NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit has named Franck Beaumin as the agency’s customer advocate, filling a position vacant for four years. Beaumin, a native of France, brings diverse international experience to the position. He has been a consultant on a bus rapid transit project in Bangladesh; was customer service project manager and customer experience manager […]
Magazine: Trains Magazine
Kawasaki ceremony marks 5,000th railcar for U.S. market
YONKERS, N.Y. — Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. this week marked delivery of its 5,000th railcar in the United States since entering the U.S. market in 1979, holding a ceremony at its Yonkers plant featuring Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Janno Lieber and state and local elected officials. An R211 subway car for New York City Transit […]
Norfolk Southern donates an additional $400,000 for hurricane relief
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has donated an additional $400,000 to the American Red Cross to add in relief efforts following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, the company announced today (Oct. 10). The company had previously donated $100,000 to the organization for Helene relief on Oct. 1 [see “Norfolk Southern donates …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. […]
Passenger, commuter rail operations resuming in Florida
MIAMI, Fla. — Passenger and commuter rail services in Florida are making plans to resume now that Hurricane Milton has passed through the state — although the storm has left significant damage in its wake. Amtrak, Brightline, and South Florida commuter operator Tri-Rail will all resume at least some service on Friday, Oct. 11 Tri-Rail […]
Amtrak to end bus substitutions on Harrisburg Line ahead of schedule
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Amtrak’s track renewal project on its Harrisburg Line is progressing ahead of schedule, allowing replacement bus service to end Nov. 7, two weeks earlier than originally projected, the passenger operator announced. Booking tools on the Amtrak website and app have been updated accordingly, with ticketing for Nov. 8 and beyond now available. […]
Norfolk Southern line into Asheville, N.C., to be closed at least three months
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern says its line between Asheville, N.C., and Newport, Tenn. — heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene — will be out of service until at least late January, while assessment of the route between Asheville and Old Fort, N.C., is ongoing. In the area hardest hit in late September, on the AS Line […]
Amtrak says Union Pacific could address most causes for Sunset Limited delays
WASHINGTON — Delays to the Sunset Limited were largely due to causes that could be addressed by Union Pacific, which failed to provide the statutory right of preference required for passenger trains, Amtrak says in the document containing its opening argument in the Surface Transportation Board’s investigation into the Sunsets poor on-time performance between Oct. […]
Adirondack operating indifference continues: Analysis
MONTREAL — Some Amtrak trains are sorely in need of an advocate. A recent Trains News Wire round trip to Montreal underlines that today’s Adirondack has none. It remains a hapless victim of indifference on the part of multiple overseers who show little inclination to make the train the unique and attractive transportation choice it […]
Weekly U.S rail traffic ends long run in positive territory
WASHINGTON — For the first time in more than nine months, U.S. weekly rail traffic has dropped below 2023 levels. For the week ending Oct. 5, total U.S. traffic was 486,187 carloads and intermodal units, a 2.5% decline from the same week a year earlier, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. It […]
Railroads have no choice but to rebuild after Hurricane Helene: Commentary
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Skepticism spread throughout the railroad community after Hurricane Helene’s devastating once-in-a-generation floods wiped out roadbeds, destroyed bridges, and left most of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee unrecognizable. Some in the industry expressed doubt that CSX and Norfolk Southern would invest the dollars needed to repair widespread damages. More than 40 miles […]
CPKC announces schedule, performers for 2024 Holiday Train
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific Kansas City has released the schedule and list of performers for the annual CPKC Holiday Train, which begins its tours through the U.S. and Canada on Nov. 20. The railroad’s holiday train will also continue to include the Holiday Express, originated by Kansas City Southern, which will make a 13-stop […]
CSX, short lines wind down operations at Hurricane Milton approaches landfall
TAMPA, Fla. — Locomotives and freight cars are being moved to higher ground and railroad operations are winding down as Hurricane Milton is only a few hours from making landfall between Tampa Bay and Sarasota on Florida’s Gulf Coast. CSX is bracing customers for delays in the Tampa area as Hurricane Milton nears landfall later […]