Workers at Chicago Union Station load mail aboard Burlington Route train 29 — the Fast Mail — prior to its 9 p.m. departure for Omaha in early 1964. John Gruber photo […]
Fast Mail at Chicago Union Station
Type of Train: Passenger/Transit
With work completed, full rail service to resume on Hartford-Springfield, Mass route
HARTFORD, Conn. — More than five months of midday bus substitutions on the Hartford-Springfield, Mass., route served by Amtrak and CTrail trains are set to end on Monday, Nov. 4, following the completion of several maintenance projects. An alert on the CTrail website says 10 five round trips — two of Amtrak trains and three […]
Legislators’ letter calls for Amtrak to delay changes related to East River Tunnel work
ALBANY, N.Y. — Seven Republican members of the New York state delegation to the House of Representatives have asked Amtrak President Roger Harris to delay plans to reduce service in the state as a result of planned East River Tunnel work. The changes, taking effect Nov. 10, will see the Maple Leaf and Adirondack combined […]
Metro-North introduces Siemens dual-mode locomotives
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Friday introduced the first of its newest locomotive for Metro-North Railroad, a dual-power variant of the Siemens Charger. Siemens SC42-DM locomotives Nos. 301 and 302, the first of 33 units, were unveiled in a ceremony at the Harmon Shops in Croton-on-Harmon. The locomotives feature a 4,200-hp diesel […]
Consultants hired for scoping of Eau Claire-Twin Cities passenger rail proposal
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission has hired a consultant team led by HDR Engineering and including HNTB Corp. to carry out the scoping work for proposed Eau Claire-Twin Cities passenger rail service. The scoping work is the first phase in development of a new route under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor […]
Miami-Aventura commuter rail project advances to engineering phase
MIAMI — The Federal Transit Administration has advanced the proposed commuter rail service between Miami and Aventura, Fla., into the engineering phase, and has made a preliminary commitment to provide $389.5 million in funding for the project, U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Miami) announced this week. Wilson said in a press release that the FTA announcement […]
Communication issues played role in derailment of SEPTA trolley with inoperable brakes, NTSB finds
WASHINGTON — Flaws in communication at a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority maintenance facility played a role in the derailment in which a SEPTA trolley derailed and struck a vehicle and building in July 2023, the NTSB said in its final investigation report. The probable cause of the July 27, 2023, accident was the movement of […]
NJ Transit introduces first of new Alstom EMU cars
KEARNY, N.J. — NJ Transit today introduced the first car from its next-generation order for 174 multilevel railcars being built by Alstom in an event at the agency’s Meadows Maintenance Complex in Kearny. The new electric multiple-unit cars will allow retirement of remaining single-level Arrow III cars that are more than 40 years old. They […]
VIA retains existing Venture schedules despite delays
MONTREAL — Despite speed restrictions abruptly imposed by host railroad Canadian National as a safety measure on Oct. 11, VIA Rail Canada is not adjusting schedules on trips involving Venture trainsets to reflect slower running times. Instead, passengers are being given a revised delay estimate. And beginning the week of Nov. 4, the carrier is […]
LCCA announces custom Lionel set and Brakeman car
LCCA announces custom Lionel set and Brakeman car: The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) announces some Lionel custom-run products. The LCCA announces a custom-run Southern Pacific train set with “Black Widow” livery (No. 2401200). The set includes an FT diesel and three passenger cars, (coach, dome, and Hopkins observation). Requires O-31 curves for operation. Price: […]
FTA issues final rule on safety for transit agency track workers
WASHINGTON — The Federal Transit Administration has announced its final rule governing safety for transit agency track workers, following up on a proposal made earlier this year. The rule, published Tuesday, Oct. 29 on the FTA website, will become official when it is published in the Federal Register, which is slated to occur Thursday, Oct. […]
MTA begins engineering process for Interborough Express project
NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday began the engineering process for the proposed Interborough Express light rail line in Brooklyn and Queens. The MTA’s Request for Proposals for consultant bids for the preliminary engineering phase of the project begins a process expected to take approximately two years. The 14-mile Interborough Express, or […]
