‘Coastliner’ RDCs to debut this weekend in Maine

Rail Diesel Car with blue and white nose striping in operation.

BATH, Maine — The first stage of what Midcoast Railservice President Mike Smith says is a “sequential laboratory experiment” he expects to culminate in scheduled passenger service between Rockland and Brunswick, Maine, is set to begin this weekend at Bath Heritage Days. On display at Bath, about 9 miles from the Brunswick terminus of Amtrak […]

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Twin Cities & Western project continues work to remove rail joints

Man pushing machine along track to cut rails

GLENCOE, Minn. — The Twin Cities & Western Railroad is continuing its rail joint elimination program thanks to a recent federal grant. Crews from contractor ONE Rail Group are currently working near Plato, Minn. The contractors cut off bolted rail ends, then push the pieces of rail together. Using a ONE Rail truck equipped with […]

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Short circuit on door system led to MBTA passenger fatality, NTSB determines

Rapid transit equipment parked over inspection pit in shop building

WASHINGTON — A short circuit in a system designed to keep a train from operating when a door is open or obstructed is the probable cause of the 2022 death of a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority passenger, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a report released Tuesday. The passenger, 39-year-old Robinson Lalin, was caught […]

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Work begins on wall to protect rail line in San Clemente

Aerial view of landslide above railroad tracks

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Work began Monday on a temporary restraining wall to be built at the site of a landslide that has halted passenger rail service through south Orange County since June 5. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports heavy equipment was being staged at the base of the slope below San Clemente’s Casa Romantica […]

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LA’s Metrolink expands weekend service on Ventura County Line

Commuter train with white locomotive emerges from tunnel

LOS ANGELES — Commuter rail operator Metrolink will expand service on its Ventura County Line beginning this weekend, adding a round trip to the existing Saturday schedule and adding operations on Sundays. The schedule for one existing train will also change to offer more weekend service options. As of July 1, schedules for both Saturday […]

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Center for Railroad Photography & Art launches online image archive (updated)

Logo of Center for Railroad Photography and Art

MADISON, Wis. — The Center for Railroad Photography & Art has unveiled its online archive of digital images from the center’s expansive collection. Odyssey, the CRP&A’s new online portal, is now available here. A downloadable search guide PDF is available here. The image management system was selected by the CRP&A staff in June 2022, and […]

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Reading & Northern names Sharadin to coal executive position

Head shot of man with short hair

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern Railroad has appointed Michael Sharadin as vice president-coal sourcing, the company has announced. Sharadin rejoins the railroad after serving as an area manager for Amazon Transportation since 2020. There, he managed the transportation department at two fulfillment centers in the Lehigh Valley. He had previously spent more than […]

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NTSB investigating CSX employee death at Port of Baltimore

Aerial view of container facility adjacent to port

BALTIMORE — The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation after a CSX Transportation employee was killed after being struck by a train Monday evening at the Seagirt Marine Terminal at the Port of Baltimore. The Baltimore Banner reports an NTSB representative said two investigators were on the scene today to begin fact-finding into […]

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Amtrak returns ‘traditional dining’ to Silver Meteor

A few people eating in dining car.

WASHINGTON — “Traditional dining” — with chef-prepared meals, glassware and linen tablecloths, and new meal options — has returned to the Silver Meteor, Amtrak announced today. The announcement means both New York-Florida long-distance trains now offer full traditional full dining-car service — albeit only for sleeping-car passengers — and formalizes the “pilot” of traditional dining […]

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Oklahoma Railway Museum profile

Oklahoma Railway Museum logo

The Oklahoma Railway Museum boasts an impressive collection of vintage railroad equipment with ties to the Sooner State. It’s best known for its collection of working first-generation diesel locomotives, which include a former Rock Island Alco RS-1, a Santa Fe CF7, and an EMD F7A painted in Frisco colors. On the spacious grounds are more […]

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MRL and BNSF detour trains as Yellowstone River bridge derailment cleanup progresses (updated)

Aerial view of collapsed bridge and railcars in river

REED POINT, Mont. — The Montana Rail Link bridge over the Yellowstone River, which collapsed on Saturday, passed inspections in November 2022 and last month, railroad President Joe Racicot said at a unified command news conference on Monday evening. “We feel confident that this bridge was suitable for stream flows,” Racicot says. A combination of […]

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