Gold Runners cancel one round trip, citing equipment maintenance

Passenger train travels beneath bridge under construction.

STOCKTON, Calif. — Amtrak’s state-supported Gold Runner service, which restored a seventh round trip between Stockton and Bakersfield in December, has now canceled one daily round trip between Bakersfield and Oakland through March 5. The trains affected are No. 713, an 8:58 a.m. departure from Bakersfield that arrives in Oakland at 3:14 p.m., and No. […]

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STB proposal would make it easier for shippers to reach a second railroad

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board today said it aims to repeal regulations that have effectively prevented sole-served carload and bulk shippers from seeking access to a second railroad. The regulations cover reciprocal switching, through routes, and through rates. The STB’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would jettison Part 1144 of the federal code of regulations, […]

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Oregon’s TriMet unveils proposed service cuts

Map of light rail system in the Portland, Ore., area

PORTLAND, Ore. — Transit agency TriMet would shorten one of its light rail lines and eliminate or alter some 35 bus routes under a proposal unveiled Monday, Jan. 5, to address a projected $300 million funding shortfall. The agency says those cuts, which would be effective in August, would come after it has already identified […]

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New York MTA purchases more Wabtec hybrid locomotives (with video)

Blue locomotive with end cab and green, red, and white striping

PITTSBURGH — New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority has exercised an option with Wabtec to purchase 45 additional R255 hybrid locomotives for subway system maintenance work. The battery-diesel hybrids improve working conditions for maintenance crews, especially in tunnels, eliminating emissions with the ability to run on their approximately 500 kilowatt-hours of battery power for several hours. […]

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Florida’s Tri-Rail sets ridership record

View of commuter train from overpass

MIAMI — South Florida’s Tri-Rail set a ridership record in calendar 2025 with 4.5 million rides, breaking the record of 4.4 million set pre-pandemic in 2019. The calendar-year mark follows a record of 4.5 million in fiscal 2025 (July 2024 to June 2025), which broke the mark set in fiscal 2019. “We were not kidding […]

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Opinion: UP-NS merger will yield economic benefits

The Trump Administration has rolled out a variety of proposed ideas to address the ever-present “affordability” issue. President Trump’s Dec. 17 speech on the topic proposed a number of potential changes — including efforts to reduce drug prices and mortgage payments as well as a tariff dividend — in an attempt to help consumers. However, […]

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New York, MTA say first year of congestion pricing is a success

Man speaking at podium

NEW YORK — New York City’s congestion pricing program has reduced vehicular traffic in lower Manhattan by 11% and increased transit ridership by 7%, officials said on Monday as they marked the first anniversary of the tolling program that helps fund Metropolitan Transportation Authority capital projects. The congestion tolling, which began on Jan. 5, 2025, […]

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Suspect arrested in locomotive fire at Catskill Mountain Railroad

KINGSTON, N.Y. — A 25-year-old Kingston man has been arrested and charged in connection with the Jan. 1 fire that damaged an out-of-service Catskill Mountain Railroad locomotive. The Kingston Police Department said in a press release that John J. Dwyer had charged with criminal mischief in the third degree, a felony, and arson in the […]

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Quebec North Shore & Labrador reopens after derailment

TRN_QNSL_map

SEPT-ÎLES, Quebec — The Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway has reopened after a week-long shutdown because of a derailment near the town of Sept-Îles, parent company Iron Ore Co. of Canada has announced. In a Facebook post, Iron Ore Co. said the line reopened at midnight this morning (Jan. 5) with traffic initially operating […]

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