SEPTA train misrouted onto de-energized NEC track

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority logo

PHILADELPHIA — Approximately 250 passengers on were stranded for about an hour this morning (Thursday, Feb. 22) when their Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Regional Rail train was misrouted onto a de-energized track on the Northeast Corridor, KYW Radio reports. A SEPTA spokesman said the train was misrouted by Amtrak. Passengers remained on the inbound train […]

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Metra signs deal with Stadler US for battery-electric trainsets

Blue and white two-unit trainset

CHICAGO — Stadler US will build eight two-car battery-electric trainsets for Chicago’s Metra, its first order for such equipment in the United States, the commuter operator and manufacturer announced today (Wednesday, Feb. 21). The eight trainsets are the initial order for an agreement that could expand to as many as 16 trainsets. While the trainsets […]

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Metra receives federal grant for new railcars

Two commuter trains meet on curve

WASHINGTON — Metra will receive $100 million to purchase 50 new multilevel commuter rail cars, the Federal Transit Administration announced today, part of almost $631 million in federal funding awarded through the FTA’s Rail Vehicle Replacement Program. Other awards — to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and the Maryland Transit Administration — had previously been […]

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Maryland to receive $213 million grant for replacement of Baltimore light rail fleet

White, red, and yellow light rail trainset

BALTIMORE — The Maryland Transit Administration will receive more than $213 million in federal funding to help replace its entire light rail fleet, Democratic members of the state’s congressional delegation announced Tuesday. The $213,696,341 from the Federal Transit Administration’s Rail Vehicle Replacement program will go toward MTA plans to replace the 52-vehicle light rail fleet. […]

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Ukraine’s railways enter third year of war (updated)

Fire-damaged passenger cars in yard

Ukraine and its rail network will enter the third year of full-scale war this Saturday, Feb, 24, following the Russian invasion of the country in 2022. While the front line in the country’s east has barely moved in a year, the role of the railways has evolved. The immediate urgency of evacuating civilians has passed, […]

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Surviving a train wreck: Improving passenger safety

MetrorailWashingtonDC

This story originally appeared in the May 2012 issue of Trains Magazine. Train wreck Two very similar passenger trains approach a standing locomotive at slow speed in an over-under video produced by the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge, Mass. On impact, one train crumples with the lead car, but stays in […]

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FRA releases long-distance study interim report, invites comments

Map showing 15 proposed new Amtrak long-distance routes

WASHINGTON — Fifteen new or revived long-distance routes are presented in a new Federal Railroad Administration presentation to accompany the next round of meetings for its ongoing Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study. The 163-page PowerPoint presentation was issued prior to the third round of six regional workshops for stakeholders including Amtrak and state transportation officials, […]

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New Hampshire reviewing bids for purchase of Flying Yankee

Three-car stainless steel streamlined passenger train

CONCORD, N.H. — The state of New Hampshire is now reviewing bids for purchase of the Flying Yankee, the 1935 Budd Co. articulated streamliner built for the Boston & Maine Railroad — including a bid from the non-profit group that has long tried to support restoration of the train that is a virtual duplicate of […]

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