Amtrak chooses contractor for Unified Operations Center in Wilmington

Corner view of office building

WILMINGTON, Del. — Wohlsen Construction Co. has been awarded the contract for Amtrak’s Unified Operations Center project in Wilmington, Del., the company announced on Friday. The project, expected to cost more than $53 million, will built a 24-hour operations center for national operations, including fleet and onboard crew assignments and coordination of the response to […]

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Saskatchewan short lines receive provincial grants

Green and yellow diesel locomotive

REGINA, Saskatchewan — Thirteen railroads will receive a total of C$530,000 in provincial funding under Saskatchewan’s Short Line Railway Improvement Program, as announced Friday by Highways Minister Lori Carr. “Short line railways play an important role in getting Saskatchewan’s food, fuel and fertilizer on their journeys to worldwide markets, which helps keep our export-based economy […]

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CN to acquire, test first plug-in diesel-battery hybrid locomotive in British Columbia

Canadian National logo

MONTREAL — Canadian National will purchase a plug-in, hybrid diesel-battery mainline locomotive from Progress Rail, the companies announced today. The first-of-its kind unit for North America will be evaluated on CN’s main line in British Columbia, starting in Prince George and the northern part of the province, to increase the railroad and rail industry’s knowledge […]

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Norfolk Southern prunes intermodal network and puts focus on operating ratio improvement

Container train passing overhead signals

ATLANTA – Norfolk Southern has pruned its intermodal network and made the operating ratio a key component of its executive compensation plans, the railroad announced yesterday amid its proxy battle with activist investor Ancora Holdings. NS has eliminated 53 low-volume intermodal lanes — or 15% of its intermodal network — that had limited growth prospects. […]

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Report urges railroads to adopt growth strategies to regain freight lost to the highway

Class I railroads can continue business as usual and watch their earnings stagnate and profitability fall as their freight volume declines through 2030. Or they can make meaningful service improvements, become easier for customers to deal with, and launch new intermodal services that capture freight from trucks. Adopting a successful growth strategy will boost revenue, […]

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Nova Scotia government ends subsidy for dormant portion of short line

Map of railroad in Nova Scotia

CAPE BRETON, Nova Scotia — The government of Nova Scotia has ended a subsidy for a dormant section of short line in the province because it sees no chance the line will be restored to operation any time soon, the CBC reports. The move regarding the Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Railway comes after […]

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Sound Transit sets Aug. 30 for opening of Lynnwood light rail extension

Map of light rail extension from Seattle to Lynnwood, Wash.

LYNNWOOD, Wash. — Sound Transit’s next addition to its light rail system — the Lynnwood Link extension of Line 1 — will debut on Aug. 30, the agency announced Thursday. The 8.5-mile addition into Snohomish County will add four stations to the north of the current endpoint of Line 1 at Seattle’s Northgate station. In […]

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FTA announces $20.5 billion in funding for transit projects in fiscal 2024

Federal Transit Administration logo

WASHINGTON — The Federal Transit Administration on Thursday announced $20.5 billion in federal funding will be available in fiscal 2024 for transit projects. Funding can be used to modernize, maintain, and operate transit systems; upgrade station, track, and maintenance facilities; plan and design new corridors; and prvide access for seniors and riders with disabilities. State-by-state […]

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The latest CSX heritage locomotive: Western Maryland

CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs today released the first photos of the railroad’s Western Maryland heritage locomotive. The unit, No. 1852 in honor of the Western Maryland’s founding year, was rolled out of the paint shop in Waycross, Ga., and into the sun. It includes the railroad’s fireball logo. “Here is the latest Heritage Locomotive from […]

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Norfolk Southern customers say activist investor’s short-term strategy would hurt service

An image of a black-painted modern diesel locomotive leading a long string of tank cars

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A vast majority of Norfolk Southern customers believe an activist investor’s plans for the railroad would worsen service and prompt them to shift some of their freight to truck or rival CSX, according to a Stephens, Inc. shipper survey released today. The Arkansas-based investment bank found that 91% of shippers believe […]

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Indiana Rail Road executives Engle, Kaelin retire

INDIANAPOLIS — Michael D. Engel and Larry F. Kaelin, who played key roles in the success of the Indiana Rail Road during their tenure as executives, have retired, the railroad has announced. Both men retired as of March 31. Engel held the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer; Kaelin was vice president, […]

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Eight charged in beer thefts targeting rail yards, warehouses in Northeast

U.S. Department of Justice seal

NEW YORK — Eight men from the Bronx have been charged with involvement in a two-year string of beer thefts targeting rail yards and warehouses in the Northeastern U.S.. The thefts netted hundreds of thousands of dollars of beer; those involved face charges carrying maximum penalties ranging from five years to life in prison, according […]

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