U.S. DOT Inspector General looks at FRA’s grade crossing accident statistics

The U.S. DOT Inspector General recently issued a report on the Federal Railroad Administration’s methods for obtaining and managing grade crossing accident statistics.  The FRA gathers data on these accidents, then uses

FRA releases accident report on Princeton, Ind., derailment

The Federal Railroad Administration just released its Accident Investigation Report on the derailment of a CSX freight train in Princeton, Ind. on June 17, 2018.  The train derailed 22 loads and one

Greenbrier announces new covered hopper grain car design

The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. announced this week the addition of a newly designed, covered hopper railcar to its broad line of railcar product offerings. Specifically made for grain, this covered hopper railcar

AAR rail traffic report for week ending September 7, 2019

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 7, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 469,285 carloads and intermodal units,

PTC interoperability moving forward, but slowly

Freightwaves is reporting that the Federal Railroad Administration’s Q2 PTC progress report released Monday said that 23.3 percent of the nation’s domestic railroad operations have achieved interoperability.  Interoperability was at 16 percent at

Illinois joins debate on train crew size

The debate around the number of crew members who should be in a locomotive cab on a freight train has been going on the past several years.  After a proposal by the

Federal Railroad Administration provides Q2 PTC update

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today provided a quarterly status update on railroads’ progress in fully implementing positive train control (PTC) systems.  Based on railroads’ Second Quarter 2019 PTC Progress Reports which

Union Pacific derailment hits road bridge support

The Associated Press is reporting that two Union Pacific locomotives, along with three tank cars carrying liquified petroleum gas, derailed in Portland, Oregon on Saturday at about 9:20 a.m. Union Pacific reported

Nevada AFL-CIO takes stand on train crew issue

The debate between railroad management and agreement employees continued yesterday with the Nevada State AFL-CIO adopting a resolution that requests Federal action on the question of train crew size. The labor organization

Dorian impacting southeastern rail operations; picture improving as storm heads north

Freightwaves is reporting that Hurricane Dorian will continue to impact Norfolk Southern and CSX customers, according to the two railroads.  The Hurricane is traveling up the east coast, and the eastern U.S.

AAR rail traffic numbers for week ending August 31, 2019

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) yesterday reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 31, 2019, as well as volumes for August 2019. U.S. railroads originated 1,055,386 carloads in August 2019,

Canadian National deepens intermodal partnership with COSCO Shipping

Canadian National announced yesterday that COSCO Shipping has chosen it to be the exclusive rail provider for COSCO Shipping’s discharge at the Ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal, and Halifax to all

Amtrak train 501

Amtrak takes responsibility for wreck of Cascades train 501

KUOW radio, a National Public Radio affiliate in Washington state, is reporting that Amtrak has accepted liability for the accident on December 18, 2017, involving Amtrak train 501, the inaugural run of the Seattle

FRA

NS Resident Vice President, Pennsylvania State Legislature discuss crew size

The Altoona Mirror reports that at a hearing of the Pennsylvania State House Transportation Committee in Altoona last week, Norfolk Southern Resident Vice President Rudy Husband said “It’s mystifying to me that Pennsylvania

Canadian Pacific

Workin’ on the railroad—man or machine?

Since shortly after World War II, the number of people employed by the railroad industry has trended downward. Several years saw increases in rail employment. One example was the 2014 traffic boom,

CN to acquire CSX line in New York

Canadian National announced the signing of an agreement that will see CN acquire the Massena rail line from CSX, which represents more than 220 miles of track between Valleyfield (Quebec), in Canada,

Southern Rail Commission receives $4.36 million grant from U.S. DOT

U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced yesterday that DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded $4,360,000 to the Southern Rail Commission to help restore intercity passenger rail service

Norfolk Southern announces new CFO; Earhart to retire

Norfolk Southern announced yesterday that Mark George has been appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective Nov. 1. Mr. George succeeds Cynthia “Cindy” Earhart, who will retire from the company on

AAR weekly traffic report – still down

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) yesterday reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 24, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 532,483 carloads and intermodal units,

Iowa Northern Railway Company hosts Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer

  U.S. Representative Abby Finkenauer (IA-1) continued her infrastructure tour through Iowa’s 1st congressional district at Iowa Northern Railway Company on Tuesday. Alongside officials from Iowa Northern and GoRail, the congresswoman toured

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