News photos: Fallen ‘Star’

Passenger train with blue locomotive and heritage Amtrak locomotive passing next to signal bridge

While Amtrak marked the launch on Sunday of its new but temporary Floridian service between Chicago and Florida, via Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., the debut of one train meant the end — at least for a similar undefined period — of another. Amtrak’s New York-Miami Silver Star made its final runs on Sunday, part of […]

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Amtrak Borealis routes into the Upper Midwest

Amtrak Borealis Trains.com staffer Ben Lake, narrates his rides aboard Amtrak’s newest Midwest region trains, the #1333 (westbound) and #1340 (eastbound) Borealis! Since operations began in May 2024, the Borealis trains now provide a second daily connection between Downtown Chicago, Ill. (CHI), Milwaukee, Wis. (MKE), and St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minn. (MSP)…and have already surpassed the 100,000 […]

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Challenges ahead for passenger rail under Trump, GOP Senate: Analysis

Man speaking with passenger train in background

WASHINGTON — The election of Donald Trump could significantly reduce future financial support for Amtrak, transit, and high speed rail projects, although expected cuts could be tempered if Democrats are able to capture enough still-undecided House of Representatives races to gain a majority in that chamber. That’s the consensus of sources Trains News Wire contacted […]

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Is it time to preserve an Amtrak Genesis P40?

An Amtrak passenger train rolls through arid country against a blue sky

Is it time to preserve an Amtrak Genesis P40? Since 1993, Amtrak’s iconic Genesis diesels have hauled countless millions of passengers across its network. From Sunset Limited to Downeaster, the Genesis has been the locomotive for generations of Amtrak travelers. While the Genesis models remain among the most common locomotives for long distance passenger service, […]

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STB grants dismissal requests by Amtrak, San Diego commuter agency

Passenger train next to ocean

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board on Tuesday (Nov. 5) granted requests by Amtrak and Southern California’s North County Transportation District to dismiss long-running cases before the board. Amtrak had requested that the board dismiss its request for an order requiring CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern to allow operation of Gulf Coast service between New […]

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Amtrak’s Winter Park Express ski train expands dates, route

Passenger train in snow with people waiting to board

DENVER — Following several years of growing ridership and sold-out trains on many weekends, this ski season’s version of Amtrak’s Winter Park Express will advance its previous January debut into December, and then will operate five days per week beginning Jan. 9. The train will operate Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on Dec. 20-22, Dec. 27-29, […]

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Amtrak NPCU ‘Cabbage’ locomotives

Amtrak locomotive on track in city

Amtrak has been using unpowered F40PH locomotives for decades in various corridors across the country. For its shorter-distance trains — where one or both ends of the run lack turning facilities — these units allow Amtrak to assign only one powered locomotive instead of two. The first F40PH converted was AMTK No. 200, which had […]

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California agency awards more than $850 million for 11 rail projects

Train passing retaining wall in beach area

SACRAMENTO — Eleven rail projects, including a new LA Metro light rail line and extension of service in Sonoma County by SMART commuter trail, have received more than $850 million in funding from the Calfiornia State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) in awards announced last week. “From new zero-emissions buses in the Central Valley to vital rail […]

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Projects in Illinois, Virginia receive CRISI grants

Logo for Federal Railroad Administration

WASHINGTON — Two more awards have been announced under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements, or CRISI, grant program. The first of what Washington state’s two senators said will be 122 grants totaling $2.477 billion were announced late last week [see “Announcements of 2024 CRISI grants begin,” Trains News Wire, Friday, […]

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