CSX’s former Clinchfield largely unrecognizable after historic flood

Town and rail line showing flood damage

ERWIN, Tenn.  — CSX Transportation’s ex-Clinchfield Railroad mainline has seen devastating impacts from Hurricane Helene’s once-in-a-generation flood. It is still too early to determine the full extent of damages, but photos along the famed Clinchfield route are revealing extensive damage exacerbated by the region’s remoteness. High waters are prohibiting emergency responders and railroad officials from […]

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APTA releases 2024 edition of Public Transportation Vehicle Database

WASHINGTON — The American Public Transportation Assocation this week released the latest edition of its Public Transprtation Vehicle Database, which offers a detailed look at the fleets of approximately 158 transit agencies in the U.S. — accounting for approximately 77% of U.S. transit ridership — as well as six in Canada. The database offers details […]

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Herrmann named as Amtrak’s general counsel

Man in suit with white shirt and tie

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has named Byl Herrmann as execute vice president and general counsel, responsible for the long-term priorities and annual operating plan for the company’s legal department. “Byl has helped guide the evolution of Amtrak’s Law department and corporate development over many decades and brings a comprehensive and deep knowledge of all facets of […]

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You can only predict for so much: Seminole Gulf reflects on Hurricane Ian two years later

Train with two locomotives on long bridge

FORT MYERS, Fla. — It has been two years since Hurricane Ian devastated Southwest Florida as a Category 5 hurricane, but for rail shippers in far southwestern Florida, railcars only started moving again a few months ago. Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwestern Florida on Sept. 28, 2022, with a record-setting storm surge, unprecedented inland […]

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Once-in-a-generation floods hit North Carolina mountain railroads (additional update)

Flood waters and debris at railroad bridge

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Communities along the former Southern Railway and Clinchfield Railroad in western North Carolina have seen record-setting rainfalls in the days prior to Hurricane Helene. Now, tropical weather is pouring additional rainfall into the area, creating what local meteorologists are calling a once-in-a-generation storm. Places along NS’ former Southern S-Line on the French […]

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Brian Barr named chief mechanical officer at Norfolk Southern

ATLANTA – Norfolk Southern yesterday named Brian Barr as its chief mechanical officer. Barr joins Norfolk Southern from Union Pacific, where he held the positions of general manager Great Lakes Services and senior vice president transportation. Barr started his career as a craft dispatcher in 1998 working at Conrail and, later, CSX. During his 26-year […]

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CEO of Raleigh-Durham area transit agency resigns, citing stalled commuter rail project

Map of rail line in North Carolina

DURHAM, N.C. — The president and CEO of the transit system for the Raleigh-Durham area has resigned because the commuter rail system he was hired to develop has been postponed indefinitely. The Raleigh News & Observer reports the board of directors of transit agency GoTriangle accepted the resignation of Charles Lattuca on Wednesday. Lattuca joined […]

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Anand becomes Canada’s third transport minister in 15 months (corrected)

Woman with black hair wearing red coat

OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada has its third Transport Minister in little more than a year following last week’s resignation of Pablo Rodriguez, who had held the position since July 2023. Anita Anand, the Member of Parliament for the riding of Oakville, Ontario, was named to the position after previously serving as national defense minister and […]

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Initial studies rocketing for future Moon-based railroad

Crater and landscape of Moon

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. — The idea of a rail network across lunar soil can be looked on by many as nothing more than science fiction. Northrop Grumman Co. and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) look to change that viewpoint with recent studies yielding potential results. In a press release dated March 19, 2024, […]

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CSX to detour traffic over Norfolk Southern during Howard Street Tunnel project in Baltimore (updated)

CSX logo

WASHINGTON – CSX has reached a trackage rights agreement with Norfolk Southern that will allow its trains to detour over NS while the Howard Street Tunnel clearance project is under way in Baltimore. CSX had previously planned on operating through the 1.7-mile tunnel during short work windows, a complex process that would have required construction […]

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FRA finalizes $3 billion Brightline West grant

Illustration of high speed train in desert

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has officially signed the $3 billion grant agreement for the Brightline West rail project, the company has announced. The grant, awarded to the Nevada Department of Transportation, was signed today (Sept. 26). The grant award was announced in December 2023 [see “Legislators say Brightline West will receive $3 billion […]

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OmniTRAX port operation unveils Mount Vernon Railroad name and logo

Logo of Mount Vernon Railroad in Indiana

MOUNT VERNON, Ind. — The new OmniTRAX railroad serving Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon has been named the Mount Vernon Railroad, and students from three local schools have a chance to name the two GP38-2 locomotives that will serve the port railroad.= OmniTRAX was named as the operator for the port on the Ohio River in […]

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