Caltrain energizes second major power substation for electrification project

Two trainsets parked at station

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Caltrain has energized the second traction power substation for the electrification of its San Francisco-San Jose main line, another step toward the planned launch of electrified operation in fall 2024. The agency announced the substation, built by Balfour Beatty and its partners had been powered up by Pacific Gas & […]

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Georgia Railroad: A good and unique ‘Family’ member

Blue-and-white Georgia Railroad diesel locomotives on passing freight trains

In its rich 150-year history, the Georgia Railroad was touched and torched by the rich and famous. During the process, the company morphed from a railroading pioneer and leader in the Peach State to an interesting combination of Class I and short-line operation.   Started as The Georgia Railroad in 1833, the ambitious company hired […]

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Union accepts latest Wabtec offer, ends strike at Erie locomotive plant

Locomotives under construction

ERIE, Pa. — Members of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) voted today to accept Wabtec’s latest offer, ending a 10-week strike at the company’s locomotive manufacturing plant in Erie. Workers, who had walked out on June 22, ratified a four-year agreement including raises of 3.65%, 3%, 3.25%, and 3%, as […]

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FTA tells NJ Transit to redo environmental report for light rail project

Map of proposed New Jersey light rail line

NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit plans to extend its Hudson-Bergen light rail line by 9 miles into Bergen County face a potential two-year delay after the Federal Transit Administration rescinded plans to act on the project’s Environmental Impact Study, saying additional information is needed. The FTA’s decision to rescind its “Notice of Intent” for what […]

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Latest weekly figure shows U.S. rail traffic down by 5.9%

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type, plus total intermodal volume

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic showed its largest single-week drop in several weeks for the week ending Aug. 26, with volume down 5.9% compared to the same week in 2022. The total volume of 472,525 carloads and intermodal units included 226,679 carloads, down 3.9% from the corresponding week a year ago, and 245,846 containers and […]

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Customs agency suspends BNSF and Union Pacific from anti-terrorism partnership

Customs and Border Protection logo

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency has suspended BNSF Railway and Union Pacific from its Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program. The railroads’ certification was suspended for 90 days effective Aug. 22, BNSF and UP said in customer advisories. “We continue to work with our partners to ensure safety procedures are followed and that […]

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Grenada Railroad celebrates revival of its entire Memphis-Canton, Miss., route

GRENADA, Miss. — After more than nine years of repairs and upgrades and millions of dollars in federal, state, and private investment, community leaders gathered Tuesday, Aug. 29, to celebrate the return of the 235-mile Grenada Railroad line that runs north and south along the I-55 corridor between Memphis and Canton, Miss. Now owned by […]

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Start of Brightline service to Orlando is again pushed back

Yellow and white streamlined locomotive at station

ORLANDO, Fla. — The start of Brightline service to Orlando has been further pushed back, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The passenger operator has yet to announce an official first date of service but has been selling tickets for dates in September. It is now offering refunds, upgrades to premium seats, and discounts on Avis rental […]

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UP says chemical lost from hopper car leaked away in transit

Manufacturing facility in Wyoming

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific says its investigation into the disappearance of 30 tons of a chemical from a hopper car earlier this year indicates the material was lost in transit because of a leak during the trip from Cheyenne to California, KGWN-TV reports. The hopper loaded with ammonium nitrate — used as a fertilizer […]

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Wabtec: Hydrogen is the locomotive fuel of the future (updated)

As the railroad industry searches for ways to reduce and ultimately eliminate its greenhouse gas emissions, Wabtec sees hydrogen as the locomotive fuel of the future, whether it’s burned in internal combustion engines or used to power fuel cells. “We think this is going to be an impactful technology. We’re not seeing this as a […]

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Virginia agency nears start of work on new Potomac rail bridge

Rendering of rail and pedestrian bridges across river

WASHINGTON — Virginia Passenger Rail Authority officials will seek $829 million in federal funding for the project to build a new bridge over the Potomac River, a key portion of the plan to greatly expand passenger rail service by creating separate passenger and freight main lines south of Washington. But the Washington Post reports that, […]

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Additional work scheduled on Stuart, Fla., rail bridge (updated)

Boat approaches open drawbridge

STUART, Fla. — Additional time has been added for rehabilitation work on the St. Lucie River Drawbridge in Stuart, Brightline and Florida East Coast Railway have announced. While intermittent closures were scheduled to continue today (Wednesday, Aug. 30) and Thursday, Aug. 31, an additional extended full closure has now been added on Thursday from 5:30 […]

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