U.S. weekly rail traffic shows slight gain over 2024

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

WASHINGTON — U.S. weekly rail traffic remained up, although slightly, compared to 2024 levels in the week ending Feb. 15, 2025. According to figures from the Association of American Railroads, total traffic for the week was 480,740 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 1.5% from the same week a year ago. The total included […]

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Improperly lined switch, railroad procedures cited in 2024 CSX head-on collision in Georgia

Locomotive and badly damaged railcar

WASHINGTON — An improperly lined switch, and a conductor’s failure to verify the switch’s position, led to the head-on collision of two CSX trains near Folkston, Ga., in April 2024, according to a National Transportation Safety Board investigation report. The final report into the April 15, 2024, incident was issued today (Feb. 19, 2025). The […]

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Rail executives say impacts and timing of tariff rollout are highly uncertain

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Class I railroad chief executives told an investor conference today that their crystal ball is as cloudy as anyone’s regarding the potential impact of the tariffs that President Donald Trump has threatened to impose on Mexico and Canada. The 25% tariffs initially were due to begin this month, but Trump subsequently […]

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Scott Kremer’s Great Northern Ry. Cascade Division in HO scale

Scott Kremer’s Great Northern Ry. Cascade Division in HO scale | Trains.com video staff captures Model Railroader Editor Eric White as he tours Scott Kremer’s 30 x 42-foot HO (1:87) scale basement layout. Catch a sneak peek months before crowds arrive to visit and operate the impressive model railroad set for display during the 2025 NMRA […]

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CN derailment adds to VIA Rail corridor operating woes

VIA Rail Canada logo

MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada service between Toronto and Montreal, already struggling to cope with a massive snowstorm, was further disrupted today (Feb. 18, 2025) by a Canadian National derailment near Montreal. The 12-car derailment occurred at CN’s Taschereau Yard near Lachine and adjacent to Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport. CN said no leaks or injuries […]

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UP train derails on Tehachapi Pass

Derailed freight cars on curve

CALIENTE, Calif. — About 15 cars of a Union Pacific train derailed on Tehachapi Pass today (Tuesday, Feb. 18), blocking traffic on the busy route shared by UP and BNSF Railway. KBAK-TV reports the Kern County Fire Department was called to the derailment about 9:29 a.m. on Caliente-Bodfish Road, 2 miles north of State Route […]

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NJ Transit sets plans for Raritan Valley Line operations during derailment cleanup

Derailed double-stack cars

NEWARK, N.J. — Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 19, NJ Transit will begin a combination of limited train service and bus substitution to replace operations on its Raritan Valley Line, the transit agency has announced. Service was blocked earlier today (Feb. 18) because of the derailment of a Norfolk Southern intermodal train on a section of Conrail […]

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Weld failure led to broken rail that caused fatal Colorado derailment

Aerial view of train derailment at interstate highway

WASHINGTON — A rail that broke because of the failure of a weld led to the Oct. 15, 2023, derailment of a BNSF coal train at a bridge over Interstate 25 near Pueblo, Colo., leading to the death of a truck driver, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report. The investigation report was released […]

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Flood recovery efforts continue for NS, CSX

Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation are continuing to deal with the impacts of severe flooding in the southeastern U.S. that occurred earlier this week An NS customer alert posted today (Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025) says the railroad is working to restore both tracks of its mainline west of Williamson, W.Va., on the which are out […]

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FRA study recommends developing and testing prototype dual-mode freight locomotives

WASHINGTON — A Federal Railroad Administration study on mainline electrification recommends that the railroad industry develop a prototype dual-mode freight locomotive and battery tender that could test the feasibility of leaving cost-saving gaps between sections of overhead catenary. Over the decades, North American freight railroads have studied electrification but have always reached the same conclusion: […]

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CSX CEO makes progress mending fences with employees: Analysis

CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs is not one to shy away from a tall task. Since arriving at CSX in September 2022, he has been on a mission to repair the railroad’s damaged relationship with its employees. His goal: Build a culture of respect and trust, where workers feel valued and appreciated. It’s the cornerstone of […]

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Freight derailment disrupts NJ Transit service (updated)

NJ Transit logo

UNION, N.J. — Commuter rail service on NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line has been suspended because of the derailment of a freight train, according to an alert on the agency’s website. While media reports identify the incident as a Conrail derailment, the train involved is actually a Norfolk Southern intermodal train operating on Conrail Shared […]

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