SAN DIEGO — The North County Transit District’s Sprinter rail service is facing an unexpected need to replace its fleet of diesel multiple-unit trainsets, which could place the service between Oceanside and Escondido, Calif., in jeopardy. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that maintenance issues have sidelined all but five of the Sprinter’s 12 two-car trainsets, […]
A late train can happen for many reasons. It’s up to you to make the most of an unexpected delay. It’s no secret — and it shouldn’t be a surprise — that sometimes North American overnight long-haul passenger trains can run hours behind schedule. Here’s are tips for making the most of an extended journey. […]
WASHINGTON — All service between New York Penn Station and Newark, N.J., was suspended for about an hour today (Saturday, March 1) after debris apparently fouled electrical transmission wires over the tracks at Newark, according to an advisory on Amtrak’s website. Meanwhile, “ongoing switch and signal issues” at Washington Union Station has primarily affected trains […]
ST. LOUIS — A 21-year-old Missouri man has admitted to stealing more than $1.5 million in railroad equipment in Missouri and Illinois. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said in a press release that Jesse Henry of Laclede County, Mo., pleaded guilty on Friday, Feb. 28, to one count of damaging […]
SAN DIEGO — The effort to determine a new rail route through Del Mar, Calif., will repeat a step — and has a new twist, as well. At a Friday, Feb. 28, meeting, the San Diego Association of Governments restarted the run-up to developing an environmental assessment of the project, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. […]
MIAMI — Three counties served by commuter operator Tri-Rail are being asked to pay $10 million each to cover a $30 million annual deficit, with the possibility looming that deficit could reach $90 million per year. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports in a paywalled article that the executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation […]
For many years, operators of mainline steam locomotives knew they had a valuable friend in Jim Schwinkendorf, a veteran railroad manager who oversaw several high-profile special movements in his years at BNSF Railway, including supervision of the railroad’s Employee Appreciation Specials. James Alden “Jim” Schwinkendorf, of Pacific, Mo., died Feb. 21, 2025. He was 81. […]
LA GRANDE, Ore. — Eleven single-stack container cars of a Union Pacific train derailed west of La Grande on Thursday evening, Feb. 27, Union County Emergency Services reports. The derailment occurred about 9 p.m. No injuries were reported and Union Pacific confirmed no hazardous materials were involved. Two grade crossings — at Fire and Greenwood […]
NEW YORK — The federal government says March 21 will mark the end of Manhattan’s congestion pricing program, but New York State officials are indicating they expect tolling to continue. A letter from Federal Highway Administration executive director Gloria Shepherd sent on Feb. 20 — the day after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the Department […]
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Port Authority and CSX Transportation broke ground on a new inland port intermodal facility in Montgomery that will be capable of handling 30,000 containers for transfer between trains and trucks. The $94 million Montgomery Intermodal Container Transfer Facility or ICTF, was announced in 2022 [see “Alabama Port Authority announces …,” […]
NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has begun a pilot program with a division of Google that uses smartphones to help detect potential subway track defects. The program announced Thursday, Feb. 27, builds on TrackInspect, a prototype developed with the Rapid Innovation Team at Google Public Sector. Tested on the subway A line of […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has initiated a two-step process to seek a “delivery partner” for the Dallas-Houston high speed rail project, the former Texas Central effort it joined in 2023. A notice on the company’s procurement website says that partner “will be responsible for facilitating Amtrak’s delivery of the project.” The company selected “will provide advice, […]
