News photos: Reading & Northern officially opens Nesquehoning station

Ribbon-cutting ceremony at train station

NESQUEHONING, Pa. — Port Clinton, Pa., based-Reading & Northern officially opened the newest station for its busy passenger excursion business on Saturday, Aug. 17, holding a ceremony for the new facility on its Nesquehoning campus that also includes training and mechanical facilities. The ribbon-cutting preceded an excursion featuring former Reading Co. T-1 4-8-4 No. 2102, […]

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Noted Swiss steam railway closed by major storm damage

Steam locomotive and one car on curving line on mountainside, as seen from above

BRIENZ, Switzerland — The Brienz Rothorn Railway, a celebrated steam-powered tourist cog railway in central Switzerland, will be closed for the remainder of the 2024 season as a result of severe damage sustained in a storm on Monday, Aug. 12, the railway has announced. The railway normally operates from May to October. “Following a comprehensive […]

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BNSF and UP testing longer schedules for Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, and Texas Eagle

Passenger train rounds curve

WASHINGTON — Nearly four years after new federal on-time performance standards went into effect, Amtrak is nearing agreements with BNSF Railway and Union Pacific for certification of disputed train schedules. Some 95% of Amtrak train schedules have been certified under the federal Metrics and Minimum Standards for Intercity Passenger Service rule, according to the latest […]

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Milwaukee County Zoo Safari Train | Milwaukee, Wisc.

Ride with Trains.com, as staff members Lucas Iverson and Ben Lake, as they enjoy grand scale railroading (often associated with miniature, ride-on trains) at The Milwaukee County Zoo’s North Shore Bank Safari Train! Enjoy up-close views of their visit in July 2024, and then read more details about the 15-inch gauge railroad’s past, present and […]

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New York City Transit ordered to address track worker safety by FTA

Workers in subway tunnel

NEW YORK — The Federal Transit Administration this week issued a special directive ordering the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to address “an escalating pattern of safety incidents” regarding workers in the New York subway system, citing 38 near-miss incidents in 2023 in addition to a worker fatality in November 2023 and an incident involving a serious […]

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Brightline monthly revenue steady as riders shift to longer trips: Analysis

Short passenger train at sunset

MIAMI — Recent ridership and revenue trends reveal that Brightline’s South Florida operation has settled into a consistent month-to-month pattern, with full-route travelers occupying seats vacated by West Palm Beach-Miami clientele at substantially higher prices. The information is contained in the recently released Florida Development Corp. “Preliminary Limited Remarketing Memorandum” announcing the availability of $985 […]

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Regulators order UP, Metra to mediation

Two commuter trains meet on curve

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has ordered Union Pacific and Metra to enter mediation over their inability to reach financial terms on some aspects of a contract to continue commuter train service on three Metra routes using Union Pacific lines. In a decision issued Wednesday, Aug. 14, the board by a 4-0 vote granted […]

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NJ Transit to observe one-week ‘fare holiday’

Commuter trains on two tracks of three-track line at station

TRENTON, N.J. — NJ Transit will observe a “fare holiday” Aug. 26 to Sept. 2, offering free rides on all modes across its network, Gov. Phil Murphy announced today (Thursday, Aug. 15). The move is described as a “thank you” to riders for their continued patronage, particularly in light of ongoing service issues. NJ Transit […]

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CN bridge collapses in Fort Frances, Ontario (updated)

FORT FRANCES, Ontario — A Canadian National Railway lift bridge in Fort Frances has collapsed, the website NWOnewswatch.com reports. CN said in a statement to website operator Dougall Media on Wednesday, Aug. 14, that it was responding to “an incident” involving the bridge across the Rainy River that provides its connection to the Port of […]

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