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 […]

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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 […]

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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, […]

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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 […]

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Keolis receives new contract for Virginia Railway Express operations

Commuter train at station with bridge connecting platforms on each side of tracks

BOSTON — Keolis North America will remain operator of Virginia Railway Express under a new contact awarded under a competitive procurement process, the company has announced. The new contract is effective July 2026 and has the potential to expand to 15 years. It continues Keolis operations of the VRE commuter service that began in 2010. […]

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Dech named new president of NICTD, operator of South Shore commuter line

Head shot of smiling man in coat and tie

CHESTERTON, Ind. — The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District has named David Dech, executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, as its next president. Dech will succeed Michael Noland on March 16 as president of the agency overseeing South Shore Line commuter rail service. Noland announced his plans to retire in November [see […]

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Menards produces 100 different structures

pepsi_factory

In an email sent to Classic Toy Trains, Menards announced a milestone. The manufacturer has produced 100 different O gauge structures. The prebuilt structures have included a wide variety of types, from downtown buildings to industries and automotive-related stations and garages. Most structures include plug-and-play lighting and are scenicked. To see Menards’ current line of […]

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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 […]

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Amtrak cancellations decrease, but storm impacts continue

Amtrak logo.

NEW YORK — Amtrak expects to see winter-storm impacts through, and possibly including, Thursday, Jan. 29, the company says in an advisory early today (Tuesday, Jan. 27). It does not offer details on cancellations or other service changes today. It recommends visiting the Amtrak website or app, or its NEC Alerts and Amtrak Alerts feeds […]

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NJ Transit, SEPTA, MTA continue storm recovery

Two commuter trains in snow

NJ Transit commuter rail operations will remain on a Severe Weather Schedule-Level 2 today (Tuesday, Jan. 27), while other transit systems in the Northeast continue to move toward or have restored regular operations following the severe winter weather last weekend. NJ Transit commuter rail schedules and other updates are available here. As of 8 a.m. […]

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Caltrain to resume electrified operation to San Jose’s Tamien station

Caltrain logo

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Electrified Caltrain operations to San Jose’s Tamien station, suspended since last June because of a bridge project, will resume Jan. 31 when Caltrain introduces a new weekday and weekend schedule. Other than the return of electrified operating, replacing substitute VTA bus service, most schedule changes are minor. The new schedules are […]

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Minor Amtrak derailment at Chicago Union Station leads to Metra delays

People boarding train at Chicago Union Station

CHICAGO — A minor Amtrak derailment Sunday night is continuing to lead to delays for some Metra service into and out of Chicago Union Station today (Monday, Jan. 26). Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said the derailment occurred about 10 p.m. Sunday at the station platform as train No. 382, the Carl Sandburg from Quincy, Ill., […]

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