Short Lines

Newest GWI short line debuts

Genesee & Wyoming Inc.’s newest rail subsidiary, Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad, Inc. (RCP&E), began operations Sunday, June 1, 2014, as Canadian Pacific completed the sale of the line, the western stretch of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern.

Short line gets new name, new owner

Hermon, Maine-based Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway has a new identity – Central Maine and Quebec Railway – following its purchase by Railroad Acquisisition Holdings LLC, an arm of New York-based Fortress Investment Group.

EPA names Coos Bay a ‘Smartway’ partner

Short line Coos Bay Rail Link (CBR) has been named a new member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay® Transport Partnership program, the railroad announced Monday, May 19, 2014.

MM&A, employees face negligence charges

The bankrupt Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MM&A) and three of its former employees are to appear in court in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, Tuesday, May 13, 2014, to face 47 charges of criminal negligence causing death in the runaway derailment and explosion last July 6 of a training carrying oil from North Dakota.

California short line claims legal victory

Sierra Railroad Co., an operator of freight trains and passenger excursions, said it has been awarded “$39.6 million in compensatory and punitive damages in a service contract dispute with Patriot Rail Corp.” by a California jury.

SCOTUS upholds EPA on coal plant pollution

In a 6-to-2 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority to regulate air pollution generated by coal plants that crosses state lines, putting additional pressure on coal as an energy source – and particularly electricity generation – and the railroads that deliver the fuel.