The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 4, 2024. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 463,106 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.0 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending May 4 were 213,410 carloads, down 5.1 percent compared with the same week in 2023, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 249,696 containers and trailers, up 4.9 percent compared to 2023. Seven of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2023. They included petroleum and petr ..read more

STG Logistics, Inc., a leading provider of transportation and logistics solutions, is pleased to announce a strengthened partnership with CSX, including an expanded relationship to facilitate drayage services to support their door-to-door CSX RailPlus product. “Over the last 30 years CSX’s rail network has given us the ability to scale our intermodal business while providing reliable service to our east coast client base,” says Tyler Holtgreven, STG’s Senior Vice President of Intermodal. “We are incredibly excited about the opportunities ahead, for both of our organizations and ..read more

Gulf & Atlantic Railways, LLC (G&AR) announced May 1 that it is rebranding as Pinsly Railroad Company following the October 2023 acquisition of Pioneer Valley Railroad, Pinsly’s last short line railroad company. Pinsly Railroad Company is the second oldest short line railway holding company in North America, and, according to CEO, Ryan Ratledge, “it is under this iconic name that we are excited to run and grow our portfolio of railroad, warehousing, transloading, and trucking businesses.  Our team is committed to continuing the admirable Pinsly track record for safety and ser ..read more

MTA Construction & Development (MTA C&D) today outlined details of nearly $300 million in capital program cost savings as part of its 2023 Year in Review and 2024 Strategic Plan, which outlines initiatives to improve the delivery of capital projects and modernize the transit system better, faster, and cheaper. The report comes as the agency prepares to move forward on a major slate of vital capital projects to be funded by congestion pricing. The Strategic Plan lays out initiatives MTA C&D it undertaking to drive down costs and deliver the ambitious capital program at scale, includ ..read more

Operation Toy Train will be participating in the grand opening of our new Erie Turntable exhibit in Port Jervis, New York. This professionally-curated exhibit on Port Jervis railroading history, located inside our theater boxcar, will be open on Saturday from 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM. Admission is FREE, but donations are encouraged. Additionally, a new book entitled “The Railroads of Port Jervis, Volume 3: The Conrail Era, 1976-1999” is being released at the event, with proceeds from sales benefitting the ongoing maintenance of our railroad equipment. Learn more at this link. Operation Toy Train ..read more

An Amtrak work crew, that includes an undercutter and the TLM (Track Laying Machine),  is presently working to replace rail, ties and renew ballast between Harrisburg and Middletown, PA.  Photographers should be on the lookout not only for the TLM (not commonly used on the Harrisburg Line), but also the work train locomotives.  Amtrak is taking delivery of rebuilt (by Progress Rail) GP38-3 units in the 725-754 series – units numbered 740 and above wear the new Phase VII scheme, which is a first for work train power. -via Andy Kirk The post Amtrak Harrisburg Line T ..read more

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) announces its return to the rails today (Friday, May 3, 2024), following a voluntary two-month hiatus aimed at enhancing passenger safety and operational protocols. During this pause, CVSR made significant investments in pivotal operational areas, including advancements in radio communications, operations management software, and safety cameras in the locomotives. Moreover, the railroad has written and implemented new operating rules and procedures specifically tailored to its unique operational scale. These initiatives collectively ensure a safe and effi ..read more

CSX has introduced the latest addition in its heritage locomotive series, paying homage to the rich history of the Pere Marquette Railroad. This new unit showcases the Pere Marquette’s legacy, dating back to its inception on November 1, 1899. The Pere Marquette Railroad, operating in the Great Lakes region of the United States and parts of southern Ontario, Canada, derived its name from Jacques Marquette, a notable French Jesuit missionary credited with founding Michigan’s first European settlement in Sault Ste Marie. After years of operation, the company merged with the Chesapeake and Ohio Ra ..read more

Tickets are now available for a second daily Amtrak service between the Twin Cities and Chicago, via Milwaukee: new state-sponsored Borealis trains originate from St. Paul at midday and from Chicago in the late morning. Travelers seeking a more comfortable, sustainable and productive choice than driving will have double the current rail options, starting May 21, 2024. Amtrak Borealis trains will offer Coach and Business Class in addition to a café car featuring regional items. Customers will enjoy wide reclining seats with ample legroom, no middle seats, free Wi-Fi, and views of ..read more

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 27, 2024, as well as volumes for April 2024. U.S. railroads originated 848,882 carloads in April 2024, down 6.5 percent, or 58,751 carloads, from April 2023. U.S. railroads also originated 1,018,569 containers and trailers in April 2024, up 8.6 percent, or 80,471 units, from the same month last year. Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in April 2024 were 1,867,451, up 1.2 percent, or 21,720 carloads and intermodal units from April 2023. In April 2024, nine of the 20 carload commodity ..read more