SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Amtrak is adding two additional Northeast Regional trains serving Springfield beginning June 5, Amtrak, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and Connecticut Department of Transportation announced. The trains will offer single seat rides from Springfield to New York City in three and half hours. Connections can be made at New York to the Northeast […]
Section: News & Reviews
Mexico seizes rail line
MEXICO CITY – The Mexican government sent in Marines May 19 to take over part of a 75-mile private railway line in southern Mexico. The government said it would compensate the owners for what it called the “temporary occupation” of the railway run by a Mexican mining and rail company Grupo Mexico Transportes, the Associated […]
Nevada Northern to hold memorial service for Dirt, famed shop cat
Memorial service for Dirt ELY, Nev. – The Nevada Northern Railway’s beloved shop cat and mascot, Dirt, died January 10 at age 15. The railroad is planning to give him a big send off Memorial Day weekend. May 28 will see a full day of events to honor Dirt, including special tours and excursion trains. […]
Union Pacific and BLET reach tentative agreement on engineer scheduling
Union Pacific and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have reached a tentative agreement that will provide engineers with more predictable schedules. The deal, which the union and railroad called “historic,” will provide engineers with an 11 days on, four days off schedule. UP and the BLET said the tentative agreement announced today will […]
LA Metro Regional Connector to open June 16
LA Metro Regional Connector LOS ANGELES – LA Metro announced this week it will officially open its Regional Connector transit project June 16. The project, which began in 2013, will make it easier to ride across LA County as passengers will be able to travel between Azusa and Long Beach, and between East Los Angeles […]
Meet the Modeler: Chris Montagna of Chris’s Trains and Things on YouTube
Chris Montagna of the Chris’s Trains and Things YouTube channel is a contributing editor to Classic Toy Trains. He has done numerous reviews and how-to articles for Trains.com and the magazine. We asked him a few questions. My first train set (or locomotive) was…? My first locomotive was a Lionel Reading 4-6-2 (No. 6-18004) in […]
Norfolk Southern and unions team up to focus on safety improvements
ATLANTA – Norfolk Southern and the 12 unions that represent the railroad’s employees have agreed to work more closely together to improve safety. “Today, national labor leaders and Norfolk Southern management are committing to work together to enhance rail safety for our people and the communities we serve,” they announced in a letter to employees […]
Marine Corps base will simulate train derailment
QUANTICO, Va. – On May 25, Marines and civilians from Marine Corps Base Quantico will respond to a simulated “derailment” on base, the Marine Corps Times reported. Approximately 180 Marines and 110 to 115 people who work for surrounding Prince William County will be involved in the exercise. Representatives from the county come from the […]
SMART Train planning budget increase for expansion
PETALUMA, Calif. – Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) is planning to use a budget increase to expand its commuter rail service and adjoining pathways. SMART plans to spend $110 million in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, up from the $77 million in this fiscal year. Most of the increase, $41.6 million, will be used for rail […]
Construction begins on new SunRail Station
DELAND, Fla. – Ground was broken Monday for a new SunRail commuter station in Deland. The station is part of SunRail’s Phase 2 Northern Expansion. Phase 2 will add 12.2 miles to the SunRail corridor, expanding service from the DeBary SunRail Station to the new DeLand Station, with a projected opening in the summer of […]
NRHS, magazines create new rail preservation award
PHILADELPHIA – The National Railway Historical Society has announced a new program to recognize railroads for their efforts in railway preservation. The Society is partnering with Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures magazines to honor and recognize a North American common carrier railroad for a historically significant preservation project completed or put into operation within the last […]
Michigan Senate advances bill for grade separation fund
LANSING, Mich. – Many states have attempted to address long delays at grade crossings by passing legislation to limit how long a train can hold up traffic. But the Michigan legislature is moving to adopt a different approach: eliminate the crossings altogether. The Michigan Senate has unanimously passed a bill that would create a permanent […]
