DALLAS — Dallas Area Rapid Transit has begun running test trains on a portion of the Silver Line, the 26-mile, 10-station commuter rail line that will connect Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Dallas and six of its northern suburbs: Grapevine, Coppell, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, and Plano. Trains began running Monday, July 22, on the eastern […]
Type of Train: Passenger/Transit
Nashville-area transit agency considering changes to commuter rail service
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The WeGo Star commuter rail service is considering operating changes including the introduction of evening and Saturday service, as well as Sunday operation for Tennessee Titans football games. Currently, the service offers six daily round trips, weekdays only, on a seven-station, 32-mile route between downtown Nashville and Lebanon, Tenn., on the Nashville […]
MBTA approves plan for battery-electric commuter service on Fairmount Line
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority board of directors today approved a $54 million plan to introduce battery-electric train service on the commuter rail Fairmount Line. The first train could enter service as early as 2028. Keolis Commuter Services, the contract operator of MBTA’s commuter rail lines, submitted the proposal to introduce battery-electric multiple […]
Rocky Mountaineer cancels Jasper trips ‘for forseeable future’
JASPER, Alberta — Two of tourist operator Rocky Mountaineer’s three Canadian itineraries that originate or terminate in Jasper have been cancelled until further notice as the western Alberta town continues to be ravaged by wildfires. A message late today (Thursday, July 25) on the company website says, “Tragically, there are reports of significant structural damage […]
Hitachi Rail to build 200 new cars for SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line
PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority today awarded a contract to Hitachi Rail for 200 new railcars for its Market-Frankford Line rapid-transit fleet. The contract is worth $724.3 million, not including an option for up to 40 additional cars. Delivery of the cars is scheduled to begin in 2029 with completion by the end […]
Wildfire devastates Jasper, Alberta; shuts down CN and VIA Rail service
MONTREAL — Canadian National’s main line through Jasper, Alberta — which opened briefly on Wednesday afternoon — remains shut down in the wake of a wildfire that burned at least some sections of the resort town to the ground overnight. Firefighters were unable to contain the wind-whipped wall of fire, which quickly advanced on the […]
Presidential Emergency Board named for NJ Transit-BLET dispute
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has named a three-member Presidential Emergency Board to address the labor dispute between NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. Biden established the board in an executive order released Wednesday and effective today (July 25). An accompanying statement notes that appointment of the board is required under […]
Paris expands rail system in time for the Olympics
PARIS — The French capital hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, its third turn as host and first in a century. The Opening Ceremony this Friday, July 26, will be held beside the River Seine in the center of the city, with events running through to the end of the Paralympics on Sept. […]
NJ Transit orders 36 new EMU railcars from Alstom
NEWARK, N.J. — The NJ Transit board of directors on Wednesday approved the purchase of 36 Multilevel III electric multiple-unit railcars from Alstom Transportation, increasing to 174 the number of the new railcars ordered since 2018. The order is part of an option of an existing contract with Alstom, at a cost not to exceed […]
BNSF derailment in Kansas leads to Southwest Chief cancellations
GARDEN CITY, Kansas — An apparently minor BNSF Railway derailment has led to cancellations of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief. Images on the KSNW-TV website show a small number of covered hoppers, perhaps as few as a half-dozen, involved in the derailment. The viewers who provided the photos said the incident was 15 to 20 miles east […]
Mobile reaches agreement with Amtrak on funding, lease at station site
MOBILE, Ala. — Amtrak appears to be on the verge of an agreement with the City of Mobile that finally will allow Gulf Coast passenger service to move forward. WALA-TV reports that a spokeswoman for Mayor Sandy Stimpson said the city and Amtrak had finalized language for a funding agreement for Mobile-New Orleans service and […]
CN reopens main lines to key British Columbia ports while monitoring Alberta wildfires (updated)
MONTREAL — Canadian National was able to reopen its main line through Jasper, Alberta, this afternoon while keeping a close eye on a pair of wildfires that have been threatening the resort town. “CN resumed rail operations at approximately 12 Noon MST on Wednesday, July 24, through Jasper. In collaboration with the Unified Incident Command […]