BLET, Alstom reach tentative agreement on MARC contract

Logo of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has reached a tentative agreement with operating company Alstom on a four-year contract for engineers at the Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC), the union has announced. If ratified, the agreement will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024, and run through Dec. 31, 2027. It will […]

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Amtrak offers first look at Airo equipment

Sign reading "Airo Fleet First Look" next to train at Washington Union Station

WASHINGTON — Amtrak unveiled Airo, its newest fleet addition, on Tuesday with a media tour that featured an in-depth look at the interior of the shiny, feature-filled trainset that’s slated to begin revenue service this summer on the Amtrak Cascades’ service in the Pacific Northwest. Before offering a tour of coach, café car, and business […]

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Union Pacific asks STB to probe CPKC’s handling of UP-NS stack trains on Meridian Speedway

WASHINGTON — Union Pacific has repeated its call for federal regulators to open an investigation into Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s operation of the Meridian Speedway, claiming that CPKC’s handling of UP-Norfolk Southern domestic intermodal trains has deteriorated. In a letter to the Surface Transportation Board, UP said that dwell time for its eastbound intermodal hotshot […]

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Manufacturers and dealers now can track vehicles on auto racks in real time

CARY, N.C. — TransmetriQ today announced the release of VIN Tracking, which allows auto manufacturers and dealers to track finished vehicles by Vehicle Identification Number as they move by rail from manufacturing plants to distribution terminals and to dealers across North America. The new feature addresses a longstanding challenge in automotive logistics. Traditionally, manufacturers and […]

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Seattle-area transit prepares for Seahawks victory parade

Blue and white commuter train approaches, led by cab car

SEATTLE — Sound Transit will offer additional service on Wednesday, Feb. 11, for the city’s parade to mark the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl championship. Up to 1 million fans are expected for events including a ticketed celebration at the team’s stadium, Lumen Field, at 10 a.m., followed by a parade beginning at 11 a.m. from […]

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Trains.com Insider Exclusive | Interview with Jason Shron of Rapido Trains

Trains.com Insider Interview | Jason Shron, the ever-enthusiastic founder and CEO of Rapido Trains Inc., returns to chat with David Popp about the shifting landscape of the model railroad industry. Jason provides a candid look at how tariffs are impacting preorders and production planning, and why the company is currently “swallowing” a portion of those […]

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A 2026 interview with Jason Shron of Rapido Trains

Sign on a brick building

The last time David Popp and Jason Shron, owner and CEO of Rapido Trains Inc., chatted back in May 2025, the hot topic was the impact of the tariffs implemented by the United States on the model railroad industry. Roughly eight months later, Jason provides an update, plus fun details on recent happenings with Rapido […]

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‘Flex-dining’ lunch additions reflect continued minimalist approach: Analysis

WASHINGTON — Amtrak announced last week that new lunch options have been introduced on five overnight trains offering so-called flex meals — the premade dishes reheated on board rather than prepared in the dining car. That’s good news for sleeping car passengers who have been offered the same entrees for both lunch and dinner since […]

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BNSF, Union Pacific deliver perfect peak seasons for intermodal customers

BNSF Railway and Union Pacific say they delivered perfect peak seasons for their parcel customers during the holiday rush of 2025. BNSF says its teams safely delivered more than 80 million parcel shipments on time — a 9% increase over volumes in the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas period of 2024. “Every year at BNSF, we come together to […]

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CSX signs $670 million locomotive deal with Wabtec

New blue and yellow locomotives

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX has signed a $670 million deal with Wabtec to upgrade its locomotive fleet with 100 new locomotives and 50 modernized units, as well as related digital systems. The deal calls for new Evolution Series locomotives as well as DC-to-AC upgrades for Dash-9 locomotives. It is the latest in a flurry of […]

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MxV Rail offering student grant program for AAR Research Review

Logo of MxV Rail

PUEBLO, Colo. — MxV Rail is launching a student travel grant program to enable future rail researchers and engineers to attend this year’s Association of American Railroads Research Review, set for April 28-30, 2026, at MxV Rail’s facility in Pueblo. The program will provide up to $1,500 in travel reimbursement for the event as well […]

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