Opinion

All is not well in the world of transit in the United States today. The COVID-19 virus has changed the way many Americans work, among other large-scale social and economic changes, and they include the way riders use rail transit. Carrying commuters into the city core in the morning and back home at the end of the workday was the…

ASLRRA PERSPECTIVE, RAILWAY AGE JUNE 2024 ISSUE: If I were writing an ode to the CRISI (Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements) Grant Program, I couldn’t do better than by plagiarizing the title of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s most famous poem, “How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Count the Ways.”

WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE JUNE 2024 ISSUE: One would think California’s housing cost crisis, soaring energy prices, hundreds of companies relocating and a population exodus would induce greater regard for benefits and costs when formulating public policy. Not so the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that seeks to impose on railroads a regulatory burden whose CARB-estimated costs could exceed $13…

When I started my railroading career in September 1973, I expected to stay six months. More than 50 years later, I still take great pride in taking my turn in the seat operating locomotives at Union Pacific (UP).

Fare collection has long been one of the hottest topics in public transit. Opinions range about how much a ride costs or how much it should cost, who is paying and who is not paying. Often forgotten in all the talk about fares is the history behind Proof of Payment systems, or “POP.”

Last summer I finished riding the entire VIA Rail system, including the railroad’s remote “Adventure” routes. It was not easy, and I reported those trips in a series collectively titled Adventures on VIA Rail. This is another trip report about VIA Rail, but it reflects a travel experience totally different from the adventures I had last summer. It was a…

Katie Caskey explores evolving guidance on compensation for public engagement in Experts Talk interview.

When Amtrak began operations in 1971, two-thirds of the long-distance and corridor-length trains that had previously run in the United States were discontinued. Amtrak’s original long-distance network consisted of only 14 routes. A few were added and taken away again during the 1970s, and there have been other changes since then, but the network today also numbers 14 routes, and…

In his May 16, 2024 Railway Age commentary, South Dakotan Dan Bilka is proud to say “People Live Here” when referencing his home state. And as such, according to his reasoning, South Dakota should have access to Amtrak rail passenger service, as is the case in 46 of the 48 contiguous states (all except South Dakota and Wyoming). True, people do live…

To be competitive and profitable, agricultural producers across the country are focusing on their cost of production, managing margins, and being forward-thinking on their grain and livestock marketing. In Iowa, and most any state, a piece to the puzzle that literally links all of these is rail. 

It was 1976, a year when there was a resurgence of leisure train travel with the start of Amtrak, when Class I railroads in the Northeast joined to form Conrail, and railroads across the nation debuted patriotic livery paint schemes in honor of America’s bicentennial. And in Minot, N.Dak., a young Dale Dannewitz started his railroading career that would span…

In this video interview, we sit down with Jeremy Erickson, COO of Messiah Locomotive Services and RSI Board Member, to get some insight into his world. Jeremy shares how his company makes the most of tradeshow events, using them to build connections that drive their business forward. He also talks about the benefits of bringing the passenger and freight sides…

The iconic Union Pacific Railroad shield with its distinctive red, white and blue color scheme dates back to an original design that’s more than 130 years old, making the logo one of the oldest in continuous use in the United States. The railroad often appears on top 10 lists of historic American brands, notably as the only railroad and only…

“Leaders in the railroad market pointed to mixed conditions across the railroad and intermodal network,” according to TD Cowen’s latest Railroad Happy Hour report. "Improved operations are aiding service offerings for merchandise freight, while intermodal continues to be pressured as shippers have the upper hand in rate negotiations. Intermodal marketing companies may be stacking additional boxes given [the] current intermodal…

In this episode of “All Aboard with Stephen,” Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner chats with Laura Mason, Amtrak Executive Vice President of Capital Delivery, about how “America's railroad” is modernizing passenger rail.

Until September 2023, Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad, had only operated between Miami and West Palm Beach. Then, on Sept. 22, the railroad extended service to a new station at Orlando International Airport (MCO). That extension is now affecting fares on the original part of the railroad, as most commutation-style fares within South Florida will end soon. In effect, Brightline…

As one of the sponsors for the 29th Annual AAR Research Review hosted by MxV Rail, Railway Track & Structures headed to Pueblo. From April 23 to 25, MxV Rail hosted the 29th Annual AAR Research Review at the Pueblo Convention Center in Pueblo, Colo. Over the course of a few days, attendees had the opportunity to network, attend infrastructure and/or mechanical sessions, and attend a…

For 33 years, Train Operator Linda Yee-Sugaya, better known as “Mama Linda,” has said a prayer before stepping onto her train.

People live here. Yes, right here in South Dakota—our home that has often been derided as “flyover country.” For the first time in more than 50 years, we have an opportunity to change that. We can have more affordable and convenient transportation options both within the state and to the outside world. In February 2023, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)…

Nearly 110 years after his death, Union Pacific (UP) Railroad Chief Special Agent William T. “Bill” Canada is solidifying his place in railroad history with a headstone honoring his efforts to safeguard the nation’s freight from bandits.