SEPTA, Transport Workers Union avert strike with tentative agreement

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority logo

PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority on Friday averted a strike that would have shut down trolley, subway, and bus service, reaching an agreement with its largest union, Transport Workers Union Local 234. The one-year agreement was reached about 4:30 a.m. Friday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, and must be ratified by a majority of […]

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Virginia Railway Express seeks to add Saturday service

Two commuter trains side by side

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Virginia Railway Express is in discussions with its host railroads over plans to launch Saturday service for the first time in the commuter operator’s 31-year history, the Washington Post reports. The move is part of VRE’s effort to lure riders back to the system in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The […]

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Work begins to replace Metro-North’s Park Avenue Viaduct

Electric multiple-unit trains meet with New York City skyline in background

NEW YORK — Work has begun on rebuilding of the Park Avenue Viaduct, the 130-year-old elevated route to Grand Central Terminal and Harlem-125th Street Station that is used by 98% of Metro-North Railroad trains — a project Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi pointed to as the most important state-of-good repair project faced by the Metropolitan Transportation […]

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Louisiana, Amtrak advance Baton Rouge-New Orleans rail project

Man speaking at podium with railroad office car in background

BATON ROUGE, La. — Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner joined outgoing Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on Thursday to ink a service development agreement that is the first step in launching service between Baton Rouge, the state capital, and New Orleans. After a ceremony at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, Gardner and Edwards, along with Amtrak […]

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NTSB report on conductor fatality calls for new rule on shoving moves

Satellite image of rail accident site

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board is calling for new rules regarding crew members riding shoving moves through grade crossings as a result of a fatal October 2021 accident in Houston, Texas. The board has recommended that crew members be prohibited from riding such moves through crossings equipped only with warning lights or passive […]

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First VIA Siemens trainsets begin serving Toronto

Champagne shattered on coupler of passenger equipment

TORONTO — After months of service limited to a handful of round-trips regularly operating between Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City, a VIA Rail Canada Venture trainset made its Toronto debut Tuesday, rolling into the company’s Toronto Maintenance Centre Tuesday after bringing passengers from Ottawa on train no. 41. The first trip was celebrated with a […]

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