SPRUCE PINE, N.C. — Freight cars are once again rolling though the western North Carolina town of Spruce Pine, N.C., after CSX Transportation crews reopened about 2 miles of its Clinchfield Railroad route north of Spruce Pine, gaining access to a local freight customer. CSX officials confirmed the line’s restoration in a video posted to […]
CUMBERLAND, Md. — Public TV series Great Scenic Railway Journeys has joined with the restoration effort for Western Maryland Scenic Railroad 2-8-0 No. 734, launching a $10,000 donation-match program for the restoration project. The program is offering a dollar-for-dollar match up to $10,000 for the effort to return the locomotive to operating condition. The 2-8-0, […]
WASHINGTON — A New Jersey congressmen has introduced a bill first announced last summer that would require Amtrak to provide passengers with ticket refunds when trains are cancelled or delayed “due to a failure of Amtrak.” H.R. 769 was introduced by U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) on Jan. 28 and sent to the House Committee […]
HARTFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut legislator has introduced a bill that would require the state’s Department of Transportation to develop rail service to Bradley International Airport, the Hartford-area facility in Windsor Locks, Conn. General Assembly Bill 5061, introduced by state Rep. Christopher Rosario (D-Bridgeport), would require service from Hartford Union Station to the airport with […]
WASHINGTON — Legislation reintroduced in the House of Representatives seeks to encourage employer support by reestablishing a tax deduction for transportation fringe benefits. The Supporting Transit Commutes Act, introduced in January, has bipartisan backing, with sponsorship from U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) It reintroduces a bill, H.R. 9464, introduced by Auchincloss […]
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Seeing “significant opportunities to grow,” independent infrastructure manager Ancala and Arkadia Rail Partners have formed Phoenix Rail following the acquisition of short line rail company Lehigh Valley Rail Management. Terms were not disclosed. Lehigh Valley Rail Management owns and operates a 61-mile freight rail network and is headquartered in Bethlehem, Pa., where […]
CRUM, W.Va. — A rockslide led to the derailment of 18 cars of a Norfolk Southern train on Friday (Jan. 31, 2025) near the town of Crum, the railroad has announced. The incident occurred about 10 p.m., according to WVMetroNews.com. WOWK-TV reports one of the derailed cars carried a hazardous substance, toluene, but railroad spokeswoman […]
A stray New Haven RR FL9 didn’t add up when the commuter locomotive encountered a Seaboard System equipment detector. When I entered engine service on the Seaboard Coast Line in 1979, the railroad was replacing many of its first generation locomotives, mostly aging Alcos and Electro-Motive Division road switchers. These locomotives had been ideally suited […]
DERBY, England — Rolling stock manufacturer Alstom was forced to halt ticket sales for an event celebrating the 200th anniversary of railroading this week because the system handling ticketing was overwhelmed by demand from around the world. The company is planning to open its Derby Litchurch Lane Works to the public for the first time […]
MONCTON, New Brunswick — A Moncton developer and former owner of a rail equipment company owes the province of New Brunswick almost Ca$5 million as a result of a failed effort to refurbish rolling stock for VIA Rail Canada, the CBC reports. Court of King’s Bench Justice Thomas Christie ruled earlier this month that developer […]
WASHINGTON — Former New York congressman Marc Molinaro is set to be named as head of the Federal Transit Administration, the New York Times reports. Molinaro has been offered the job by the Trump administration and has accepted it, according to the Times, although the nomination has not yet been announced. The position will require […]
ATLANTA — The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority on Thursday offered the first public look at its new Stadler-built MARTA trainsets, part of a $646 million order to replace the agency’s entire rail fleet. The first CQ400 trainset is one of 56 trainsets ordered in November 2019. The first of the 224 cars were delivered […]
