Ohio rail commission approves grants for two rehabilitation projects

Logo of Ohio Rail Development Commission

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ann Arbor Railroad will receive $120,000 and manufacturer AluChem will receive $75,000 for rail rehabilitation projects approved at the most recent meeting of the Ohio Rail Development Commission. The commission announced the grants, approved at a Jan. 22 meeting, on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The Ann Arbor funding will go toward a […]

Read More…

U.S. weekly rail traffic again shows increase

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

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic showed a significant uptick during the week ending Jan. 28, gaining 6% over the same week a year ago. Total weekly traffic was 481,708 carloads and intermodal units. That included 214,784 carloads, up 13.7%, and 266,924 containers and trailers, up 0.5% compared to the corresponding week in 2025. Through three […]

Read More…

TSB of Canada to investigate CN derailment in British Columbia

Canadian National logo

RICHMOND, British Columbia — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has deployed a team of investigators to the scene of a Tuesday night derailment near Vanderhoof, B.C., the agency said today (Jan. 28). The Prince George Citizen reports 34 cars of a loaded Canadian National coal train derailed about 10 p.m. Tuesday at Mile 56 […]

Read More…

Union Pacific plans to file revised Norfolk Southern merger application in March

Train passing under signal bridge

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific expects to file its revised Norfolk Southern merger application in March, CEO Jim Vena said on the railroad’s earnings call on Tuesday. The Surface Transportation Board on Jan. 16 rejected the railroads’ 6,692-page merger application as incomplete. The application, filed on Dec. 19, didn’t include enough information on post-merger market […]

Read More…

BNSF, CSX update storm recovery efforts

Double-stack train in snow

BNSF does not expect full recovery from the winter storm that swept across its network until early next week, the railroad said in a Tuesday, Jan. 27, customer advisory. CSX says in its own Tuesday advisory that it continues to work to fully restore operations, while Union Pacific said Tuesday during its quarterly earnings call […]

Read More…

RailState data provides look at storm’s impact on freight movements

Train with black locomotives passing steel plant

As a major storm moved across the Midwest and East last week, railroads told customers they would alter train operations because of the conditions. RailState, the company that monitors operations through trackside sensors, has produced data showing what those changes looked like in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. RailState compared the storm period, Jan. 24-26, to […]

Read More…

Seven Chicago-area suburbs join forces to address UP-NS merger

Freight train with yellow locomotives on curve

BERKELEY, Ill. — Seven suburban communities along Union Pacific’s east-west main line are organizing to pursue representation in the UP-Norfolk Southern merger proceedings. A memorandum to the president and board of the Village of Berkeley in Cook County says the community was contacted by the other six communities — Elmhurst, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, and […]

Read More…

Union Pacific reports record financial results

Freight train with yellow locomotive

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific today reported record financial and operational results for 2025 despite a drop in fourth-quarter operating income. “The Union Pacific team delivered our best ever full year across safety, service and operating excellence,” CEO Jim Vena said on the railroad’s earnings call on Tuesday morning. “As we close out the year, […]

Read More…

TSB of Canada renews call for train control in report on VIA train running red signal (updated)

Aerial view of location where VIA passenger train passed red signal

DORVAL, Quebec — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is renewing its call for enhanced train control systems and other measures to reduce the risk of accidents following release of its investigation report on a 2024 incident in which an unoccupied VIA Rail Canada train passed a red signal. No collision or injuries resulted. The […]

Read More…

OmniTRAX names Dreier as chief commercial officer

Head shot of man in coat and tie

DENVER — Rail and supply chain infrastructure company OmniTRAX has named Ryan Dreier as its new chief commercial officer, the company said today. Dreier joined OmniTRAX as executive vice president in 2025 from BNSF Railway. In his new role, he will oversee commercial strategy, sales operations, transload, and new business development for a company that […]

Read More…

East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 31 | The Scenic Details

Back for more on the East Troy! This episode drills into the details that help bring a layout to life. Watch as the Trains.com crew populates the roads with weathered vehicles and hand-painted signs. They also enhance the depot using prototype-inspired heralds and a unique historical marker crafted from railroad track. Finally, you’ll see how […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of January 26th 2026

The front end of a gray model locomotive with red white and blue stripes

News & Products for the week of January 26th 2026 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of January 26th 2026. […]

Read More…