BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced it eliminated six speed restrictions during the latest service shutdown on its rapid transit network, suspensions of Orange Line service between North Station and Oak Grove June 22-23 and between North Station and Wellington June 24-30. “We continue to accomplish long deferred maintenance, repairs, and full-depth track […]
DURANGO, Colo. — For the second time in less than two weeks, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been hit by a rock slide, cutting off service to Silverton. A post on the railroad’s Facebook page says the slide occurred Monday night at milepost 486.0 north of Needleton, and has covered the rail […]
Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s Final Spike Steam tour made its way from Nahant Yard, south of Davenport, Iowa, to Dubuque, Iowa, on Monday, July 1, as “the Empress,” CP Class H1b Hudson 4-6-4 No. 2816, works its way back to its home base in Calgary, via a planned July 6 display date in Winnipeg, […]
A fleet of GE-built former Union Pacific and Conrail locomotives exported to Estonia two decades ago are now mostly out of service, with many cut up for scrap earlier this year. A handful remain in service, and some, heavily rebuilt, remain in use in Estonia and have been exported to nearby Finland for use there. […]
NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. — BNSF Railway says it has not determined a timeline for replacing the bridge between North Sioux City and Sioux City, Iowa, that collapsed June 23 as a result of flooding, and continues to re-route traffic through Creston, Iowa. KTIV-TV reports that railroad spokeswoman Kendall Sloan said the railroad is coordinating […]
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — The launch of a new express service on South Florida commuter rail operator Tri-Rail was disrupted Monday when another train struck and killed a pedestrian, halting operations and forcing the commuter operator to provide buses on the inaugural train of the service. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports a northbound Tri-Rail train […]
LOS ANGELES — Metrolink plans to offer expanded service this fall as part of its efforts to move from commuter-oriented service to a “regional rail” concept, KTLA-TV reports. The agency has also hired a new “Chief People Officer,” Metrolink announced Monday. Systemwide, the plan calls for about a 30% increase in service under the fiscal […]
CANCÚN, Mexico — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has again promised the Maya Train project will be completed by mid-September, before he leaves office, while President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum has endorsed the controversial project on the Yucatan Peninsula. Mexico News Daily reports that López Obrador and Sheinbaum traveled on two segments of the Maya Train […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Transit Administration is offering $1.94 million in grants to fund research projects to improve customer convenience, such as finding easier ways to pay for rides or to enhance schedules based on rider demand. The Enhancing Mobility Innovation program is open to transit agencies; state and local transportation departments; state and local […]
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An H.K. Porter 0-4-0T will be restored for operation at the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. in Ravenna, Ky., after being on display for many years at the Kenova Historical Museum Commission in Kenova, W.Va. And in Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley Railroad has just finished repainting an EMD GP9 into a Baltimore & […]
Rail labor groups today released a report calling for public ownership of Class I freight railroads in the U.S., arguing that the current system is broken because it’s beholden to Wall Street. The 98-page report contends that the Class I railroads’ relentless focus on cost-cutting has hurt safety, service, employees, infrastructure investment, and passenger service. […]
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Iowa Interstate Railroad today announced that its founding chairman, Dr. Paul H. Banner, died on June 17 at the age of 102. Banner was instrumental in the efforts to save the railroad in 1984 following the liquidation of the Rock Island. “To describe Paul Banner as a visionary would be an […]
