CINCINNATI — Voters will have their say on the sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway on Nov. 7. WXIX-TV reports that Thursday, the railway board of trustees voted unanimously to place the proposed sale of the line from Cincinnati to Chattanooga, Tenn., on the ballot. If a majority of voters approve, the nation’s only municipally […]
Section: News Wire
Surfliners to add three trains for trio of major events July 21-23
ORANGE, Calif. — With regular Pacific Surfliner service set to resume on Monday, July 17, the agency overseeing the Surfliners has announced plans to add three extra trains the weekend of July 21-23 to help serve three major events — Comic-Con International San Diego, the X Games in Ventura, and the opening of the summer […]
Officials begun mulling expansion of DC Metrorail system
WASHINGTON — Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority officials have begun considering expansion of the DC Metrorail system, the Washington Post reports, and are weighing multiple proposals that include a new rail tunnel under the Potomac River. The plans come as the Metro system is facing a projected $750 million deficit in its next fiscal year, […]
Trains announces photo charter with historic Minnesota Transportation Museum diesels
OSCEOLA, Wis. — Trains Magazine has announced an exclusive photo charter to be held Sept. 11-12 at the Minnesota Transportation Museum’s Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway featuring three historic diesels. The tentative schedule for the two-day event includes a Sept. 11 passenger train with freshly painted Great Northern SDP40 No. 325 and Great Northern […]
G. Wayne Laepple, preservationist, railroader, and writer, dies at 75 (updated)
LANCASTER, Pa. — Veteran preservationist, railroader, and journalist G. Wayne Laepple died of a heart attack on Monday July 10, 2023, two days short of his 76th birthday. Best known in recent times for his work in the restoration shops at the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum in Maine and the Railroad Museum of […]
Wabtec to build three FLXdrive locomotives for Brazil’s Vale
RIO DE JANEIRO — Wabtec has landed the first South American order for FLXdrive battery locomotives, with Brazilian-based, multinational mining and logistics firm Vale placing an order for three of the locomotives. The companies will also collaborate on a study of ammonia as an alternative locomotive fuel. The three locomotives, to be built at Wabtec’s […]
Santa Fe No. 3751 to appear at LA Union Station event in September
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Santa Fe steam locomotive No. 3751 will make its first public appearance of 2023 at Los Angeles Union Station’s Trainfest Sept. 9-10, the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society announced today. The event, “Trainfest 2023: A Celebration of Past, Present & Future,” will be held each day from 10 a.m. to 6 […]
Tornadoes, weather warnings halt Metra, Amtrak on Wednesday evening (updated)
CHICAGO — Metra commuters suffered evening rush-hour delays, while Amtrak also halted operations for a time, because of tornado warnings and other severe weather warnings in the Chicago area. WMAQ-TV reports one tornado touched down at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, damaging some warehouses, and that the National Weather Service confirmed this morning (July 13) that […]
Utah DOT chooses gondola to serve ski resorts
SNOWBIRD, Utah — The Utah Department of Transportation has chosen an 8-mile-long gondola system as the way to serve the Snowbird and Alta ski resorts, ending a lengthy process that also included a cog railway among the options. The Salt Lake Tribune reports UDOT made its final decision public on Wednesday, after releasing a preliminary […]
Metrolink to extend Ventura County service to X Games site
LOS ANGELES — Commuter rail operator Metrolink will extend service on its Ventura County Line to the site of the 2023 X Games during the extreme sports event at the Ventura County Fairgrounds July 21-23. Metroolink announced the additional service on Thursday. Normally, Metrolink trains terminate at the Ventura East station, but they will serve […]
Michigan approves legislation for grade crossing separation fund
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan has enacted legislation creating a program within the state’s Department of Transportation to fund grade crossing separation projects. Michigan Public Radio reports the legislation prioritizes projects closer to locations such as schools, trauma treatment facilities, and manufacturing sites. It would require local governments to cover matching funds covering up to 20% […]
Metro-North completes restoration of Hudson Line service
NEW YORK — Full service on Metro-North Railroad’s Hudson Line will resume today (Thursday, July 13), following clean-up of storm damage that shut down the northern portion of the line on Sunday afternoon. Most service had been restored on Wednesday, with a few trains cancelled to allow for continued work. “The damage to the Hudson […]