General railway discussions

[dowlingm]

Do you have a source that identifies this railway as using battery power ?

The original article and this one says battery trains are being procured

New battery-electric trains announced for Fife and Borders railway - Rail UK

New battery-electric trains announced for Fife and Borders railway - Rail News

railuk.com

 

[urbancog]

The original article and this one says battery trains are being procured

Yes, this is an announcement of funding from the Scottish government to start the upgrade. The current technology is, as Paul notes, DMU.

The line was originally called the Waverly Route and used to go right through the Borders region to Carlisle, joining the West Coast Main Line and the Settle to Carlisle line. There were protests when it was closed, in 1969, including the arrest of local clergy for blocking the path of the final train.

the Borders Railway was both overspent and overcrowded.... apparently more successful than expected

Reopened rail lines in the UK seem to be successful in attracting riders. For example, the Northumberland Line only has 3 of its 6 stations open but has transported 500,000 passengers in its first 7.5 months of operation.

 

[drum118]

Yes, this is an announcement of funding from the Scottish government to start the upgrade. The current technology is, as Paul notes, DMU.

The line was originally called the Waverly Route and used to go right through the Borders region to Carlisle, joining the West Coast Main Line and the Settle to Carlisle line. There were protests when it was closed, in 1969, including the arrest of local clergy for blocking the path of the final train.

Reopened rail lines in the UK seem to be successful in attracting riders. For example, the Northumberland Line only has 3 of its 6 stations open but has transported 500,000 passengers in its first 7.5 months of operation.

Reading about lines that close in the 60's and 70's and are been reopen with great success either as DMU's or electrify is saying something not only in the UK, but Europe as well. a lot of these old lines are seeing major upgrades along being electrify in place of DMU's as well being made accessibility on day one.

When I took the train from Glasgow to Edinburg in 2012, it was an DMU line that now has been upgraded to electrifying. That was a slow trip back then. Movement these days is to electrify lines where possible and use battery where there is no electrifying.

Yet in NA, we cannot do it due to freight lines.

 

[crs1026]

Latest in the Victoria rail lands story

https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/residents-sue-city-of-victoria-over-roundhouse-project-11184424

- Paul

 

[micheal_can]

Latest in the Victoria rail lands story

https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/residents-sue-city-of-victoria-over-roundhouse-project-11184424

- Paul

This line is one of those things that is actually an obvious choice for rail passenger transit. I lived there and was thankful I did not have to experience "the Colwood Crawl" or the Malahat. Doing Commuter rail from Duncan south would be a success.

 

[crs1026]

The original article and this one says battery trains are being procured

https://railuk.com/rail-news/new-battery-electric-trains-announced-for-fife-and-borders-rail

This source says they won't arriv...ric-trains-but-not-until-2031-5304109 - Paul

 

[crs1026]

PS - here's a news outlet that carries fairly detailed coverage of Scotrail issues. It would be interesting if somebody covered ML in this level of scrutiny.

https://www.scotsman.com/topic/scotrail

- Paul

 

[just east of the creek]

Reading about lines that close in the 60's and 70's and are been reopen with great success either as DMU's or electrify is saying something not only in the UK, but Europe as well. a lot of these old lines are seeing major upgrades along being electrify in place of DMU's as well being made accessibility on day one.

When I took the train from Glasgow to Edinburg in 2012, it was an DMU line that now has been upgraded to electrifying. That was a slow trip back then. Movement these days is to electrify lines where possible and use battery where there is no electrifying.

Yet in NA, we cannot do it due to freight lines.

As always, comparing apples with apples can be tricky ( there are over 5,000 varieties of apples if memory serves me well). Comparing ScotRail and Canadian Rail Services (VIA, CPKC etc), the comparative size of the two countries, and the volumes of freight service is important in any discussion.

In 2022/23 ScotRail had 81 million passenger journeys..Over 2,700 km of line linking 362 stations.

See the link for a recent statistical report: https://www.transport.gov.scot/medi...nsport-scottish-transport-statistics-2024.pdf

 

[urbancog]

Comparing ScotRail and Canadian Rail Services (VIA, CPKC etc), the comparative size of the two countries, and the volumes of freight service is important in any discussion.

Comparing ScotRail's Edinburgh-Glasgow services (there are 4 parallel routes, all fully electrified) with the Border Railway or with existing GO Rail would indeed be a stretch. However, comparing the introduction of battery-electric bi-mode train on Tweedbank-Edinburgh with minimizing the cost of improved Kitchener-Union or Old Elm-Union services seems valid.

 

[NW87]

Brantford

Removal of the old Grand Trunk 1913 built bridge spans with a Tadano CC38.650-1 650 Metric Tonne Crawler Crane owned by Mammoet. The existing piers will be repaired and reused. The bridge was built for the Grand Trunk Railway and later used by CN as part of their Burford Subdivision, with the last train crossing in the 90s and was abandoned by the in 1996 and converted for pedestrian use. The crane as seen in the photos, is currently being disassembled and will me moved to the other side of the river for the last span.

https://www.brantford.ca/en/brant-s-crossing-bridge-replacement-project-update.aspx - More information from the City of Brantford.

 

[just east of the creek]

Comparing ScotRail's Edinburgh-Glasgow services (there are 4 parallel routes, all fully electrified) with the Border Railway or with existing GO Rail would indeed be a stretch. However, comparing the introduction of battery-electric bi-mode train on Tweedbank-Edinburgh with minimizing the cost of improved Kitchener-Union or Old Elm-Union services seems valid.

That would be very interesting. Both the comparison between the two rail ways, and then, the cost breakdowns/rationale and operating costs for either of these GO lines (assuming all improvements for a rational service for the market at hand could be put into operation). The technology sounds really quite interesting. And watching it spill over into other areas of industry is interesting as well. In agriculture, the technology is appearing in improved prototypes of farm tractors, although battery capacities still appear light, and there is a lot of work to be done in the medium sized categories of farm tractors. But still positive changes.

 

[Allandale25]

https://www.rtands.com/track-construction/lac-megantic-rail-bypass-project-moves-to-next-phase/?fbclid=IwdGRzaAM_yzdjbGNrAz_LG2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeiWbtcZTlnuKdyFCV5SSR3FPVDBnDL-q8a8lakJhfnF78UKj8UOEWHApDIGQ_aem_pAyMkms8RzOXd3f1HgdQUg

 

[Metroscapes]

Brantford

Removal of the old Grand Trunk 1913 built bridge spans with a Tadano CC38.650-1 650 Metric Tonne Crawler Crane owned by Mammoet. The existing piers will be repaired and reused. The bridge was built for the Grand Trunk Railway and later used by CN as part of their Burford Subdivision, with the last train crossing in the 90s and was abandoned by the in 1996 and converted for pedestrian use. The crane as seen in the photos, is currently being disassembled and will me moved to the other side of the river for the last span.

https://www.brantford.ca/en/brant-s-crossing-bridge-replacement-project-update.aspx - More information from the City of Brantford.

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Sad to see this go. The Chief William Commanda Bridge in Ottawa is an awesome example of keeping the structure in place while tweaking it to meet current code. I understand ice jams were a problem and it may not have been in a comparable condition, but you wonder if more could have been done to salvage it.

More pictures here.

 

[Allandale25]

Always a learning experience when I see news like this to look at the local impact to rail. In this case, ONTC.

STATEMENT Statement on the Idling of Operations at the Kapuskasing Paper Mill​ September 29, 2025 Ministry of Natural Resources
Today, Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources, and Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products, issued the following statement: “Our government has worked closely with Kap Paper to help protect jobs at the Kapuskasing Paper Mill, providing more than $50 million to help cover operating expenses and provide business supports to help the company establish a viable, long-term plan. We have continuously pushed the federal government to come to the table as an equal partner, standing up for Canadian forestry jobs and treating Ontario forestry workers fairly. We are deeply disappointed that the federal government has failed to join us in providing the immediate support required to keep Kap Paper operating, as Ontario has done repeatedly to date. Despite Ontario's extensive support, Kap Paper has concluded there is no sustainable path to long-term viability without continuous significant financial assistance. Our government cannot indefinitely provide this assistance without the active support and engagement of the federal government. Our government is focused on supporting impacted workers and their families, and will continue to work closely with Kap Paper, local unions and local governments to do so. Provincial programs and supports are ready to help affected workers and we have already activated the Rapid Re-employment and Training Service (RRTS) supports. We fully expect and will continue to advocate for the federal government to join us in supporting forestry sector workers. Ontario’s supports include: Protect Ontario Workers Employment Response (POWER) Centres – Ontario has invested an additional $20 million this year to POWER Centres, which can be deployed in communities that face a confirmed closure. Funded by the province and set up by unions, employee or employer associations, or municipalities, these centres provide laid-off workers with wrap-around supports such as job search help, counselling, financial advice and referrals to local training and Employment Ontario programs. Better Jobs Ontario (BJO) – Ontario has invested an additional $50 million this year to expand Better Jobs Ontario (BJO) for a total of $137 million. The program helps individuals retrain for in-demand fields, with financial assistance to cover tuition, living expenses, childcare, disability supports and other expenses. Skills Development Fund (SDF) – Ontario has committed $2.5 billion to the Skills Development Fund, with over $1.3 billion already invested to train workers across the province. Since 2021, our government has provided Northern Ontario with over $131 million for training and upskilling projects available in the skilled trades, manufacturing, forestry and more. Employment Standards and Income Supports – Laid-off Kap Paper workers may be entitled to termination and severance pay under the Employment Standards Act. Workers can access information at Ontario.ca/ESAguide or through the Employment Standards Information Centre (1-800-531-5551). For those in financial hardship, additional support is available through Ontario Works, and Service Canada’s Kapuskasing office can help workers access Employment Insurance benefits. Employment Ontario – Delivered locally by Collège Boréal, Northeastern Ontario’s Service System Manager, Employment Ontario is available to support laid-off Kap Paper workers with job search assistance, training and employment opportunities. Ontario’s Trade Impacted Communities Program is available to help communities navigate significant economic challenges caused by U.S. trade disruptions. The $40 million program will support municipal governments, economic development organizations, business incubators and industry associations. In the face of U.S. tariffs and increased softwood lumber duties, Ontario has repeatedly stepped up for forestry workers and businesses with record investments to help the sector diversify their operations and expand into new markets. This includes: A further $10 million investment to help sawmills compete in a changing global market Over $72 million through the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program to help Ontario forestry companies improve productivity, increase innovation, expand markets and strengthen regional economies and supply chains Nearly $50 million through the Forest Biomass Program in projects to increase wood harvest and find new uses and markets for Ontario wood An additional $20 million this year through the Provincial Forest Access Roads Funding Program, bringing the government’s total funding for the program to over $79 million this year Close to $3 million for wood-based construction education, research and training led by organizations such as the Canadian Wood Council and Canadian Wood Construction Research Network, to support building with wood Over $1.5 million towards the construction of educational buildings incorporating mass timber at George Brown College and the University of Toronto Over $750,000 to support FPInnovations’ research and testing of wood-based construction materials and development of technical resources Over $300,000 to help the University of Toronto’s Mass Timber Institute develop ways to use more underused wood for advanced wood construction and study modular housing deployment to maximize environmental and economic benefit Almost $35 million in electricity rate relief to forestry sector businesses in 2024-25 through the Northern Energy Advantage Program. Ontario continues to step up with significant provincial support but cannot do so alone. We have repeatedly called on the federal government to take immediate action to support workers and businesses in this vital sector, and we will continue to do so.”

 

[Allandale25]

Very rare to see a new siding being added so wanted to share the pictures. Wouldn't it be nice if there were more pictures like this of some of our favourite sidings being added from decades ago? cc @smallspy @crs1026 @SaugeenJunction

Facebook post here.

A new rail-served warehouse is now open in Kincheloe, near Sault Ste. Marie, thanks to Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation! Northern Michigan businesses now have direct access to CN’s North American network. Welcome to our newest customer, Maple Transport Inc.!

A huge shoutout to our CN railroaders and supply chain partners who made this happen. This warehouse is a launchpad for powering business growth, creating jobs, and opening opportunities.

Got a supply chain project in mind? Reach out, let’s make it happen together: https://shipcn.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8GuMkvTU4OStyxn