First of many battery trains enter service in Germany

Blue multiple-unit passenger train at simple shelter station and platform

KIEL, Germany —  The first of what will be multiple fleets of new battery-electric multiple-unit, or BEMU, trainsets have entered passenger service in northern Germany. The Stadler-built, two-car FLIRT trains debuted two weeks ago. They are designed to replace diesel multiple units and operate as regular electric trains when running on electrified lines. Each of […]

Read More…

Two injured as Portland streetcar, light rail train collide

Orange streetcar and white light rail train in intersection after collision

PORTLAND, Ore. — A TriMet MAX light rail train and Portland streetcar collided in an intersection east of downtown Portland on Wednesday, briefly pinning the streetcar operator and sending that operator and one passenger to the hospital with minor injuries. The collision occurred about 10:20 a.m. at the intersection of Northeast 7th Avenue and Holladay […]

Read More…

Weekly U.S. rail traffic bounces back

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. rail traffic rebounded for the week ending Nov. 11, with overall volume up 3.4%, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. That bounce came after two straight weeks in which traffic had declined compared to the same week a year earlier. The latest week’s traffic included 497,348 carloads and […]

Read More…

Union Pacific eyes faster domestic intermodal schedules

Yellow locomotive with train of trailers and containers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — One of the first decisions that Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena made after rejoining the railroad in August was to take 24 hours out of the schedule for Falcon Premium interline cross-border intermodal service. At an investor conference on Tuesday, he was asked whether there were other similar opportunities to improve intermodal […]

Read More…

Tibbits-Nutt becomes Massachusetts secretary of transportation

Woman with short hair and glasses

BOSTON — Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has appointed Monica Tibbits-Nutt as state secretary of transportation, making permanent a position Tibbits-Nutt has held on an acting basis for two months. Healey cited Tibbits-Nutt’s role in dealing with ongoing issues with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in announcing the appointment this week, the Boston Herald reports. “As […]

Read More…

Some Amtrak trains between Penn Station, Albany to resume Thursday

Two trains on opposite sides of station platform

NEW YORK — Some direct Amtrak service between New York Penn Station and Albany-Rensselaer will resume Thursday, Nov. 16, with the rest restored on Friday, WNBC-TV reports. Service has been disrupted since Sunday, Nov. 12, because of structural issues with a parking garage above Amtrak’s right-of-way in Manhattan [see “Amtrak disruption of service …,” Trains […]

Read More…