MBTA board approves five-year, $9.6 billion capital plan

Illustration of green and gray light rail trainset

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority board has approved a five-year Capital Investment Plan calling for $9.6 billion in spending, covering more than 640 separate projects. The board unanimously approved the plan at its meeting on Tuesday, June 11. The plan addresses only a fraction of the agency’s projected needs over the 2025-2029 period, […]

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Metrolink adds service for X Games in Ventura

Metrolink_BurbankAirport_Lassen

VENTURA, Calif. — Southern California commuter rail operator will once again add service for the X Games extreme sports competition in Ventura, to be held this year June 28-30. Metrolink will offer two round trips between Los Angeles and the Ventura Downtown/Beach station on Saturday, June 29, and Sunday, June 30. Schedules and other details […]

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House bills would require open Amtrak meetings, notification on executive bonuses

Passenger car with large glass window at rear of train

WASHINGTON — In advance of a scheduled Wednesday hearing on Amtrak, two members of the House Committree on Transportation and Infrastructure have announced bills regarding the passenger operators’ governance and executive bonuses. U.S. Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-Texas), chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, has introduced the Amtrak Transparency and Accountability […]

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Caltrain sets Sept. 21 date to launch electrified service

Red and white electric multiple-unit trainset under dramatic sunset

SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Caltrain announced plans to launch electrified service on its San Francisco-San Jose service on Sept. 21 after a final weekend of testing that included running eight trains of electric equipment simultaneously, the agency said on Monday. Electrified operation will see service between San Francisco and San Jose in less than an […]

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MBTA completes Orange Line work, removing 10 more speed restrictions

Maintenance workers in subway tunnel

BOSTON — The latest Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority service shutdown for track maintenance work led to removal of 10 speed restrictions on the rapid-transit Orange Line, the agency says. Service was suspended between the Wellington and Back Bay stations from May 28 through June 6. During that period, nine slow orders were addressed in the […]

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Two passengers injured when South Shore train hits truck

South Shore Line logo

GARY, Ind. — Two passengers were injured when a Chicago-bound South Shore Line commuter train hit a dump truck reportedly stalled on the tracks in Gary this morning (Monday, June 10), the Chicago Tribune reports. The collision occurred about 7:45 a.m. at the Rutledge Street crossing, west of the Gary Metro station. The driver of […]

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House subcommittee schedules hearing on California locomotive rule

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — A subcommittee of the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has scheduled a hearing this Thursday on California regulations that would require zero-emissions locomotives in the state beginning in 2030. The focus of the hearing by the Investigations & Oversight Subcommittee is clear from its title: “Environmentalism Off the Rails: […]

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Newest Norfolk Southern paint scheme salutes its railroaders

Front of red, white, and black locomotive with slogan "Thank you to our railroaders."

ALTOONA, Pa. — Norfolk Southern introduced a new specially painted locomotive saluting its railroaders at an NS Family Day event at the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona on Saturday, June 8. NS CEO Alan Shaw was on hand and spoke, and the railroad’s Southern and Virginian heritage units were also on display. The front of […]

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Deteriorating CN track adds time to VIA’s Ocean: Analysis

Passenger train at station with large ship in background

MONTREAL — Beginning June 19, VIA Rail Canada is adding 90 minutes to the westbound schedule of its Montreal-Halifax, N.S. Ocean and 45 minutes to the eastbound train, “to provide passengers with a schedule which better reflects actual travel times,” according to a statement provided by VIA in response to a set of detailed questions […]

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