Audit of VIA Rail Canada calls for service improvements

Gray, yellow and black passenger train at station

OTTAWA, Ontario — VIA Rail Canada needs to improve service and to address some managerial practices, the Auditor General of Canada says in a report issued Friday (Feb. 27). But an audit generally found the company to be well run. The audit report’s assessment of VIA operations notes that the company owns just 3% of […]

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Tri-Rail names interim executive director

Tri-Rail_logo

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — The parent agency of Florida commuter operator Tri-Rail has named an interim executive director and launched the search to hire a permanent replacement. At a Friday meeting, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority board named Diane Hernandez del Calvo, currently deputy executive director, to serve in the interim leadership role. Del […]

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Britain’s famous ‘Harry Potter’ train threatened again

Steam-powered passenger train in UK on curved trestle

EDINBURGH, Scotland — The operation of the internationally famous “Harry Potter” steam in the Scottish Highlands is once again threatened. More correctly known as The Jacobite, the train, started by British Rail in the 1980s, has been run since rail privatization in the 1990s by West Coast Railways, based in northern England. From April to […]

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What happened in the rail industry this week? February 27, 2026

Men working on passenger car in shop

In a continued effort to improve our coverage, we’re introducing a weekly feature for TrainsPRO. It will be a weekly recap, highlighting our most popular stories of the week, and also occasionally shining a spotlight on stories that you might have missed, but that our editorial team believes might develop into the next big story […]

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Proposed Union Pacific branch near Phoenix clears environmental review

Map of Phoenix-area rail proposal

WASHINGTON — A proposed new, 6-mile Union Pacific branchline in the Phoenix area would have no significant environmental impacts so long as mitigation recommendations are followed, the Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis said today. As a result, the project — dubbed PIRATE for Pecos Industrial Rail Access Train Extension — will not require […]

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Nashville Steam preps for NC&StL No. 576’s first fireup

Nearly restored steam locomotive without tender sits outside

NASHVILLE — Nearly 10 years after the initial announcement to relocate Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis No. 576 from Downtown Nashville’s Centennial Park for restoration to operation at the nearby Tennessee Central Railway Museum, the Nashville Steam Preservation Society is closing in on the 4-8-4’s first fireup in nearly 75 years. This comes after hitting […]

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CSX hosts 35th annual short line railroad conference

Freight train with blue locomotives crossing diamond

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX welcomed more than 130 short line partners to its annual Short Line Conference, held Feb. 22–24, continuing a 35-year tradition. CSX says the event provided short line leaders with direct access to the Class I railroad’s executives and experts from across the company. “This conference is about alignment, growing together, performing […]

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BLET, Indiana Rail Road reach tentative agreement

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen reached a tentative agreement on a five-year contract with the Indiana Rail Road earlier this month, the union has announced. The agreement, which would be retroactive to July 1, 2024, would include annual pay raises each year through July 1, 2029, as well as a […]

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MBTA begins development of Rail Modernization Plan

Purple and black locomotive at station platform

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will seek public comment as it develops an updated strategy for regional rail service, the agency announced on Thursday (Feb. 26). The MBTA’s Rail Modernization Plan will aim to identify near-term investments and long-term needs to improve frequency, reliability, and accessibility while pursuing decarbonization strategies. MBTA General Manager […]

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Hobbyshop Window for February 27th 2026

Color photo showing portion of HO scale steel caboose with streamlined offset cupola painted red and white with silver roof, oxide red trucks and end platforms, and yellow grab irons on white background.

For many years Hobbyshop Window was a popular department in the pages of Model Railroader magazine. We’re excited to bring it back as an occasional feature on Trains.com. Here’s a recap of some of the items that arrived at our offices for the week ending February 27th 2026. Keep up to date on the latest […]

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Trains.com Insider Exclusive | Blunami Insights from George Bogatiuk III of SoundTraxx

Discover how SoundTraxx has spent 35 years revolutionizing model railroading, from pioneering onboard sound systems to the app-controlled, Bluetooth-based Blunami decoder. Join Model Railroader magazine’s Cody Grivno and Trains.com’s Lucas Iverson as they sit down with product authority George Bogatiuk III to explore the history of this Colorado-based manufacturer. You’ll learn how their commitment to […]

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An interview with George Bogatiuk III of SoundTraxx

Sound decoder in front of Lego diesel locomotive

SoundTraxx’s Blunami sound decoder is taking model railroading by storm with its Bluetooth-based technology, offering a straight-through DCC connection from a smart app to the decoder (In many scales for DC and AC power). But there is much more to the 35-year-old company than just its latest innovation. Product Expert George Bogatiuk III recently joined […]

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