Trains Return to Long Island After Tentative Agreement
A tentative agreement between the MTA Long Island Rail Road and five striking unions ended the five‑day work stoppage on May 19. Service began resuming at noon, with hourly trains on four electrified branches and full weekday schedules expected by the 4 p.m. rush. During the outage, the MTA operated six shuttle‑bus routes serving about 13,000 riders—roughly 5% of normal morning demand. Details of the settlement, including wage and fare implications, remain undisclosed.
STB Issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Pleading Regs
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to revisit 49 CFR 1104.13, which currently prohibits filing a reply to a reply, known as a rebuttal. During its 2025 listening sessions, legal practitioners urged the Board...
AITX Rolls Out ‘America 250’ Covered Hopper
American Industrial Transport (AITX) introduced a special‑edition covered hopper called America 250, wrapped in a U.S. flag and bald‑eagle graphic. The railcar entered active agribusiness service for AG Processing, moving soybean products across the CN network. Unveiled at AITX’s Brookhaven, Miss.,...
UP ‘Challenging BNSF Switching Tariff Changes’
Union Pacific filed a Surface Transportation Board complaint on May 15 challenging BNSF Railway’s May 1 tariff changes that eliminated reciprocal switching rates for unit‑train grain shipments. UP says the new rates, including a 472% increase from $295 to $1,395 at...
GoRail Poll Results Favor Decreased Regs
A GoRail‑commissioned poll of 1,594 likely voters found a strong majority would oppose additional freight‑rail regulations once they learn the proposals could raise shipping costs, shift freight to trucks, and increase consumer prices. Margins ranged from 49%‑26% to 50%‑25% against...
Report: Quebec Court of Appeal Upholds Ruling That CP Was ‘Not Liable’ for Lac-Mégantic Disaster (UPDATE, 5/18)
A Quebec Court of Appeal has affirmed a lower‑court decision that Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) bears no liability for the 2013 Lac‑Mégantic oil‑train disaster. The ruling rejected three joined appeals seeking to force CP into a $460 million compensation fund...
Report: Metro Eyes D.C. Station Upgrades, BRT for New Commanders Stadium Project
Washington’s Metro Authority has scrapped a $1 billion plan for a brand‑new rail station at the upcoming RFK Stadium site. Instead, it will pour $300‑$400 million into expanding the existing Stadium‑Armory station and launching a Gold Line bus‑rapid‑transit corridor to Union Station....
UP+NS: STB Grants CN Request for 2025 Data
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on May 12 granted Canadian National Railway (CN) a motion to compel Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) to produce their 2025 rail traffic data, including traffic tapes, interchange and reciprocal switching information. UP...
UP+NS Launches ‘Action Center’
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have unveiled an online Action Center to let the public submit personalized messages to elected officials about their proposed merger. The site frames the deal as America’s first transcontinental railroad, promising economic growth, cost savings...
NYC Transit Tech Lab Announces 2026 Project Partners
On May 14, the MTA‑backed Transit Tech Lab announced 18 companies selected from 138 applicants to pilot proof‑of‑concept projects with five regional transit agencies. The 2026 cohort tackles two challenges—advanced infrastructure monitoring and data‑workflow modernization—leveraging AI, computer vision, digital twins...
Transit Briefs: WMATA, TTC, Valley Metro, Caltrain
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will roll out a redesigned website on May 17 and an updated Metro Pulse mobile app on May 31, aiming for faster trip planning and real‑time service info. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is...
Siemens Acquiring MERMEC ‘Key Businesses’
Siemens Mobility announced an agreement to acquire the key rail signaling, electrification, diagnostics and measurement businesses of Italy’s MERMEC Group. The transaction, valued at roughly €430 million (about $470 million) and covering about 1,700 employees, is expected to close by the end...
OmniTRAX Expands National Rail Network Into Arkansas (UPDATED 5/14)
OmniTRAX announced the acquisition of three Arkansas short‑line railroads—Dardanelle & Russellville, Camden & Southern, and Ouachita—through its subsidiary ASL Acquisition, LLC. The transaction, approved by the Surface Transportation Board with an exemption effective May 27, 2026, will bring operations under OmniTRAX...
SacRT Selects Clever Devices to Implement Real-Time Train Information System
Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) selected Clever Devices to install a real‑time train information system across its rail network. The solution delivers live train tracking, dynamic signage, automated onboard announcements, yard‑management tools and advanced data reporting. It builds on an existing...
FRA Finalizes 11 Deregulatory Rules From Federal Register
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has finalized the first 11 deregulatory rules from a July 2025 package, stripping more than 1,000 words of outdated language from the Federal Register. The measures target redundant requirements, modernize record‑keeping, and codify long‑standing waivers while...
Oberman on Revised Acquisition Application: UP Misunderstands—Or Stretches—STB Rules – TD Cowen
Former Surface Transportation Board chair Marty Oberman warned that Union Pacific’s revised application to acquire Norfolk Southern is likely to overburden the STB and may be rejected. He argues the filing downplays critical infrastructure costs and stretches 2001 merger rules...
Five Years After Expansion, ‘Rocky’ Aims Big in U.S., Canada
Rocky Mountaineer’s U.S. arm, now branded Canyon Spirit, has extended its Denver‑Moab excursion to Denver‑Salt Lake City, adding extra cars and planning a second train for 2027. The company also unveiled a new Canadian “Passage to the Peaks” service linking...
CN: UP/NS Amended Merger Application Shows ‘Disregard for the Process’
Canadian National (CN) filed formal comments with the Surface Transportation Board urging rejection of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s amended merger application. CN argues the filing still omits required competition analyses, provides inconsistent market‑share data, and fails to submit a...
Slayton Elected Chair of WTS International
Erin Slayton, P.E., Program Management Director at HDR, has been elected Chair of WTS International for a two‑year term, following two years as Vice Chair. The 10,000‑member organization, dedicated to advancing women in transportation, welcomed her at the conclusion of its...
BNSF to STB: UP+NS Application ‘Remains Fundamentally Incomplete’
BNSF filed a nine‑page comment with the Surface Transportation Board on May 8, sharply criticizing Union Pacific’s amended application to acquire Norfolk Southern. The railroad argues the filing remains fundamentally incomplete, omitting critical competition analysis, market‑share data, and concrete divestiture plans...
Transit Briefs: VIA Rail, MDOT MTA, NACCA/Alto, SEPTA
PressReader expanded its partnership with VIA Rail, giving business‑class travelers on The Ocean, The Canadian and Corridor routes 20‑hour pre‑departure and four‑hour post‑arrival access to over 8,400 digital newspapers and magazines. Maryland’s MDOT MTA launched the Rider Experience Lab, a...
STB Advances ’Data Collection’ Streamlining Efforts
On May 8 the Surface Transportation Board issued a final rule (EP 787) that streamlines Class I railroad reporting by eliminating supplemental Positive Train Control expenditure filings and adding two weekly service metrics—Original Estimated Time of Arrival (OETA) and Industry Spot and Pull...
Oculus Rail Partners With Public Media to Deliver Real-Time Crossing Alerts
Oculus Rail has begun supplying live rail‑crossing blockage data to public‑media stations WHRO and WHRV in Hampton Roads, starting April 27. The stations will broadcast real‑time alerts alongside traditional traffic reports, helping drivers avoid delays caused by stopped trains. This...
Wait-and-See Approach
U.S. railroads are adopting a cautious stance toward battery‑electric (BE) and hydrogen locomotives as the current administration favors traditional coal and oil energy. While diesel will dominate for years, companies like Wabtec have begun delivering FLXdrive BE units and hybrid...
CLR: Gulf Coast Rail Gateway Development-Ready
CLR announced its Gulf Coast Rail Gateway in Sinton‑Odem is development‑ready, launching with roughly 500 railcar slots and a design that can scale to 3,000. The site features a full‑loop track, transload facilities, car cleaning and a locomotive shop, and...
How Wheel/Rail Profiles Affect Hunting Stability
MxV Rail researchers simulated hunting stability on tangent track using worn wheel profiles from 14 in‑service railcars and seven rail‑profile templates. By varying speed from 80 mph to 10 mph, they identified critical hunting speeds for both empty and loaded hoppers. The...
MnDOT Releases Updated State Rail Plan
The Minnesota Department of Transportation released an updated State Rail Plan on May 5, outlining a 20‑year strategy to boost safety, capacity, and service across more than 4,000 miles of rail. The blueprint calls for additional freight‑rail funding, a refreshed process...
U.S. Freight Rail Will Grow When Its Structure Stops Working Against It
Freight rail remains the safest, most fuel‑efficient land transport, moving a ton 500 miles on a single gallon and emitting up to 75% fewer emissions than trucks. Yet its market share has slipped because the Class I network is fragmented,...
GATX: ‘Well-Positioned to Navigate Increased Macro Uncertainty’
GATX reported first‑quarter 2026 net income of $85.5 million, or $2.35 per diluted share, up 9% from the prior year. The company invested more than $4.5 billion, highlighted by a $4.2 billion purchase of Wells Fargo’s rail operating‑lease portfolio, expanding its North American fleet...
LMOA at 87
The Locomotive Maintenance Officers Association (LMOA), celebrating 87 years, remains a pivotal nonprofit forum for North American rail operators, suppliers, and OEMs to exchange technical maintenance insights. In 2026, its educational partnership with the Railway Interchange conference features committees addressing...
194 CN Shippers Earn Safety Awards
Canadian National Railway (CN) announced that 194 customers earned its 2025 Safe Handling Awards for exemplary loading and transport of regulated hazardous goods. The award, established in 1992, is tied to the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care program, underscoring rigorous...
Class I Briefs: CPKC, CN, CSX
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) set multiple April records, moving 2.9 million metric tons (MMT) of grain and 30,381 carloads, while its first‑quarter haul reached 7.2 MMT, eclipsing the 2021 benchmark. Canadian National (CN) reported a new April high of 3.2 MMT, marking...
Supply Side: Siemens, Bohr Electronics, Burns Engineering
Siemens announced a $1 billion domestic manufacturing program that will roll out across the United States through 2026, creating more than 2,200 jobs and bolstering supply chains for AI data centers, passenger rail, semiconductors and utilities. Bohr Electronics introduced a drop‑in...
NTSB Determines Probable Cause for 2025 SEPTA LRV Accident
On May 11, 2025, a SEPTA light‑rail vehicle collided with the end‑of‑track bumping post at Norristown Station, injuring nine passengers and the operator, with two serious injuries and $920,000 in equipment damage. The NTSB determined the probable cause was a...
For FreightCar America 1Q26, ‘Continued Aftermarket Revenue Growth’
FreightCar America posted first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $64.3 million, a 33% drop from a year earlier, but achieved its highest gross margin in over a decade at 16.8%. The company recorded a net income of $41.6 million after a $49.1 million non‑cash warrant...
Now Available Digitally: Railway Age May 2026 Spotlights Readers’ Most Influential Leaders
Railway Age’s May 2026 issue is now available as a digital edition, spotlighting the publication’s seventh annual Readers’ Most Influential Leaders poll and a slate of industry‑focused feature stories. The issue includes a Railinc analysis showing a modest dip in the...
Kentucky Invests $3.1MM in Railway Infrastructure
Kentucky has allocated $3.1 million in state grants through the KIASI and KSLIP programs to upgrade rail safety monitoring, install new scales, create two transloading sites, build a railcar‑repair facility, and fund erosion control. Paducah & Louisville Railway will receive more...
Class I Briefs: NS, CSX, CN
Norfolk Southern (NS) celebrated a one‑year injury‑free record at its Lamberts Point Terminal, crediting its local safety committee and frontline leadership. CSX highlighted a five‑year injury‑free streak at its Palm Center automotive transload terminal in Jupiter, Florida, alongside a fourth...
GHH-BONATRANS to Establish New York Plant
German‑Czech rail component maker GHH‑BONATRANS announced construction of its first North American plant in Wayland, New York, with operations targeted for late 2028. The $93 million facility will produce railway wheelsets and axles, shifting production closer to U.S. and Canadian customers....
BNSF 1Q26: Revenue Up, OR Down
BNSF Railway posted a 13% rise in first‑quarter 2026 net income to $1.38 billion and a 5% revenue increase to $5.97 billion, driven by higher unit volume and average revenue per car. A 2% lift in unit volume and a 3% boost...
CTA Sets CN, CPKC 2026-27 VRCPIs
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) announced the Volume‑Related Composite Price Index (VRCPI) for the 2026‑27 grain‑shipping season, setting it at 1.9864 for Canadian National (CN) and 1.9474 for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). Both indices represent modest increases of 0.659%...
Cando to Acquire Savage Rail (UPDATED, 5/4)
Canadian rail logistics firm Cando Rail & Terminals completed its acquisition of U.S. provider Savage Rail, creating the largest integrated first‑ and last‑mile rail and terminal platform in North America. The combined entity now operates 36 railcar storage, staging or...
Ivanyo Joins RINA as Senior Program Manager
RINA announced the appointment of Joe Ivanyo as Senior Program Manager for its Rail & Transit Group. Ivanyo brings over 30 years of rail engineering, signal systems, and large‑scale program delivery experience, having overseen capital projects worth more than $400 million,...
OLI Awards $220,200 for Rail Safety Campaigns in 12 States
Operation Lifesaver, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Posner Foundation awarded $220,200 in competitive grants to OLI programs in 12 states to fund rail‑safety awareness campaigns, many timed with See Tracks? Think Train® Week in September 2026. The FRA contributed...
NICTD Westlake Corridor Update and Trip Report
The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) opened its eight‑mile Westlake Corridor branch of the South Shore line, extending service to a terminal on the Munster‑Dyer border. Peak‑direction commuters enjoy five direct trains each weekday, while midday, evening and weekend...
Denver-to-Fort Collins Intercity Passenger Rail Project Advances
Denver Regional Transit District (RTD) and freight carrier BNSF have signed a term sheet that paves the way for a 25‑year access agreement to launch intercity passenger rail between Denver and Fort Collins. The project, backed by an estimated $330 million...
NITL Weighs in on Rail Mergers
The National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) publicly opposed the Union Pacific‑Norfolk Southern merger, warning that further rail consolidation threatens rail‑to‑rail competition for captive shippers. NITL highlighted that its members, generating roughly $878 billion in revenue, are paying higher prices for unreliable...
CN on UP+NS: ‘Remedies Are Necessary’
Canadian National Railway (CN) reiterated its objections to the Union Pacific‑Norfolk Southern merger after the parties filed an amended application with the Surface Transportation Board. CN argues the revised filing fails to address the substantial competitive harms of a deal...
Class I Briefs: NS, CSX
Norfolk Southern (NS) announced a Community Disaster Relief Grant Program to support nonprofits aiding communities hit by the South Georgia wildfires, with applications due by May 31. The railroad, which operates 1,700 miles of track and employs over 4,000 people...
Trinity 1Q26: ‘Strong and Consistent’ Execution Across Business
Trinity Industries posted Q1 2026 revenue of $492 million, a 16% YoY decline, while operating profit rose modestly to $101.1 million. Earnings per share increased to $0.32, prompting the company to lift its full‑year EPS outlook to $2.20‑$2.40, a 16% upside at...