Pittsburgh-Harrisburg route improvements to receive $143.6 million federal grant

Passenger train with blue and red locomotive passes freight train

WASHINGTON — Infrastructure improvements to accommodate a second daily round trip of Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Pa., will receive more than $143 million in federal funding, the state’s two U.S. senators have announced, while the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia corridor is among those selected for the Corridor Identification and Development program for a study of increased […]

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MBTA completes Green Line work, eliminating 12 speed restrictions

Maintenence workers in tunnel

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has eliminated 12 speed restrictions on the rapid-transit Green Line following nine days of maintenance that began Nov. 27 and concluded on Tuesday, Dec. 5, the agency announced Wednesday. The total of 12 restrictions eliminated is two more than had been planned. Another two restrictions were reduced in […]

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Service cuts on Connecticut’s Shore Line East to begin Dec. 18

Electric trainset crosses bridge

NEWINGTON, Conn. — Planned service cuts for Connecticut’s Shore Line East commuter service, which have been delayed during an Amtrak maintenance project, will take effect Dec. 18, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced. Previously, Shore Line East service had included 23 trains per day; under the new schedule it will see 16 trains per […]

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Legislators announce selection of nine more passenger routes for FRA Corridor ID program (updated)

Passenger train crossing bridge

Five routes in Wisconsin — including both the state’s existing Amtrak lines, which seek increased service — are among those selected for the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program, according to members of Congress across the country. Selection provides funding for studies that are a prelude to new or expanded Amtrak service. In […]

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Chicago Union Station to receive more than $93 million for upgrades

Large waiting room area with Christmas tree

WASHINGTON — Chicago Union Station will receive a $93.6 million grant for modernization, part of the Chicago Hub Improvement Program outlined earlier this year by federal, state,  local, and Amtrak officials. U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (all D-Ill.), announced the funding today (Wednesday, Dec. 6). Money will come […]

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U.S. and Canada pledge to work together on zero-emissions locomotives

Green and gray cowl locomotive with blue trim

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United States and Canada will work together to develop a common vision for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from locomotives, officials announced today at the United Nations COP28 conference. The nations will create a Rail Decarbonization Task Force, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and […]

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News video: Metra SD70MACHs on test train

Two blue locomotives on commuter train

FRANKLIN PARK, Ill. — Metra continues to test some of its SD70MACH locomotives, even as it works the remanufactured freight units into revenue service [see “Metra SD70MACHs begin revenue service,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 30, 2023]. In a relatively rare move, correspondent Chris Guss caught units 504 and 505 operating back-to-back on a test train […]

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Raleigh-Richmond passenger project to receive $1 billion grant

Map of planned passenger rail line between Raleigh, N.C., and Richmond, Va.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation is set to award a $1 billion grant for development of a new passenger rail line between Raleigh, N.C., and Richmond, Va., using CSX Transportation’s partially abandoned S-Line freight route between the two cities, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) announced on Tuesday. Tillis called the project “a big win […]

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North Carolina, Ohio corridors lead list of those receiving FRA grants for possible new Amtrak routes

Blue locomotive with star on nose at passenger station

WASHINGTON — Seven routes in North Carolina and four serving Ohio are among those to receive funding to study possible future Amtrak service under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program, according to announcements today (Tuesday, Dec. 5) by members of Congress, as well as one mayor. At least 14 corridors have been […]

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