CHICAGO –– Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena claims to have identified a number of rail industry shortcomings that according to him can only be solved by his proposed transcontinental merger between the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroads. The first of these shortcomings we would like to focus on is the well-known issue of the Chicago interchange.
FRANKFORT, Ky. –– The State of Kentucky this week issued more than $5.6 million in railway infrastructure grants.
WASHINGTON, D.C.–– The American Chemistry Council is not in favor of the proposed UP+NS merger and sent a letter about it to POTUS 47.
DETROIT, Mich. – Michigan Central is economic and transportation development organization headquartered on the campus of the recently restored Michigan Central Station in Detroit.
WASHINGTON, D.C. –– POTUS 47 yesterday said that the project to build the New York/New Jersey Gateway Tunnel under the Hudson River has been “terminated.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. –– National Mediation Board member Deirdre E. Hamilton, a Democrat, was fired Oct. 14 by POTUS 47, making her one of many legally questionable independent regulatory agency terminations by the POTUS. Hamilton’s departure leaves the three-member NMB with one Republican (Chairperson Loren E. Sweatt) and one Democrat (Linda Puchala).
SCHAUMBURG, Ill.: Railway Age’s annual Women in Rail Conference has concluded its first day. At the Awards Luncheon Sponsored by CN, we recognized the outstanding honorees of Railway Age’s 2024 Women in Rail and RT&S’s 2025 Women in Railroad Engineering award programs.
UNION, Ill.––While this is not within the normal purview of RT&S coverage, we occasionally like to announce major historic restoration projects that will interest rail employees and enthusiasts of all ages. The announcement of the DD40X restoration is one such project.
CLINTON, Iowa––The Iowa Transportation Commission, through its Railroad Revolving Loan & Grant Program, has awarded $3.3 million to four rail infrastructure and related rail development projects. According to the Commission, the projects are expected to enable the creation and retention of 201 jobs within three years of project completion.
LOS ANGELES –– The ongoing saga of geologic instability along the Lossan Corridor continues with a line shutdown for the weekend of October 25-26.
ATLANTA –– Norfolk Southern is once again making history more accessible. Thanks to a $500,000 contribution from NS, the Atlanta History Center and the Georgia Historical Society have completed a landmark archival exchange—preserving Georgia’s rich heritage and making it easier to explore.
The Railway & Locomotive Historical Society has awarded a record eight scholarships in 2025. Each award is worth $4,000, up from $3,000 in all five previous years, for a total of $32,000. Several of the recipients have participated in internships with Class I railroads—two with Norfolk Southern and one each with Union Pacific and CSX Transportation.
PUEBLO, Colo. – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) and MxV Rail have opened registration for the 31st Annual AAR Research Review.
CHICAGO – Metra announced October 9 it broke ground on a renovation project at Millennium Station on its Electric Line.
SEATTLE – To ease a multi-billion dollar funding gap, Sound Transit is reportedly considering a 1% property-tax increase.
DALLAS – RailPros announced October 9 that it has acquired Design Nine, Inc.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – STV will lead design services for the Ivy City Yard upgrades in Washington, D.C.
AUSTIN, Texas – CapMetro and Brandywine Realty Trust have started site preparations for the North Burnet/Uptown Station, previously known as Broadmoor Station.
NEW YORK CITY – RailWorks Corporation announced Jim Sabin has been appointed President and CEO.
NASHVILLE – CSX is temporarily rerouting operations on its SN&A North Subdivision due to a bridge outage.
