Could UP’s Big Boy and CP 4-6-4 No. 2816 appear together under steam?

Big Boy steam locomotive rounds curve on a sunny day.

CHICAGO — Imagine if the two Class I railroad steam stars of this year — Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 No. 2816 and Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 No. 4014 — showed up at the same place at the same time and shared the same stage. It just might happen one day. Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena […]

Read More…

MBTA maintenance removes all Blue Line speed restrictions

Crew working on track at rail transit station

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has eliminated all speed restrictions from the rapid-transit Blue Line as a result of a maintenance shutdown that concluded on Tuesday, April 30, the agency announced Wednesday. A total of 19 speed restrictions were eliminated over a 5-mile stretch of the Blue Line during work that began April […]

Read More…

Gulf & Atlantic Railways becomes Pinsly Railroad Co.

Logo of Pinsly Railroad Co.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Gulf & Atlantic Railways has changed its name to Pinsley Railroad Co. following its October 2023 acquisition of Pioneer Valley Railroad, the last Pinsly-owned short line. The company announced it was adopting the name of the second-oldest shortline holding company in North America, dating to 1938, on Wednesday, May 1. “It is […]

Read More…

U.S. rail traffic up in April, third straight month with gains

Intermodal train passing through steel girder bridge

WASHINGTON — Overall U.S. rail traffic was up 1.2% in April, the third straight month of gains compared to 2023, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Traffic for the week ending April 27 was also up, marking the 14th straight week traffic exceeded levels of a year earlier. April’s figures included a […]

Read More…

Siemens to build high speed trainsets for Brightline West

Rendering of high speed passenger train

LAS VEGAS — Siemens Mobility has been selected as the “preferred bidder” to build the initial trainsets for the Brightline West high speed rail project, Brightline announced today (Wednesday, May 1). Siemens will build 10 “American Pioneer 220” trainsets and receive a 30-year contract for maintenance at a facility in Sloan, Nev., under the agreement. […]

Read More…

Union approves strikes against CN, CPKC in Canada (updated)

Teamsters_Canada_logo

Members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference have authorized strikes against Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, the union has announced today (May 1). Some 93.3% of train and engine crews at CN returned ballots, with 97.6% voting in favor of a strike. At CPKC, 91.7% of train and engine crews returned ballots, with […]

Read More…

Kalmbach rail magazines, Trains.com sold to Firecrown Media

Logo of Kalmbach Media

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Trains Magazine, the company’s other rail magazines, and Trains.com are among assets that have been sold by Kalmbach Media to Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Firecrown Media, the two companies have announced today (May 1). Other Kalmbach titles involved in the transaction are Classic Trains, Model Railroader, Classic Toy Trains, FineScale Modeler, and Astronomy, as […]

Read More…

FRA halts safety culture assessment of Union Pacific, citing coaching of workers

Two men standing by train watch as another train goes by

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has discontinued efforts to gather information for an assessment of Union Pacific’s safety culture, telling the railroad it found indications of activities by the railroad that “adversely impact the integrity” of the process. The railroad, in a statement to Trains News Wire, says the issue arose from a mistake […]

Read More…

STB adopts final reciprocal switching rule for inadequate rail service

Local switches at building with Chicago Tribune sign

WASHINGTON — Shippers who are served by just one Class I railroad and receive substandard service will be able to seek access to a second railroad under a final reciprocal switching rule that federal regulators released today. The Surface Transportation Board’s final rule — the first to set minimum standards for rail service — tightened […]

Read More…

Proxy advisory firm backs Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw and five of activist investor’s board candidates

Norfolk Southern shareholders should elect five of an activist investor’s seven board candidates but retain embattled CEO Alan Shaw, proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services recommended today. If institutional shareholders follow the ISS guidance at the NS annual meeting on May 9, it would leave Ancora Holdings two seats short of a majority on the […]

Read More…

Illinois bill proposes merger of Chicago transit agencies into single organization

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State legislators have proposed a plan to merge Chicago’s three transit agencies and their parent organization into a single entity, and provide $1.5 billion in additional funding for the new organization, WTTW-TV reports. The 621-page HB 5829, introduced by state Rep. Evan-Dina Delgado (D-Chicago) would create the Metropolitan Mobility Authority, replacing commuter […]

Read More…

CPKC adds June stop in Winnipeg to steam tour

Three-quarter shot of 4-6-4 steam locomotive with maroon trim and tender

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — CPKC has added a Winnipeg stop during the return leg of its Final Spike Steam Tour with 4-6-4 No. 2816, the railroad announced late Monday. The railroad said in a Facebook post that the locomotive would make a “special stop” in Winnipeg on June 30. The engine will be on display at […]

Read More…