Norfolk Southern

Amtrak’s twice-daily Mardi Gras between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., has served more than 46,000 riders since its Aug. 18 launch. (Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, SEPTA, TriMet, NJT, TTC, MBTA

Amtrak’s newest service, the Mardi Gras, is seeing strong demand. Also, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is taking delivery of 10 leased coaches from MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter Rail); Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) promotes Alan Lehto to Executive Director of Planning, a newly created position; New Jersey Transit (NJT) earns the 2025 Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award; Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) considers advertising installations in subway tunnels; and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis) release a year-in-review report.

Robert E. Primus (Screen Grab from Government Hearing)
Commentary

Primus, Late of STB, Alleges Racial Bias

Democrat Robert E. Primus, fired Aug. 27 from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) by Republican POTUS 47, alleges in an amended legal challenge filed in federal district court Dec. 4 that the

Small-Road Briefs: G&W, Alaska Railroad Corporation

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) reports that overall satisfaction with its service is up for the third consecutive year and celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Rochester & Southern Railroad (RSR). Also, the Alaska Railroad Corporation closes on a $112 million revenue bond for the refinancing of cruise port redevelopment.

With its “direct-to-port rail access, dependable plug capacity, and weekly service” at the Port of Prince Rupert, CN said that perishable goods can “move seamlessly and stay fresh from Asia to key markets across Canada and the U.S. Midwest.” (Courtesy of CN)
  • News

Class I Briefs: CN, NS, UP

CN reignites CargoCool Intelligen Powerpack service out of the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) awards more than $6.1 million through its Thriving Communities and Safety First grant programs in 2025; and Union Pacific (UP) shares how it helps keep America “mission ready,” moving equipment, supplies and technology that supports national defense.

A Union Pacific boom truck and lowboy truck position to transport Omaha’s official Christmas Tree, a 5,500-pound blue spruce donated from the front yard of a metro-area home. (Courtesy of UP)

‘Holiday Briefs’: UP, NS, G&W

Union Pacific (UP) delivers the city of Omaha’s official Christmas tree. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS), Amtrak, and the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation announce the schedule for their New York Holiday Train; and Genesee & Wyoming’s (G&W) Quebec-Gatineau Railway kicks off the holidays in downtown Trois-Rivières, Quebec.

Commentary

Where’s the Beef?

The Contrarian View: The phrase “Where’s the Beef” originated from a Wendy’s commercial in 1984 and quickly became a “cultural catchphrase” used to express skepticism or doubt about the substance of something.

BNSF to STB: First Cure UP’s ‘Old Harms’

In advance of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) evaluating a Union Pacific (UP)-Norfolk Southern (NS) merger application (yet to be filed), rival BNSF wants a separate proceeding to examine, with remedies, its

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