Officials celebrate South Shore Line’s improved capacity, speed, and frequency

Bilevel electric train approaches banner strumng across tracks

GARY, Ind. — Few rail rehabilitation projects can truthfully claim “better than ever” when physical plant and service improvements are completed, but South Shore Line commuter service appears to be one. As Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District President Mike Noland told the crowd of gathered in a tent in the parking lot of the newly […]

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News photos: CP 2816 impresses in Iowa

Steam engine surrounded by people parked under pedestrian bridge

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Canadian Pacific Kansas City obviously won many fans, especially young visitors, during its three-hour display of the Final Spike Steam Tour train at Davenport’s Quinlan Court riverfront park on Friday, May 10, 2024. The display featuring 4-6-4 No. 2816, known as “the Empress” was free to the public, with many visitors walking […]

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Autonomous ore train involved in collision in Australia

Badly damaged derailed locomotives and ore cars

KARRATHA, Western Australia — An autonomously operated iron ore train of Australia mining company Rio Tinto collided with a set of stationary cars early this morning, derailing three locomotives and 22 cars, the Australian Broadcasting Co. reports. A Rio Tinto representative told ABC the incident occurred just after midnight and that there were no people […]

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News photos: Former Santa Fe Warbonnet C44-9Ws now in hump service in Galesburg, Ill.

Front view of red and silver locomotive with remote-control operator walking beside

GALESBURG, Ill. — Railfans seeking former Santa Fe Railway “Warbonnet” locomotives — who do not mind that they are now “pink bonnets” because of faded paint — should take a drive along the Thirwell Road overpass at BNSF Railway’s hump yard in Galesburg. At least six former Santa Fe C44-9W units have been modified for […]

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Brightline drops monthly passes in response to capacity crunch: Analysis

Train with yellow and white locomotive and blue and white cars in shop building

MIAMI — Commuters who have planned regular West Palm Beach-Miami travel around Brightline’s $399, 40-ride “SoFlo” monthly pass were informed last week that what amounts to the pass’s $10 per-ride fare will no longer be sold after May 31. Available in its place will be 10-ride, 30-day passes. Prices for these will be $250 for […]

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No injuries reported as Utah light rail train derails

Image of derailed light trail train leaning to one side

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — No injuries were reported when a Utah Transit Authority TRAX light rail train derailed Sunday at the Decker Lake station in West Valley City, disrupting operations for the remainder of the day. UTA first reported an issue on the Green Line via its X feed at 2:06 p.m., saying there […]

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DC Metrorail retires 2000-series railcars

Subway train pulling into station

WASHINGTON — DC Metrorail has retired its 2000-series railcars, the oldest equipment in its fleet. The cars’ last day of service was Friday, May 10, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said in a press release. The cars, built by Italy’s Breda with final assembly in Beech Grove, Ind., debuted in 1983, arriving about two […]

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Metro-North completes new 400,000-square-foot shop building

Group of people on floor of shop building

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. — Metro-North Railroad has completed upgrades to its maintenance facilities at Croton-on-Hudson, opening a new 400,000-square-foot Harmon Shop building to complete a multi-year project. The facility opened on Friday can handle repairs for the entire Metro-North electrified fleet, including 12 carhoists, four pedestal tracks, and multiple door-level and roof-level platforms to aid in […]

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Move by Canada’s labor minister will delay possible start of strikes at CN, CPKC

CN_Earnings_Lassen

OTTAWA, Ontario — A move by Canada’s labor minister is likely to delay the start of a possible strike by operating crews against Canadian National and Canadian Pacific. Labor minister Seamus O’Regan Jr. announced Thursday on social media site X that he had asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to “look into maintenance of activities […]

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News photos: The Empress needs a raincoat

Steam engine and tugboat on Mississippi River

Canadian Pacific Railway Class H1-b Hudson No. 2816 continued its Final Spike Steam tour on Thursday,  May 9, operating over former Milwaukee Road trackage into Iowa following a display day in Franklin Park, Ill., on Wednesday. The 4-6-4 and the CPKC executive train rolled west across the former Milwaukee Road D&I (Dubuque and Illinois) Division […]

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Colorado governor signs bill requiring wayside detectors, creating rail safety office (updated)

Coal train on curve

PUEBLO, Colo. — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Friday signed into law a rail bill including a requirement for wayside detectors and creating a new Office of Rail Safety to consider and enforce further regulations. Polis signed the bill in a ceremony at the Pueblo Union Depot. Pueblo was chosen as the site as the […]

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TSB of Canada issues report on signal overrun incident, cites importance of supervision of new employees

Map showing rail line in Quebec and Labrador

DORVAL, Quebec — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada on Thursday released an investigation report into a February 2023 incident on the Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway that the agency says highlights the importance of proper supervision for newly qualified employees. The Feb. 22 incident occurred about 9:33 p.m. at Mai Station, Quebec, and […]

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