Virginia legislator introduces rail regulation bill

Seal with woman standing on top of man

RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia legislator is re-introducing regulations that would require two-person crews, cap train lengths, and limit the amount of time trains could block grade crossings in the commonwealth’s House of Delegates. HB385 is sponsored by Delegate Shelly A. Simonds (D-Newport News). It will formally be introduced on Wednesday, Jan. 10. It would […]

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Norfolk Southern industrial development efforts boost 62 projects in 2023

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern partnered with 62 customers to complete industrial development projects worth $3.1 billion last year, the railroad said. “Norfolk Southern worked with customers and economic development partners to facilitate broad-based industrial development in 2023 and set the stage for growth in 2024,” NS Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins said in a statement […]

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Sound Transit board to meet on appointment of interim CEO

Sound Transit logo

SEATTLE — Sound Transit’s board will consider appointment of Goran Sparrman as interim CEO of the agency at a special meeting this Thursday, Jan. 11, the agency has announced. Sparrman, who would be appointed for one year, currently works for infrastructure consultant HNTB and has twice served as acting director of the Seattle Department of […]

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Former forest products company CEO to become CN’s chief commercial officer

MONTREAL — Canadian National has hired a former forest products company chief executive, Remi G. Lalonde, to lead its marketing and sales efforts. CN, which is the largest hauler of forest products in North America, today named Lalonde as its executive vice president and special advisor to the CEO, a role he’ll hold until he […]

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Alstom, Siemens named as potential suppliers for California high speed trainsets

Rendering of first car silver high speed train

SACRAMENTO — Alstom Transportation and Siemens Mobility are the two potential suppliers of trainsets for the California high speed rail project, the California High-Speed Rail Authority announced Friday. Their identification as qualified bidders follows the authority’s release of a Request for Qualifications in August 2023 and precedes the release of the Request for Proposals and […]

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The South’s ultimate 4-8-4: Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Dixies

Example of Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Dixies 4-8-4 steam locomotives pointed away from camera

The 4-8-4 steam locomotive wheel arrangement was exemplified in the South by the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Dixies.     Of all the regions in the U.S., the South had the fewest of what might be called the ultimate dual-service “modern” steam locomotive, that is, engines with four-wheel trailing trucks, especially 4-8-4s. An agrarian […]

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Wondering where to build a model railroad?

A seated man operates a model railroad in a long, narrow space

If you’re like many model railroaders, your first train was set up on the kitchen table, on a 4 x 8-foot sheet of plywood in the basement, or maybe on the floor around the Christmas tree. But when you’re ready for your first permanent layout, you have to decide where to build a model railroad. […]

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Norfolk Southern’s first Climate Transition Plan sets targets for greenhouse gas reductions

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern on Thursday released its inaugural Climate Transition Plan, which calls for significant improvements in fuel efficiency and increased use of renewable energy and biofuels. “Reducing the environmental impact of our operations is driven by our commitment to a cleaner and better planet for our employees, our customers, and our communities for […]

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CTA to resume Yellow Line operations on Friday, ending 50-day shutdown

CHICAGO — Service on the Chicago Transit Authority’s Yellow Line — the 4.7-mile route colloquially known as the Skokie Swift — will resume Friday, Jan. 5, ending a 50-day suspension following a collision between a Yellow Line train and a snow-clearing machine being used for training. Service will resume at approximately 4:45 a.m. Yellow Line […]

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Five of the six Class I railroads see volume declines in 2023

Grain train led by red locomotive

Canadian Pacific Kansas City was the only Class I railroad that was able to eke out higher volume last year. CPKC’s traffic was up a scant 0.1% in 2023, which was a down year for North American freight volume. Rail traffic in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico was down a combined 2.1% last year, according […]

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NTSB chair critical of WMATA, FTA in briefing on Metrorail derailment report (additional updates)

Photo of wheel and axle on Metrorail car.

WASHINGTON — National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy blasted the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for its “poor safety culture” in a press briefing today (Thursday, Jan. 4) on the final report into the Oct. 12, 2021, derailment of a DC Metrorail train in Arlington, Va., saying the agency’s issues with WMATA include some […]

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Reading & Northern again sees significant freight, passenger growth

Green and yellow locomotives lead freight train

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern saw double-digit growth in both freight and passenger traffic in 2023, the second consecutive year with such increases, the railroad said in a year-end business review. The Pennsylvania regional railroad handled more than 37,000 cars of freight, up from 33,000 in 2022. Growth was boosted in particular by […]

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