Business as usual for CN, CPKC shortline partners as labor strike looms

Black, red, and yellow locomotives on train

CHICAGO — Short line and regional railroads interchanging with Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City say it’s business as usual — for now — despite the growing threat of a railroad strike and lockout later this week between the Canadian railroads and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference. Michael Martinez, the director of business development […]

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Canadian commuter rail operations prepare for work stoppage

Blue and silver locomotive with commuter train

The potential strike by CPKC rail traffic controllers — set to begin Thursday morning — will scramble commuting in Canada’s three largest cities. Commuter rail operations in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal all rely on CPKC dispatching to varying degrees, and those operations will cease during a strike by controllers. Hardest hit will be Montreal, where […]

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STB to end discovery portion of Sunset Limited on-time performance probe

Two silver locomotives with passenger train at station

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will wrap up the discovery portion of its investigation into the on-time performance of Amtrak’s Sunset Limited on Friday and has set a schedule for the remainder of the proceeding. In a decision issued yesterday, the STB also ordered Amtrak to provide an opening statement that addresses several key […]

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Canada’s labor minister to meet with CN, CPKC, union

Teamsters_Canada_logo

OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada’s Minister of Labor, Steve MacKinnon, will meet with representatives of Canadian National, CPKC, and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference Tuesday and Wednesday in an effort to avoid the work stoppage set to begin at 12:01 a.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 22. The CBC reports MacKinnon will be in Montreal, headquarters of […]

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Metro-North’s Waterbury Branch remains closed by flood damage

Wash-out section of railroad track

WATERBURY, Conn. — Service on Metro-North Railroad’s Waterbury Branch remains suspended following significant flood damage to the route on Sunday, Aug. 18, while Danbury Branch service was restored in time for the evening rush today (Monday, Aug. 19), the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reports. Waterbury Branch damage includes a significant mudslide between the Seymour and Ansonia […]

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First test trains begin running through repaired Gotthard Base Tunnel

Orange construction train and workers within tunnel

FAIDO, Switzerland — The first freight train operated through the repaired western tube of the Gotthard Base Tunnel today (Monday, Aug. 19) as part of test operations preparing for full reopening of the tunnel, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) reports. The 5:30 a.m. train from Chiasso bound for Basel was the first train to use the […]

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Weather issues disrupt Amtrak, NJ Transit on Northeast Corridor (updated)

Train in rain

NEW YORK — Amtrak service between New York and Philadelphia has resumed late this evening (Aug. 18) after being halted by flooding, while  NJ Transit and Metro-North Railroad have also reported flood-related service suspensions. Amtrak, in a notice posted to its website at 10:25 p.m. ET, said it had “released the hold on all tracks” […]

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Teamsters Canada Rail Conference delivers strike notice to CPKC; CN delivers lockout notice (updated)

Train of hopper cars with grain elevator in background

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference today (Aug. 18) served a 72-hour strike notice to Canadian Pacific Kansas City, saying the union will walk out at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22, barring a last-minute labor agreement. Canadian National Railway, meanwhile, announced it had delivered a formal 72-hour lockout notice, following up on plans it had […]

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News photos: Reading & Northern officially opens Nesquehoning station

Ribbon-cutting ceremony at train station

NESQUEHONING, Pa. — Port Clinton, Pa., based-Reading & Northern officially opened the newest station for its busy passenger excursion business on Saturday, Aug. 17, holding a ceremony for the new facility on its Nesquehoning campus that also includes training and mechanical facilities. The ribbon-cutting preceded an excursion featuring former Reading Co. T-1 4-8-4 No. 2102, […]

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Noted Swiss steam railway closed by major storm damage

Steam locomotive and one car on curving line on mountainside, as seen from above

BRIENZ, Switzerland — The Brienz Rothorn Railway, a celebrated steam-powered tourist cog railway in central Switzerland, will be closed for the remainder of the 2024 season as a result of severe damage sustained in a storm on Monday, Aug. 12, the railway has announced. The railway normally operates from May to October. “Following a comprehensive […]

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BNSF and UP testing longer schedules for Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, and Texas Eagle

Passenger train rounds curve

WASHINGTON — Nearly four years after new federal on-time performance standards went into effect, Amtrak is nearing agreements with BNSF Railway and Union Pacific for certification of disputed train schedules. Some 95% of Amtrak train schedules have been certified under the federal Metrics and Minimum Standards for Intercity Passenger Service rule, according to the latest […]

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Milwaukee County Zoo Safari Train | Milwaukee, Wisc.

Ride with Trains.com, as staff members Lucas Iverson and Ben Lake, as they enjoy grand scale railroading (often associated with miniature, ride-on trains) at The Milwaukee County Zoo’s North Shore Bank Safari Train! Enjoy up-close views of their visit in July 2024, and then read more details about the 15-inch gauge railroad’s past, present and […]

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