BERLIN —The InnoTrans trade fair in late September brought together almost all major manufacturers, large and small, serving the global rail industry. Every InnoTrans edition has one or more overall themes in terms of new technology, and in 2024 the buzz words were AI (Artificial Intelligence) and alternative power sources for trains. In both cases, […]
The war of words continues as the strike by International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) workers against U.S. East and Gulf Coast port employers entered its second day. The job action primarily affects container handling and roll-on, roll-off services at ports and terminals from Texas to Maine, and comes as importers enter the critical end-of-year retail selling […]
DINGMANS FERRY, Pa. — Operation Toy Train has announced the schedule for its 16th year collecting toy donations for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and other organizations that benefit underprivileged children. This year, the program has expanded to include Southern California and New York’s capitol region, joining previous operations in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, […]
TRENTON, N.J. — A New Jersey state senate committee has approved a bill that would require two-person crews for freight trains and set a maximum length of 8,500 feet for “dangerous hazardous trains.” Bill S3389, sponsored by Sens. Patrick Diegnan Jr. (D-Middlesex) and Raj Mukerji (D-Hudson), defines “dangerous hazardous trains” as those carrying tank cars […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak is increasing the risk of cost overruns and schedule delays on Baltimore’s Frederick Douglass Tunnel project because it has not completed all necessary planning as the start of major construction approaches, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General says in a report released Tuesday, Oct. 1. Major construction is slated to begin this […]
WASHINGTON — The Union Pacific conductor struck and killed by a Metra train in Kenosha, Wis., on Sept. 4 had left the locomotive of his freight train to address a hot-wheel report from a wayside detector, the National Transportation Safety Board says in am preliminary investigation report issued today (Tuesday, Oct. 1). The incident occurred […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has announced the availability of more than $1 billion in funding for passenger projects outside the Northeast Corridor under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail program. The announcement today (Oct. 1) covers new funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Projects eligible for the funds expand or improve the […]
MONTE VISTA, Colo. — Sale of the San Luis Central Railroad, the 13-mile Colorado short line in the state’s San Luis Valley, is expected to close today (Oct. 1), Ed Burkhardt of Rail World Inc. has told News Wire contributor Russell Sharp. The Soloviev Group, owner of the connecting Colorado Pacific Rio Grande Railroad, filed […]
BOSTON — Keolis Commuter Services, contract operator of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, has announced plans to release a Request for Proposals for battery-electric rolling stock later this year. The new equipment will be used on the commuter system’s Fairmount Line under a plan proposed by Keolis last year and approved by the MBTA board […]
Everyone has to move at some point in their life, but for model railroaders, there’s an added task: reassembling a layout after moving. If you’re contemplating moving, here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes time to put everything back together. Plan to move One of the things you can do […]
WASHINGTON — Union Pacific says it’s already successfully handling the surge in container volume at West Coast ports, which began weeks ago as shippers sought to dodge a potential strike at ports on the East Coast. “As part of our strategy of Safety, Service and Operational Excellence, we expect the unexpected. We keep a buffer […]
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The rail industry has suffered a setback in its efforts to block California rules that would require the use of zero-emission locomotives in the state by 2030, as a federal judge stayed the case while awaiting a federal ruling on the state’s application to regulate older locomotives. Courthouse News Service reports that […]
