MBTA expands commuter-rail fare discounts during Sumner Tunnel project

MBTA commuter train on bridge

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and its contract operator, Keolis, will expand planned fare reductions on the Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail line to help address the upcoming Sumner Tunnel reconstruction project, the MBTA announced on Thursday. From July 1 through Aug. 31, the fare for the entire line will be $2.40, the equivalent of […]

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Canada’s TSB highlights investigation activity in annual report

Transportation Safety Board of Canada logo

GATINEAU, Quebec — A notable increase in completed investigations is highlighted in the Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s annual report for fiscal 2022-23, delivered to Parliament this week. Announcement of the annual report comes a day after the TSB released its annual statistics on accidents and other incidents in all modes of transportation [see “Rail […]

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Union for maintenance workers sues Genesee & Wyoming and affiliate

BMWEDlogo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The union representing maintenance-of-way workers is suing Genesee & Wyoming and a subsidiary, saying the companies violated the Railway Labor Act with a hiring freeze and layoffs after workers voted to join the union. The suit by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, or […]

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Caltrain to delay planned fare increases

Diesel power commuter train under overhead wire

SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Bay Area commuter operator Caltrain will delay fare increases planned for July 1 as part of its effort to encourage more riders to return to the system. A 50-cent increase in the base fare and an increase in the cost of monthly fares, from the cost of 24 trips to 30, […]

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Union Pacific to serve new Arizona industrial park

Map showing location of industrial park near Phoenix

BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Union Pacific will provide rail service to the new Buckeye Industrial Rail Park, which recently saw its first tenant, Rehrig Pacific Co., break ground on its manufacturing plant. The 260-acre industrial park is located 40 miles west of Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport and near Interstate 10. Rehrig Pacific’s plant will manufacture reusuable […]

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Madison Hardware’s gold Lionel EP-5 shells

Madison Hardware’s gold Lionel EP-5 shells are a story akin to getting lemons and making lemonade. The store sold unusual Lionel trains from all periods of production. Lou Shur and Carl Shaw, the brothers who ran the legendary retail outlet in New York City until it closed in 1989, seemed to have endless supplies of […]

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Amtrak’s Midwest day-trip services

Amtrak passenger train arriving at station

In the Midwest, Chicago stands tall as the railroading capital. In the heart of the city is Union Station, serving as a major passenger terminus for the Amtrak system. While eight long-distance trains stretch out to all parts of the country, the remaining services out of the Windy City operate as short-distance regionals. Most are […]

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Travel: The Black Hills Central

blue, black, and red mallet tourist train with trees back

Black Hills Central Railroad This may surprise you, but the Black Hills Central is one of America’s oldest tourist railroads and today is among the most active steam railroads in the country. Best of all, it is one of the few places where you can see Mallet compound locomotives in action. From May through October, […]

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