February 6, 20232 yr On 2/4/2023 at 8:38 AM, Boomerang_Brian said: More: When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
February 6, 20232 yr I'm in favor of nationalizing rail right-of-ways, but I don't think we're anywhere near being able to do so politically. It would mean a big drop in local tax revenues for a lot of small (Republican-represented) districts.
February 6, 20232 yr 10 minutes ago, Lazarus said: ^The interstate highways do not pay local property tax. Correct. But railroads are paying local property taxes on their rail lines, and those local jurisdictions likely would fight losing that source of revenue.
February 7, 20232 yr On 2/6/2023 at 10:03 AM, Foraker said: I'm in favor of nationalizing rail right-of-ways ... Interesting idea. Do you see a need for an FAA-like agency for scheduling and traffic control? Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
February 7, 20232 yr Author 29 minutes ago, Dougal said: Interesting idea. Do you see a need for an FAA-like agency for scheduling and traffic control? Like the Federal Railroad Administration? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 7, 20232 yr 4 hours ago, KJP said: Like the Federal Railroad Administration? Exactly. Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
February 7, 20232 yr Hillbillies just south of Cincinnati get stolen bobcat stuck on tracks: https://www.wcpo.com/news/northern-kentucky/ksp-on-the-scene-of-train-incident-in-dry-ridge
February 17, 20232 yr On 11/16/2022 at 4:56 PM, KJP said: While this press release is about freight railroad studies and projects, the first and third items could have passenger implications..... ORDC Approves the Submission of Four Federal Railroad Administration CRISI Grant Projects + Cincinnati Planning Grant – In collaboration with Norfolk Southern, CSX Transportation and Genesee & Wyoming, the project will review and prioritize projects that reduce congestion in the Cincinnati, Ohio/Queensgate Yard area. By taking this larger, more encompassing approach and partnering with these railroads collectively, ORDC will prioritize projects that improve congestion for all railroads in the area; projects that will result in the largest amount of public and private benefits for all stakeholders. So this seems more important all of a sudden...Do you have any idea how publicly available the results of this planning grant will be?
February 24, 20232 yr Fascinating thread comparing the service models of freight verse passenger rail When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
April 3, 20232 yr If you want to learn about train ops (both freight and passenger), Uday is a must-follow When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
April 5, 20232 yr Another train derailment. This time on the Peavine line. Just gravel in this one https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/brown-county/train-carrying-390-tons-of-gravel-derails-in-brown-county-no-injuries-reported%3f_amp=true
April 5, 20232 yr Have train derailments always been this common and the media has only recently started covering them, or is the recent frequency truly unusual?
April 5, 20232 yr 13 minutes ago, Ethan said: Have train derailments always been this common and the media has only recently started covering them, or is the recent frequency truly unusual? It used to be worse, but there is a bit of a recent uptick. I don't know the number of train miles in 1980 though, which would be important to figure out the derailment rate. Even though it can be frustrating when the media gets obsessed with something, there is also the advantage that a long simmering issue might finally get addressed. The class 1 railroads definitely have a safety issue that needs to be improved. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
April 5, 20232 yr Author I'd like to see data from the 1970s. Derailments were almost a comedic joke back then because they happened so often. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 5, 20232 yr 14 hours ago, Cincy_Travels said: Another train derailment. This time on the Peavine line. Just gravel in this one Hopefully it won't set the Cincinnati & Eastern back too much, I'm assuming this sort of thing is pretty routine. I grew up right across the valley when the Peavine was still a mainline, it was nice to see trains finally running on it again.
April 28, 20232 yr Ah this is so stupid. Don’t people realize that increasing rail shipping costs shifts shipments to trucks, which are far more polluting? Banning locomotives more than 23 years old makes it that much more difficult for Class II and III railroads to survive, which will increase truck usage and dramatically increase pollution. Just dumb. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
April 28, 20232 yr California has good people but their policy people leave something to be desired sometimes. DC hoovers up a lot of the good ones leaving what's left for the states. That's why the Rs want so many things handled by the states.
April 28, 20232 yr 6 minutes ago, GCrites80s said: California has good people but their policy people leave something to be desired sometimes. DC hoovers up a lot of the good ones leaving what's left for the states. That's why the Rs want so many things handled by the states. California thinks it has enough clout to force its policies on the entire nation, since manufacturers don't want to create two model #'s - one for California and another for the rest of the United States. I talked to a lawyer last fall who said that Republicans are trying to figure out how to challenge the various stunts of this type that California has pulled over the years.
April 28, 20232 yr 5 minutes ago, Lazarus said: California thinks it has enough clout to force its policies on the entire nation, since manufacturers don't want to create two model #'s - one for California and another for the rest of the United States. I talked to a lawyer last fall who said that Republicans are trying to figure out how to challenge the various stunts of this type that California has pulled over the years. Not saying you're wrong at all, but I have a strong feeling the big 3 automakers are on board with the policies CA is floating with regard to emissions. And Republicans surely have plenty of their own stunts ready to go.
April 28, 20232 yr It took them forever to figure out that good affordable urbanism plus the L.A. subway and HSR would make it where the engines wouldn't even be on so they couldn't pollute. Instead it was decades of sprawl and unwalkable areas. They wouldn't need special emissions equipment for their state then.
April 28, 20232 yr 19 minutes ago, surfohio said: Not saying you're wrong at all, but I have a strong feeling the big 3 automakers are on board with the policies CA is floating with regard to emissions. And Republicans surely have plenty of their own stunts ready to go. Yes, they don't like it when they spend millions or even billions on development just to be told it's not needed anymore. They weren't happy when Trump rolled back emissions targets. For them these days it's more about minimizing different part numbers rather than trying to make money from adding or subtracting the physical presence of mechanical options. Now they just put all the options on anyway then lock them out with the computer if you don't pay.
April 28, 20232 yr 2 hours ago, GCrites80s said: It took them forever to figure out that good affordable urbanism plus the L.A. subway and HSR would make it where the engines wouldn't even be on so they couldn't pollute. Instead it was decades of sprawl and unwalkable areas. They wouldn't need special emissions equipment for their state then. In related news, they either did or are about to change zoning in DTLA and Hollywood to permit way over 100,000 new apartment units in towers. They're going to reduce parking requirements and everything.
May 12, 20232 yr Author Different rail line in a different state, but same ol' NS. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 17, 20232 yr Author "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 13, 20231 yr I would like to see a national plan for freight railroads that is at least partially separate from passenger rail. We already have legal requirements that freight give way to passenger trains but it isn't being enforced. Higher speed rail lines will require more separation if we're going to improve on-time scheduling. Ideally, I would like to see the federal government run main rail routes and do the maintenance, just like highways, and let freight companies lease space on those routes, but I don't see that happening.
December 13, 20231 yr John Oliver just had a great episode on deregulation's endless consequences, this time with freight. The idea of six companies having an oligopoly on the industry has been damaging. It's a miracle there haven't been hundreds of East Palestines throughotu major urban areas.
May 1, 20241 yr watch a train get whacked by a tornado in omaha — 🙀 https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6U6dD2rU3P/?igsh=MTNvbGQybmd5NjZ1Ng==
July 9, 2024Jul 9 The Cincinnati Eastern, which operates on the old Norfolk and Western Peavine from Cincinnati to Adams County has been acquired by a new company. With the new Purina plant coming online near Batavia, there's going to be increased business for the line. I hope the new company restores the line all the way to Portsmouth https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/07/09/regional-rail-aquires-cincinnati-eastern-railroad.html?csrc=6398&taid=668d77243c6e7d0001085d19&utm_campaign=trueAnthemTrendingContent&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter
July 9, 2024Jul 9 36 minutes ago, JaceTheAce41 said: The Cincinnati Eastern, which operates on the old Norfolk and Western Peavine from Cincinnati to Adams County has been acquired by a new company. With the new Purina plant coming online near Batavia, there's going to be increased business for the line. I hope the new company restores the line all the way to Portsmouth I grew up right across the East Fork valley from the Peavine, back when it was still the N&W/NS mainline into Cincinnati. Nice to see traffic coming back to that line.
July 11, 2024Jul 11 On 7/9/2024 at 1:53 PM, JaceTheAce41 said: I hope the new company restores the line all the way to Portsmouth. They won't be able to. The line isn't owned by CCET, it's owned by NSR. You have to remember that the Norfolk part of Norfolk Southern was previously Norfolk and Western. Additionally, as part of the CSR sale to NSR, they gave the abandoned sections east of Plum Run to ODNR for a rail-to-trails conversion. In any case it doesn't matter. The business case does not exist to spend the money to rehab that line to Portsmouth. NSR was likely railbanking the line in the unlikely event that they were to lose access to the CSR. At this point it would be too expensive to rehab it, especially since the bridge over the Scioto is apparently too far gone to be salvaged and other sections have been completely washed out, in addition to the awful routing it was taking.
October 24, 2024Oct 24 Author This first project could have some future passenger rail implications for linking Cleveland and Toledo and possibly Detroit to Fort Wayne and Chicago over a largely lightly trafficked freight route... FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 24, 2024 Media Contact: Ben Kamens [email protected] (202) 897-7438 Kaptur Announces $18.57 Million in Awards From the Federal Rail Administration to Northern Ohio & Western Railway and Napoleon, Defiance & Western Railway Toledo, Ohio – Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) announced a total of $18.57 Million in awards from the Federal Rail Administration secured alongside the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) for Northern Ohio & Western Railway and Napoleon, Defiance & Western Railway. The first award for critical safety upgrades for Napoleon, Defiance & Western Railway totals $12.17 Million and was secured alongside the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) through the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The project involves final design and construction activities to replace deteriorating and broken rail and ties and expanded capacity along the eastern half of the Napoleon, Defiance & Western Railway. The project is the third and final phase of the full corridor rehabilitation of Napoleon, Defiance & Western track. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety as the project will improve safety, resilience, and operational efficiency with added benefit to Paulding and Defiance Counties. The Ohio Rail Development Commission and Napoleon, Defiance & Western Railway will contribute 25 percent of the total project cost. The second award for major rail upgrades for Northern Ohio & Western Railway totals $6.4 Million and was secured alongside the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) also through the Bipartisan Infrastructure law. This involves construction to upgrade track infrastructure across the approximately 24-mile rail line owned by the Sandusky County, Seneca County, and the City of Tiffin Port Authority and is operated by the Northern Ohio & Western Railway. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety and improving system and service performance as the project will return the line to FRA standards. The Ohio Rail Development Commission and the Sandusky County-Seneca County-City of Tiffin Port Authority will contribute 20 percent of the total project cost. “I am encouraged to see these new investments in rail coming to Northern Ohio, and I know that this will be transformative for the people of Defiance County, Sandusky County, and so many across our region. This funding continues the lasting impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as an engine of economic development for the state of Ohio,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “Rail safety was a major impetus for our desire to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and now we are seeing investment and opportunity coming back to our region in transformational ways. We are working together to make our communities safer, and bring back major investment that underscores rail as the spine of our Northern Ohio economy. I will never stop fighting to deliver for the people of Northern Ohio.” These investments follow a $10,792,157 award Congresswoman Kaptur announced on October 3, 2023 for major rail upgrades for Napoleon, Defiance, & Western Railway. On September 22, 2023 Congresswoman Kaptur hosted a roundtable discussion on the future of passenger rail in Northern Ohio and the Great Lakes Region with participants including international, national, regional, and local transit, labor, and civic leaders and included FRA Administrator Amit Bose, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, and Eddie Hall, President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. # # # "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 14, 2024Nov 14 Author New large-scale rail yard coming to Youngstown https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/youngstown-news/new-large-scale-rail-yard-coming-to-youngstown/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 1, 2024Dec 1 Author Cross-posting this Cleveland Lakefront Bypass article here "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
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