Stadler hydrogen trainset makes debut in Florida

Front view of blue and white passenger train equipment

ORLANDO, Fla. — Stadler’s FLIRT H2 trainset, the hydrogen-powered commuter-rail equipment set to debut next year in Southern California, has made its first U.S. debut this week at the APTA Expo in Orlando, the American Public Transportation Association’s annual conference. The train will eventually join three Stadler FLIRT diesel multiple-unit trainsets on the San Bernardino […]

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Florida officials approve development district to support ‘Sunshine Corridor’ rail project

Locomotive with two bilevel passenger cars rounding curve

ORLANDO, Fla. — Officials in Orange County, Fla., have approved creation of a new special taxation district to help fund development of the “Sunshine Corridor” rail connection to allow Brightline and commuter rail service SunRail reach the Orange County Convention Center and nearby attractions. WKMG-TV reports county commissioners unanimously approved creation of the Shingle Creek […]

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MTA to offer art, architecture tours of Grand Central Madison Oct. 21-22

Interior of not-yet-completed commuter rail station in New York

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will offer tours of both the architecture and artwork of Grand Central Madison, the Long Island Rail Road terminal that opened earlier this year, sa part of the Open House New York Weekend, set for Oct. 20-22. The annual event opens noteworthy locations across New York’s five boroughs […]

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Grand Canyon Railway No. 4960 concludes 2023 steam schedule

Silhouette of steam locomotive at the depot.

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — The 2023 steam schedule for Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel concluded on Oct. 9 with 2-8-2 No. 4960 making an appearance at the depot in Williams for the Employee Fall Festival. This comes after the final “First Saturday” steam excursion of the year to Grand Canyon National Park a couple of days […]

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Norfolk Southern lifts day-of-week restrictions on Midwest-West Coast international intermodal service

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern this week ended restrictions on international intermodal service linking five of its Midwestern terminals with West Coast ports. “We are instituting this customer-centric, operations-driven solution for shipments originating at Appliance Park [Louisville, Ky.], Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and Detroit, and we look forward to the positive impact these adjustments will have on […]

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New company to launch perishables service from UP’s former Cold Connect warehouse in Washington State

Logo of Tri-Cities Intermodal, featuring state of Washington in two shades of green

A new company is reviving the plans that temperature-controlled intermodal provider Tiger Cool Express had to acquire and develop the former Union Pacific Cold Connect warehouse in Wallula, Wash. Last October Tiger Cool Express signed an agreement with UP to acquire the Cold Connect property and to develop an intermodal terminal on the site. But […]

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Simplifying body-mounted couplers

MRRNS0720_01

Simplifying body-mounted couplers: Former editor Neil Besougloff used to accuse me of trying to convert all N scale modelers to using body-mounted couplers. He was joking – I think – but I’m not mounting such a campaign. For 90 percent of you, using truck-mounted, body-mounted, or a mix of both would make little difference. Your […]

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CPKC and CSX detail their plans to connect their networks via Meridian & Bigbee short line

WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific Kansas City and CSX Transportation have detailed their plans to acquire Genesee & Wyoming short line Meridian & Bigbee in order to create a shortcut interchange route linking the Southeast and Mexico via Myrtlewood, Ala. The deal, announced in June but outlined in a series of regulatory documents that appeared on […]

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Missouri officials seek funding for additional ‘River Runner,’ other new Amtrak service

Passengers board train with silver and red cars

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Transportation is seeking federal funding to add a third daily round trip to Missouri River Runner service and add three other Amtrak routes in the state, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The state DOT is asking Gov. Mike Parson (R) to include the request in his coming […]

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News photo: South Shore testing for resumption of service

Electrified commuter train operating on double track near sunset

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — An eastbound South Shore Line test train approaches the 11th Street station in Michigan City on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Rail service west from Michigan City has been replaced by buses for more than a year — and the 11th Street station has been closed since May 2021 — as part of […]

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Canadian government to help fund new Port of Montreal container terminal

Aerial-view illustration of container terminal at port

CONTRECOEUR, Quebec — The Canadian government will spend up to C$150 million toward construction ofa new rail-served container terminal at the Port of Montreal, Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced on Tuesday. The project will include a 675-meter-long dock; a rail connection to existing Canadian National tracks, including a rail transfer point and freight transfer hub; […]

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