Onboard analysis: Scheduling logistics, limited help hobble ‘Zephyr’

Second in a series DENVER — When Amtrak operates its long-distance trains daily, train and engine crews make regular turns back to their home base after a mandated minimum of 12 hours’ rest. On the routes of the triweekly Sunset Limited and Cardinal, longer stays — perhaps days longer — have been necessary, adding extra […]

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Norfolk Southern slims down to six divisions

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk Southern has reduced its number of operating divisions to six from nine, continuing an industry trend toward larger divisional territories. The move was effective Nov. 1, Chief Operating Officer Cindy Sanborn wrote in a memo to employees. The Southern Region, which previously included the Alabama, Georgia, and Piedmont divisions, is now […]

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Metra debuts new bike car, will allow bicycles on all trains

CHICAGO — Metra will introduce its first bike car — a coach with room for 16 bicycles, instead of the usual five — on Saturday on the Milwaukee District North Line, and will relax its bicycle policy to allow bikes on all trains across its 11 lines as of Monday, Nov. 9. There will still […]

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Norfolk Southern slims down to six divisions

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk Southern has reduced its number of operating divisions to six from nine, continuing an industry trend toward larger divisional territories. The move was effective Nov. 1, Chief Operating Officer Cindy Sanborn wrote in a memo to employees. The Southern Region, which previously included the Alabama, Georgia, and Piedmont divisions, is now […]

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Transit agencies rethink future of commuter rail

As transit agencies plot their recovery from the devastating effects of the 2020 pandemic, a common denominator is emerging: more riders need city buses than suburban trains. The revelation portends diminishing investment in rail. Commuter rail systems typically serve affluent suburban residents, more of whom work in office environments. In large part, those offices have […]

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BNSF and Union Pacific in Rochelle IL

rochelle_webcam

Union Pacific to Clinton, Iowa 64.5 miles BNSF to Savanna, Illinois 60.0 miles BNSF to Aurora 45.3 miles UP to Proviso 59.6 miles   Watch live railroading action 24 hours per day on TrainsMag.com! Our Rochelle Web Cam captures live action as the BNSF and Union Pacific main lines cross. Learn about Rochelle’s Railroad Park […]

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Rochelle Web cam – Frequently Asked Question

Q. I don’t get motion and/or sound. What’s wrong with the camera? A. Likely nothing. While outages happen, they are relatively rare. The biggest cause of user distress is outdated software. We recommend updating the Adobe Flash Player plugin regularly and using a modern web browser, such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, to view […]

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Rochelle, Ill., Railroad Webcam

rochelle_webcam

Union Pacific to Clinton, Iowa 64.5 miles BNSF to Savanna, Illinois 60.0 miles BNSF to Aurora 45.3 miles UP to Proviso 59.6 miles   Watch live railroading action 24 hours per day on TrainsMag.com! Our Rochelle Web Cam captures live action as the BNSF and Union Pacific main lines cross. Learn about Rochelle’s Railroad Park […]

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Railroad official: Boxcars won’t go over ‘retirement cliff’

NORFOLK, Va. — The aging North American boxcar fleet will remain large enough to handle demand in the coming decade even though boxcars are being retired at a faster rate than new cars are being built, a Norfolk Southern official told a shipper conference on Monday. Shippers and railcar leasing companies have expressed concern over […]

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Digest: Cumbres & Toltec resumes trips from Chama, N.M.

Still more Monday morning rail news: Cumbres & Toltec resumes trips from Chama The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is resuming trips out of Chama, N.M., as of today and plans to operate from Chama for a month. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the railroad, which has had its operations significantly curtailed because […]

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