in Mexico (updated)

CPKC logo

NOPALA DE VILLAGRAN, Mexico — A 29-year-old woman was struck and killed today while trying to take a photo during the passage of CPKC’s Final Spike Steam Tour train in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, according to multiple media reports. The news site Debate reports that the woman was standing next to the tracks trying […]

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News photo: Mexico, meet La Empresa

Steam engine on bridge

LAREDO, Texas — The Final Spike Steam Tour has entered the third country on its itinerary. This morning, the train celebrating the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger crossed into Mexico, a historic moment underscoring the three-nation linkage created by the CPKC merger and marking the first trip into that country for CP 4-6-4 No. 2816. […]

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