When Winter Storm Fern tore through most of the eastern half of the country, freight trains kept moving, but not at the same rate everywhere, according to real-time network visibility provider RailState, whose sensors across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana show “markedly different patterns,” in train volumes and lengths on the network it monitors.
Norfolk Southern (NS) on Jan. 27 released its 2025 Report on Safety Accomplishments and Ongoing Initiatives, which it said details year-over-year progress, including a 31% reduction in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-reportable train accident rate (the railroad’s “best in more than a decade”) and a 15% reduction in FRA-reportable injury rate, plus 1 million manhours “injury free.”
Metro-North Railroad and Amtrak on Oct. 20 announced that New York State has secured a series of improvements to rail service on the Empire State Corridor between Albany and New York City.
Total U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 24, 2026 (Week 3) was up 6.0% from the prior-year period, with gains in both carloads and intermodal volume, according to the Association of American Railroad’s (AAR) latest report.
Construction on the Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP), a key component of the Gateway Program, will “pause if disbursements of federal funds do not resume in the coming days,” the Gateway Development Commission
With an STB merger refiling for the acquisition of Norfolk Southern anticipated “in the coming weeks,” Union Pacific (UP) posted “a record-breaking year and delivered best-ever safety, service, and operating results in
Greenbrier Leasing Europe (GBXLE) on Jan. 27 reported partnering with Chicago-based Amsted Digital Solutions SAS (Amsted Digital) to launch a freight-car truck monitoring initiative “aimed at advancing condition-based maintenance across the European rail freight sector.”
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) receives its second Gold Standard Award for Transit Security Excellence. Also, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) celebrates the opening of the first transit-oriented development (TOD) housing to open in more than 20 years.
Union Pacific (UP) is joining in the celebration of 250 years of American independence and innovation this year with its first-ever coast-to-coast steam tour led by Big Boy No. 4014. The world’s largest operating steam locomotive will be joined by two commemorative locomotives, including the railroad’s newest locomotive: No. 1776 – America250.
BNSF on Jan. 26 announced a $3.6 billion capital plan for 2026 that devotes $2.8 billion to maintenance and $358 million to “expansion and efficiency” projects.
