Senate committee sets hearing on nominees for Amtrak board, NTSB

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WASHINGTON — The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing next week on three nominees for Amtrak’s board of directors, as well as a member of the National Transportation Safety Board. The hearing will be Wednesday, June 21, at 10 a.m. ET, the committee chair, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), announced. It will […]

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Summer travel by Amtrak: tips and challenges

people waiting to board train

Summer rail travel tips and challenges Amtrak has a problem and it’s too much travel demand for the equipment assigned on its long distance-routes. This translates to a difficult summer for U.S. travelers seeking to ride the rails. In addition, since the company utilizes inventory “yield management” — in which fares rise as seats or […]

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Trains LIVE — Railroad artist J Craig Thorpe

Two men standing in front of a passenger train painting. Trains LIVE — Railroad artist J Craig Thorpe

Trains LIVE — Railroad artist J Craig Thorpe — 6-14-2023 — Take a look at a railroad painting. What do you see? A train? A scenic setting? History? An image you’d really like to hang on your living room wall? That is what meets the eye. What if in looking at this painting you could […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale RTL Turboliner

Screen shot of Product Review video.

The Rapido Trains HO scale RTL Turboliner paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout recently. Join Model Railroader editor Eric White and senior editor Cody Grivno as they take a look at the features on this ready-to-run model and take it for a tour of the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. How […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale RTL Turboliner

Screen shot of Product Review video.

The Rapido Trains HO scale RTL Turboliner paid a visit to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy staff layout recently. Join Model Railroader editor Eric White and senior editor Cody Grivno as they take a look at the features on this ready-to-run model and take it for a tour of the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. How […]

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Transit agency declares emergency over Orange County landslide

Aerial view of landslide above railroad tracks

ORANGE, Calif. — The Orange County Transportation Authority board has declared an emergency as a result of ongoing landslide issues in San Clemente, Calif., a move the board says will allow agency CEO Darrell E. Johnson to take steps to protect the rail line below the unstable hillside. That will likely mean design and construction […]

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Slide disruptions lead to cuts in Surfliner service

Passenger train with cab car leading passing through rocky hillside

ORANGE, Calif. — Pacific Surfliner service will see some service reductions effective Monday, June 12, during the latest of a series of landslide-related interruptions in service through the San Clemente, Calif., area. “Considering the recent closure and state intercity rail budget constraints, we must implement cost-cutting measures to preserve as much service as possible while […]

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BNSF derailment in Arizona leads to Southwest Chief cancellations

Aerial view of derailed auto racks

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — Twenty-three cars of a BNSF Railway train carrying new vehicles derailed east of Williams, Ariz., Thursday night, leading to cancellation of Amtrak Southwest Chief service through the area today, KAFF Radio reports. The derailment involving a 167-car train occurred about 11:20 p.m., according to Coconino County Emergency Management. A BNSF representative told […]

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Gardner’s bonuses, Amtrak’s lack of profitability attacked at House hearing: Analysis

Train with mixed group of locomotives and passenger cars

WASHINGTON — Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner was repeatedly asked to defend his near-$500,000 annual salary, and the company’s practice of giving out six-figure performance bonuses in light of the company’s reliance on more than $1 million in annual taxpayer support during today’s hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. But there were numerous other […]

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