Amtrak roomette sale offers free companion travel

Looking through window into compartment of sleeping car with bed made for the night

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has launched a “free companion” sale for roomettes on its long-distance routes, allowing two people to travel in one of the two-bed sleeping-car accommodations for the price of one. The sale began Thursday, Nov. 30, and runs through Friday, Dec. 8, and is good for travel between Wednesday, Jan. 3, and Wednesday, […]

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VIA Historical Society launches fundraising campaign to acquire FP9A

Blue FP9A locomotive with yellow nose

TORONTO — Canada’s VIA Historical Society has launched a major fundraising campaign to acquire its first locomotive, former VIA Rail Canada FP9A No. 6539, to be used as part of the organization’s touring exhibition train to celebrate VIA’s 50th anniversary in 2028. The organization is seeking to raise C$250,000 to purchase, move, restore, repaint and […]

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Metra SD70MACHs begin revenue service

blue and black diesel at night

Metra’s new six-axle power CHICAGO — Metra has used one of its SD70MACH locomotives to lead a revenue service train for the first time, with locomotive No. 507 powering train No. 2135 on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 29, from Chicago Union Station to Fox Lake on the Milwaukee District North line. Metra F59PHI No. […]

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In Memoriam: Mark Gurries

Picture of Mark Gurries next to DCC equipment

Mark Gurries, a noted expert in the use of NCE’s DCC system, passed away on November 25, 2023, after health complications. He was 62 years old. Contributing editor Tony Koester had this to say about his passing: “Mark was a very bright and extremely helpful individual who helped many of us with thorny little, sometimes […]

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NTSB to investigate death of NYC Transit track worker

National Transportation Safety Board logo

NEW YORK — The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate a Wednesday accident in the New York Subway system that killed a track worker, the agency said in a social media post. Hiliarian Joseph, 57, was serving as the flagger at a track project near the 34th Street-Herald Square subway station when he was struck […]

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OmniTRAX to begin operation of South Branch Valley Railroad on Friday

Blue locomotive pulling freight cars

MOOREFIELD, W.Va. — OmniTRAX will take over management of West Virginia’s South Branch Valley Railroad this Friday, Dec. 1, the company has announced. The transportation affiliate of The Broe Group said Wednesday that it had entered into “a definitive agreement with the West Virginia Deparment of Transportation to operate and grow” the 52.4-mile railroad, a […]

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