Amtrak launches Silver Star traditional dining ‘pilot’

Passenger cars on bridge

WASHINGTON — Beginning with the northbound Silver Star of today (Wednesday, March 15), and the southbound train on Friday, March 17, Amtrak is returning full dining car meals to the Star’s Viewliner II diner. It will be the train’s first such food service since “traditional dining” was replaced by “flexible” meals in a bowl on […]

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Ohio sues Norfolk Southern over East Palestine derailment

Workers and equipment around burned out tank cars

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The state of Ohio is suing Norfolk Southern over the Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, claiming the incident was “entirely avoidable and the direct result of Norfolk Southern’s practice of putting its own profits above the health, safety, and welfare of the communities in which Norfolk Southern operates.” The 58-count, […]

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The Tygart Valley Division layout in HO scale

The Tygart Valley division layout track plan

Facts & features Name: Tygart Valley Division Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: Two rooms, 15′ x 18′ and 12′ x 20′ Prototypes: Proto-freelanced, Western Maryland Ry. Locale: West Virginia Era: Mid-1950s Style: Walkaround Mainline run: 160 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: No. 6 Maximum grade: 2.75% Benchwork: Open grid Height: 45″ to 63″ Roadbed: Cork […]

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BLET members ratify agreement with CP, Soo Line (updated)

Logo of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has ratified a new five-year U.S. agreement with Canadian Pacific and its subsidiary Soo Line. The CP/Soo agreement is similar to the national agreement signed in 2022, including a 22% wage increase over the life of the contract, compounding to 24% over the life of […]

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Storm in Northeast leads to Amtrak cancellations, schedule changes (updated)

Train stopped at station in snow

  WASHINGTON — Citing “forecasted severe weather conditions,” Amtrak has announced these cancellations and schedule changes in the northeast beginning later today (Tuesday, March 14). The Amtrak Downeaster website indicates that northbound train No. 689, scheduled to depart Boston at 10:30 p.m., and southbound train No. 688, scheduled to depart Brunswick, Maine, at 5:45 p.m., […]

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New York scraps plans for AirTrain to La Guardia Airport

Illustration of elevated rail line at airport terminal

NEW YORK — The long-discussed plan to build an AirTrain rail link connecting La Guardia Airport to the New York City Subway system and Long Island Rail Road has been scrapped. The New York Times reports that Gov. Kathy Hochul said today (Monday, March 13) she would follow the recommendations of a panel reviewing the […]

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MBTA riders told to allow for an extra 40 minutes of commute time

MBTA Orange Line train arrives at station

BOSTON — Any hope Boston-area commuters had that current speed restrictions on much of the rail transit network would be short lived faded on Monday, as the interim general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority said riders should allow 40 more minutes of travel time daily until further notice. The Boston Globe reports the […]

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Jersey Central men with the ‘Blue Comet’

Launched in 1929, the Jersey City-Atlantic City Blue Comet was the pride of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, as is evident in the faces and attire of conductor Joseph T. Ross and engineer John Wait, standing with immaculate Pacific 831 at Jersey City. Classic Trains collection […]

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Amtrak to resume Adirondack service in April, U.S. senators say

Passenger train at station next to body of water

ALBANY, N.Y. — Amtrak’s long-idle New York-Montreal Adirondack service — the only train still not running after being suspended by the passenger operator at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — will resume operation in April, according to New York’s two U.S. senators. U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand made the announcement Friday afternoon, […]

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New York’s MTA places first new subway cars into service

Subway train at station

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s New York City Transit placed its first R211 subway cars into service on Friday, March 10, the first new additions to the New York subway fleet in five years. The Kawasaki-built R211 cars, placed into service on the A Line (8th Avenue Express), are the first in a […]

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MBTA lifts blanket speed restriction, but many slow orders remain

A streetcar

BOSTON — Blanket 25-mph speed restrictions remain in place on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line and Mattapan Trolley Line, but have been lifted on the Red, Orange, and Blue lines, following a Thursday night announcement of the systemwide slow order. The Boston Globe reports the overall restriction was lifted by 10:30 a.m. today […]

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MBTA imposes systemwide speed restriction on rail transit network

Rapid-transit train at station. Governor reacts following more close calls on MBTA.

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority instituted an immediate 25-mph speed restriction across its rapid-transit Red, Orange, Blue, and Green lines as of Thursday night following findings by the state’s Department of Public Utilities. The MBTA announced the restrictions about 10 p.m., the Boston Globe reports, after a visit to the Red Line between […]

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