VIA corridor operations resume with modified schedule

VIA Rail Canada logo

MONTREAL — After two days of cancellations, VIA Rail Canada will resume service on the Toronto-Ottawa and Toronto-Montreal portions of its corridors today (Tuesday, Dec. 27), albeit with a modified schedule combining trains. All trains on those corridor routes were canceled both Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 because of the derailment of a Canadian National […]

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Rail union seeks Iowa bill to limit train length

Logo of SMART-TD union

DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa representative of the SMART-TD union says the union will try again next year to advance a bill that would limit freight train lengths in the state. House File 2339, introduced last February, was sponsored by outgoing Rep. David Maxwell (R-District 76). It would not allow any train “that exceeds […]

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News photo: Atypical power for Texas Eagle

Pan shot of passenger train focusing on road-switcher as lead locomotive

ATLANTA, Ill. — Severe weather and equipment shortages sometimes lead to atypical events on the nation’s rail passenger operator. A case in point was Monday’s northbound Amtrak Texas Eagle, train No. 22, shown in Atlanta, Ill., about 20 miles southwest of Bloomington, with P32-7BWH No. 518 leading heritage-painted P42DC No. 161. The 518 was part […]

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Top 10 stories of 2022: No. 10, alternative-power locomotives

Rear view of red and gray battery-electric locomotive

Today, we begin our countdown of the Trains News Wire Top 10 stories of 22, as determined by a vote of Trains editors, columnists, and masthead correspondents. Up today, stories Nos. 10 and 9. The railroad industry’s search for alternatives to diesel-electric power continued to move forward in 2022, with manufacturers and railroads making inroads […]

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VIA Rail Canada again cancels corridor service

VIA Rail Canada logo

MONTREAL — For a second straight day, VIA Rail Canada has canceled all scheduled corridor service on its Toronto-Ottawa and Toronto-Montreal routes. An advisory on the VIA web page lists 29 trains as canceled today (Monday, Dec. 26) because of the “ongoing impact of the CN train derailment which occurred on Dec. 24.” The Toronto […]

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Brightline Aventura station opens

Inside of new passenger station waiting room, featuring large yellow letters spelling out "Train"

AVENTURA, Fla. — After a three-day delay caused by inspection issues, Brightline’s new Aventura station opened on Dec. 24. The passenger operator had held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new stations at Aventura and Boca Raton on Dec. 20, only to have the Aventura opening delayed by issues regarding its elevators [see “Opening delayed […]

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Metra battery locomotives included in funding bill

Illustration of Metra locomotive in green versioin of paint scheme

CHICAGO — Metra would receive $1.5 million for its planned test of battery-electric locomotives on the Rock Island District under the Omnibus Appropriations bill passed by the U.S. Senate, the state’s two senators said in a press release. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for action. The Metra funding are part of […]

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Year in review: Top international stories

Train at crowded station at night

Trains News Wire’s review of the top stories of 2022 continues. We’ll count down the Top 10 stories of the year, as voted on by Trains editors, columnists, and correspondents, beginning Monday, Dec. 26. Today, we asked our European correspondent, Keith Fender, to look at what he considers the year’s top international rail stories. At […]

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VIA Rail Canada cancels Christmas Day corridor trains

VIA Rail Canada logo

MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada has cancelled all 25 trains scheduled to operate on Christmas Day on its Toronto-Ottawa and Toronto-Montreal routes following a derailment earlier today (Dec. 24), the passenger operator has announced on its website. The derailment reportedly involved a Canadian National train, blocking all tracks in Kingston, Ontario, according to the Toronto […]

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U.S. DOT announces loan for South Shore’s Double Track project

Shot of construction work on rail line, including wall between railroad track and street

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation on Thursday announced a $27.5 million loan to the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District for the South Shore Line’s Double Track Project, adding a second main line to the commuter route between Gary and Michigan City, Ind. “We are pleased to help finance the Double Track Project, which […]

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