General railway discussions

[C_Johnson_1995]

I just saw on the news that Domtar is shutting down its pulp and paper mill in Espanola. In addition to being devastating to the community (a mill has been there in one form or another for over a century), it will no doubt have a significant impact on the viability of the Huron Central Railway.

Domtar shutting down operations in Espanola

The pulp and paper mill in Espanola, Ont., is being shut down next month, with approximately 450 employees affected, Domtar Corporation said in a news release Wednesday morning.

northernontario.ctvnews.ca

This was visible from a mile away. If anything, it's a wake up call for government to not to invest in the private sector. Investing even a penny into Huron Central was an absolute farce. Just looking at the facts and volumes, it is abundantly clear that there shouldn't be a rail line between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. Next time, we should just let the rail line get pulled up. It isn't needed. What little volume remains is more than at home on trucks.

It's even worse when you remember that government kicked in major money to upgrade the pulp mill a few years ago.

 

[Allandale25]

Michael Robin on LinkedIn: #ontarionorthland

It kicks off today! NARCOA (North American Rail Car Operators Association) and Ontario Northland will begin touring 25 motor cars between North Bay to Cochrane…

www.linkedin.com

 

[Allandale25]

Norfolk Southern and Canadian National Railway now offering new Canadian – U.S. Intermodal service

Norfolk Southern and Canadian National Railway Company have announced a new domestic intermodal service. Launching on October 2, this unique service will provide customers with an integrated,...

nscorp.mediaroom.com

I saw this posted today.

 

[Northern Light]

Norfolk Southern and Canadian National Railway now offering new Canadian – U.S. Intermodal service

Norfolk Southern and Canadian National Railway Company have announced a new domestic intermodal service. Launching on October 2, this unique service will provide customers with an integrated,...

nscorp.mediaroom.com

I saw this posted today.

From the above, the map of the integrated service:

So CN Picks-up KC and Atlanta in its network under this deal; w hile NS gets access to much of Canada as well as Milwaukee. CN also gains access to a second corridor from Detroit to Chicago.

 

[Northern Light]

Transport Canada's report into the CN derailment/bridge collapse near Kingston is still not out, but CBC got access to some of it, and, well.........

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/kingston-cn-train-derailment-transport-canada-inspections-1.6964001

From the above:

***

And more...

 

[drum118]

Langley Township supporting the revival of Interurban tram line​

 

[lenaitch]

Transport Canada's report into the CN derailment/bridge collapse near Kingston is still not out, but CBC got access to some of it, and, well.........

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/kingston-cn-train-derailment-transport-canada-inspections-1.6964001

From the above:

View attachment 506284
***

View attachment 506286


And more...

So goes much of the self-governing Safety Management System, not just with rail. If the regulator ever sees or actually reads an industry's safety report, it seems the response, if any, is to wag a finger, maybe write a memo.

 

[Urban Sky]

So goes much of the self-governing Safety Management System, not just with rail. If the regulator ever sees or actually reads an industry's safety report, it seems the response, if any, is to wag a finger, maybe write a memo.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[kamira51]

So goes much of the self-governing Safety Management System, not just with rail. If the regulator ever sees or actually reads an industry's safety report, it seems the response, if any, is to wag a finger, maybe write a memo.

Slap on the wrist is so common in this country, what a joke.

 

[Allandale25]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1703915126649155779

MoDOT Seeks New Amtrak Service from KC to Springfield, St. Joe, STL

By Kevin Collison Expanding passenger rail service from Union Station by adding a third daily round-trip to St. Louis, and new connections to St. Joseph and the Springfield area is being explored …

cityscenekc.com

 

[Metroscapes]

Posted by VIA on LinkedIn. I'm guessing this was a diversion of trains to Ottawa and Montreal, as I'm confident that's the York Sub's crossing over the 401 and GO sub.

 

[Allandale25]

Brian Cornick on LinkedIn: Watch: Parallel Systems Debuts 2nd-Gen Autonomous Battery-Electric Freight…

Recently, Parallel Systems unveiled its 2nd-gen autonomous battery-electric freight car. These railcars are designed to transport standard shipping containers…

www.linkedin.com

Watch: Parallel Systems Debuts 2nd-Gen Autonomous Battery-Electric Freight Car - Railway Age

Los Angeles, Calif.-based Parallel Systems on Sept. 12 introduced its second-generation autonomous battery-electric freight car, which it plans to pilot test on existing U.S. and international rail networks.

www.railwayage.com

 

[lenaitch]

Brian Cornick on LinkedIn: Watch: Parallel Systems Debuts 2nd-Gen Autonomous Battery-Electric Freight…

Recently, Parallel Systems unveiled its 2nd-gen autonomous battery-electric freight car. These railcars are designed to transport standard shipping containers…

www.linkedin.com

View attachment 509110

Watch: Parallel Systems Debuts 2nd-Gen Autonomous Battery-Electric Freight Car - Railway Age

Los Angeles, Calif.-based Parallel Systems on Sept. 12 introduced its second-generation autonomous battery-electric freight car, which it plans to pilot test on existing U.S. and international rail networks.

www.railwayage.com

Interesting concept. I foresee a regulatory black hole.

 

[futurebound]

Interesting concept. I foresee a regulatory black hole.

I wonder how the energy efficiency of these "freight EMUs" compares to traditional mile long trains with electric locos.

 

[KevinT]

Interesting concept. I foresee a regulatory black hole.

I foresee endless signalling issues. Didn't a recent plan for VIA to reactivate a route using the old Budd self-propelled cars fail because single cars weren't reliably tripping the crossing gates during testing?