Eurostar to be blocked from Amsterdam for a year

Blue, yellow, and white high speed train outside large station trainshed

AMSTERDAM — Despite objections from international high speed rail operator Eurostar and passenger groups, the Dutch government has agreed to a plan by state-owned infrastructure operator ProRail to suspend all Eurostar services in the Netherlands for up to a year beginning next summer. Separately, Eurostar has also dropped its service between London and Disneyland Paris. […]

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An engineer’s life: Mad Dog and the volcano

An image showing a young man in a plade shirt and red suspenders standing in front of a green diesel locomotive

The story of Mad Dog and the volcano starts on March 20, 1980. At 3:47 p.m. on that day, Mount St. Helens rumbled to life with an earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale. It was mostly unnoticed. Earthquakes often occur in Washington State, most are light enough not to be felt. Within a week […]

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California legislators make deal to aid transit agencies

Rapid-transit trains on two bridges

SACRAMENTO — California legislators have agreed to a deal that would provide more than $3 billion to aid state transit agencies such as Caltrain and Bay Area Rapid Transit that say they are facing a “fiscal cliff”as a result of low ridership since the COVID-19 pandemic, the San Jose Mercury News reports. The deal would […]

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South Carolina short line begins construction of new route

Map of planned rail line

RIDGEVILLE, S.C. — Palmetto Railways, the short line owned and operated by the state of South Carolina, has begun construction of a new rail line to serve the Camp Hall Commerce Park in Ridgeville and the adjacent Volvo auto plant. The 22.7-mile line will cost $185 million and take about 2½ years to build, Palmetto […]

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Transit agency declares emergency over Orange County landslide

Aerial view of landslide above railroad tracks

ORANGE, Calif. — The Orange County Transportation Authority board has declared an emergency as a result of ongoing landslide issues in San Clemente, Calif., a move the board says will allow agency CEO Darrell E. Johnson to take steps to protect the rail line below the unstable hillside. That will likely mean design and construction […]

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No one hurt as MBTA Green Line train derails

Detail of MBTA rapid transit map

BOSTON — No injuries were reported after a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line train derailed today (Monday, June 12), the Boston Globe reports. About 30 people were on board the trolley on the Green Lin’s B Branch when the center wheelset of the articulated light-rail trainset derailed at low speed near Packard’s Corner. The […]

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Texas budget includes funding for heritage railroad

Front view of red and yellow F unit

PALESTINE, Texas — The Texas State Railroad, a heritage railway in East Texas, will receive $10 million under the budget passed last month by the state legislature. The Palestine Herald-Press reports funding will go toward capital projects that could include tie and ballast work, replacement of 100-year-old rails, railcar maintenance, safety improvements, and other projects. […]

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Slide disruptions lead to cuts in Surfliner service

Passenger train with cab car leading passing through rocky hillside

ORANGE, Calif. — Pacific Surfliner service will see some service reductions effective Monday, June 12, during the latest of a series of landslide-related interruptions in service through the San Clemente, Calif., area. “Considering the recent closure and state intercity rail budget constraints, we must implement cost-cutting measures to preserve as much service as possible while […]

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