WASHINGTON — Amtrak has urged federal regulators to impose conditions on CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways that would protect current and potential expansions of passenger service in New England. The CSX-Pan Am merger is the first before the Surface Transportation Board in which passenger trains account for the majority of traffic on […]
Zone & Region: Northeast
Canadian Pacific says CSX-Pan Am merger threatens viability of Hoosac Tunnel route
WASHINGTON – CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways threatens the viability of the former Boston & Maine Hoosac Tunnel route that provides competition for CSX’s own New England main line, Canadian Pacific has told federal regulators. The vast majority of CP’s traffic to and from New England runs via Mechanicville, N.Y., and the […]
News photo: Wabtec battery-electric locomotive on the move
ERIE, Pa. — Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive is on the road again. The demonstrator unit returned to the company’s Erie factory after concluding BNSF Railway testing in California in April [see “Wabtec, BNSF conclude initial tests …,” Trains News Wire, April 30, 2021], left the factory on Friday in the company of ET44C6 demonstrator […]
Viewliner II sleeping cars headed to Lake Shore Limited’s New York section
WASHINGTON — As the last two of 25 Viewliner II sleeping cars departed carbuilder CAF USA’s Elmira Heights, N.Y., factory this week, an Amtrak official has confirmed that some of the new cars will replace original Viewliners on the New York section of the Lake Shore Limited after Labor Day. “I’m happy to share that […]
Justice Department raises competitive concerns over CSX-Pan Am merger
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board should force CSX Transportation to sell its stake in Pan Am Southern as part of its proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways, the Justice Department said Thursday. The Pan Am Southern is the joint venture between Pan Am Railways and Norfolk Southern, which provides NS with […]
New Haven Railroad history
History of the New Haven Railroad New Haven Railroad history reveals that the New York, New Haven & Hartford was a railroad of many different faces, depending on which part you saw. The double-track Shore Line between New Haven and Boston was home to famous trains such as the Merchants Limited and Yankee Clipper, hauled […]
Finger Lakes Railway to succeed Central Maine & Quebec as operator of Maine route
WASHINGTON – A subsidiary of New York short line Finger Lakes Railway next month will become the operator of the 58.68-mile Rockland Branch in Maine, taking over the lease of the state-owned line from Central Maine & Quebec. Midcoast Rail Service will lease the trackage from CMQ, which became part of Canadian Pacific in June […]
Maine Narrow Gauge eyes two more locomotives in steam
PORTLAND, Maine – Looking to the future, the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum plans to restore two more of its 2-foot gauge steam locomotives to operating condition, in addition to two currently in service. The announcement was made at the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum’s summer picnic earlier this month, where two […]
Heinz appointed as Western Maryland Scenic’s executive director
CUMBERLAND, Md. — Wesley Heinz, who had been in the position on an interim basis, has been appointed as executive director of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad by the heritage railroad’s board of directors. His background in preservation, fundraising, and marketing includes his previous position as executive director at the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. […]
Reading & Northern special highlights rare mileage, labor history
GIRARDVILLE, Pa. — Passengers got a rare look at the normally freight-only Mahanoy & Shamokin Branch of the Reading & Northern Railroad Monday, Aug. 23, as well as a short course in 19th century Reading Railroad/mining labor history. One hundred twenty riders climbed aboard two Budd Co. Rail Diesel Cars at R&N’s Outer Station in […]
Northeast rail service restored after Sunday cancellations
NEW YORK — Service has rapidly been restored in the Northeast after a series of rail transit and Amtrak cancellations Sunday because of the arrival of Tropical Storm Henri. New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is operating full service today on both its commuter rail lines after suspending operations on parts of both railroads. The Long […]
MBTA returns first CRRC trainset to service after March derailment
MEDFORD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has returned one of its new rapid-transit trainsets to service after sidelining the equipment as a result of a derailment in March. WCVB-TV reports the Orange Line train built by an affiliate China’s CRRC at a Springfield, Mass., facility was returned to service on Friday after the […]