News Analysis: VIA’s ‘high frequency’ plan gets funding, but only for a study

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MONTREAL — The Government of Canada and the Canada Infrastructure Bank, an “arm’s length” Crown corporation formed to fund big transportation projects, announced Tuesday that they will help finance an exploration of VIA Rail Canada’s proposed separate rail line in the Quebec City-Toronto Corridor. The government and infrastructure bank will commit C$71.1 million ($54 million […]

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Railcar manufacturer CRRC a target in U.S.-China trade war NEWSWIRE

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Officials including U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin (second from left) and then-mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel (fifth from left) participate in the 2017 groundbreaking for the CRRC Sifang factory in Chicago. CRRC, which is manufacturing new Chicago Transit Authority cars at the plant, is a target in the U.S.-China trade war. TRAINS: David Lassen Workers continue […]

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Ron Rosenberg of Ron’s Books has passed away NEWSWIRE

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Ron Rosenberg of Ron’s Books, flanked by his son, Lee, and wife, Ellie, in 2010. Trains: Mike Yuhas HARRISON, N.Y. — One of the railroad hobby’s most notable booksellers has passed away. Ron Rosenberg, 76, the owner of Ron’s Books of Harrison, N.Y., died Sunday. A lifelong railroad enthusiast and steam locomotive lover, he specialized […]

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Utah Transit Authority names new executive director NEWSWIRE

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority has named Carolyn Gonot as its new executive director, ending a six-month search. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Gonot is the first woman to hold the position for the agency, which operates the FrontRunner commuter rail line, along with TRAX light rail and bus service. She […]

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Western Maryland 1309 restoration update: Cranes on the horizon NEWSWIRE

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Drivers and driving boxes await installation at Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Chris Campbell 56 inch drivers are ready for installation on Western Maryland 2-6-6-2 No. 1309. Chris Campbell RIDGELEY, W.Va. — The long and twisting restoration of 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 at Western Maryland Scenic Railroad may finally be nearing a successful conclusion, punctuated with the […]

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Electrocuted slug blamed for Japanese rail outage NEWSWIRE

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TOKYO — A power outage that disrupted train service on the Japanese island of Kyushu was caused by a slug. The mollusk was electrocuted when it made its way into a trackside device, an investigation has concluded. The rail operator on Japan’s southernmost island, JR Kyushu, announced the findings on Sunday. The company had to […]

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Friends of the 261 debuts newly acquired E9 NEWSWIRE

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Friends of the 261’s E9A No. 101, ex-Milwaukee Road No. 32A, leads an eastbound excursion train past the former Milwaukee Road depot in Hopkins, Minn., on June 23, 2019. Steve Glischinski MINNEAPOLIS – The Friends of the 261 debuted its newly acquired former Milwaukee Road E9A over the weekend on trips over the Twin Cities […]

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Gateway commission bills pass in New York, New Jersey NEWSWIRE

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A New York-bound NJ Transit train crosses the Portal Bridge in October 2018. The bridge, more than a century old, is one component of the Gateway Project for Northeast Corridor infrastructure. Ralph Spielman NEW YORK — Legislatures in New York and New Jersey have passed identical bills creating the Gateway Project Development Commission, a key […]

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Metra helps encourage visits to Pullman National Monument NEWSWIRE

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A special Metra train promoting visits to the Pullman National Monument arrives at the 111th/Pullman station on the Metra Electric line. In the background is Pullman’s landmark Clock Tower building, surrounded in scaffolding for its renovation. Metra photo by Courtney Aubrecht Passengers on Metra’s special train to the Pullman National Monument detrain at Pullman. Metra […]

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