Freight railroads, Amtrak ask for more time for Gulf Coast mediation

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The parties in the dispute over Amtrak’s effort to launch Gulf Coast service have asked the Surface Transportation Board to extend the period for board-sponsored mediation by 30 days. In a joint motion filed Wednesday, Aug. 24, by CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, Amtrak, and the Alabama State Port Authority, the parties say “an […]

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MBTA to again launch commuter rail service to Foxboro station

Portion of MBTA map showing location of Foxboro station

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — For the second time, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will launch a pilot program offering extensive weekday commuter rail service to the Foxboro station, which generally has only seen service for events at the adjacent Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The one-year pilot will offer 11 inbound trips and […]

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U.S. weekly rail traffic edges above 2021 levels

Table showing weekly U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity, plus intermodal totals

WASHINGTON — In a rare occurrence for 2022, U.S. freight rail traffic for the week ending Aug. 20 was up over the same week a year ago — albeit by the barest of margins. According to statistics from the Association of American Railroads, traffic for the week was 501,548 carloads and intermodal units — an […]

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East Coast Circuits jersey barriers

Road scene with work crew behind jersey barriers

Jersey barriers Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Twelve-pack, $20 Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Features: Orange and white versions Figures, construction equipment, and display not included Release date: October 2022 News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad operators and builders to get the latest information about locomotives, […]

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General Electric ET44 diesel locomotive from ScaleTrains

Red, black, and gray modern diesel locomotive

General Electric ET44 diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $174.99; with dual-mode ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder, $269.99 Era: 2014-present (depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: ScaleTrains, 7598 Highway 411, Benton, TN 37307; 844-987-2467; scaletrains.com Features: Road-number-specific details Factory-installed details including wire grab irons, m.u. clusters, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, and […]

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Germany hydrogen trains achieve another milestone

Blue and white two-car passenger train at station in Germany

BREMERVORDE, Germany — Germany’s pioneering hydrogen-fuel-cell powered passenger trains have achieved the next step in their launch, fully handling service on their Cuxhaven-Bremervörde-Butexhude route as of today. Alstom, manufacturer of the 14 Coradia iLint trainsets, called the 100% hydrogen operation of the route a “historical milestone” in a press release. The trains had begun operation […]

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East Coast Circuits HO scale traffic barrels announced

Road scene with construction workers behind orange traffic barrels

Traffic barrels Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Standard version (12-pack) and lighted version (six-pack), $20 each Manufacturer: East Coast Circuits LLC, P.O. Box 25412 Providence, RI 02905; 401-400-0668; eastcoastcircuits.com Features: Lighted version works on 9-12V AC or DC power Figures and display not included Release date: October 2022 News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad […]

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10 more oddball diesels in North America

A Romanian FAUR Quarterhorse locomotive

Oddball diesels in North America: Oddball diesel locomotives are the exception, not the rule. For the most part, North American railroads are interested in performance and reliability when it comes to motive power. And why not? A disabled locomotive at the point of a freight train going nowhere is not something – from the people […]

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