Congressional hearing set for Wednesday on DC Metro issues

WMATA (DC Metro) logo

WASHINGTON — A House subcommittee is set to hold a hearing Wednesday on the problem-plagued DC Metro transit system. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform’s Subcommittee on Government Operations will hold the 9 a.m. EST hearing on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s “responsibility to provide safe and reliable transit service to the National […]

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New Jersey law increases penalty for transit-worker attacks

NJ Transit trains meet at Elizabeth, N.J., in August 2019

TRENTON, N.J. — After assaults on transit employees more than tripled in each of the last two years, New Jersey has enacted a law that increases penalties for such attacks. New Jersey 101.5 FM reports the Motorbus and Passenger Rail Service Employee Violence Prevention Act will make attacks on NJ Transit workers at least third-degree […]

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Pennsylvania rail authority acquires operating rights to NS line

Logo of SDA-COG Joint Rail Authority

LEWISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania rail authority which owns five short lines served by contract operators has acquired the operating rights to 9 miles of Norfolk Southern trackage in Snyder County, Pa. In its December meeting, the Susquehanna Economic Development Agency-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Joint Rail Authority agreed to purchase rail assets and a freight […]

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East Broad Top announces Winter Spectacular schedule

Railcar and caboose in front of station building

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The EBT Foundation has released the list of activities for its East Broad Top Railroad Winter Spectacular, to be held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18-19. This is the second Spectacular to be held since the Foundation acquired the historic narrow gauge railroad, a National Historic Landmark, in 2020. Last year’s event […]

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Storm brings more Amtrak cancellations Thursday, Friday

Train approaching in snowstorm

Amtrak has added to its previously announced list of storm-related cancellations for today (Thursday, Feb. 3; see “Winter storm brings cancellations …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 2, 2022), while also modifying schedules for trains in New England today and Friday and adding one Friday cancellation in the Midwes Added to the previously list of cancellations […]

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B&O midget electric

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad

Baltimore & Ohio box-cab electric No. 10 shifts cars on the constricted trackage near the Baltimore waterfront in September 1949. In 1954, after B&O shut down its trolley system, the little fellow retired to the B&O Railroad Museum. H. N. Proctor photo […]

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Northeast transit operators prepare for winter storm

Electric commuter train in snow

Transit agencies in the Northeast have begun adjusting service plans for Saturday in expectation of a major snowstorm forecast to hit the area. As of midafternoon Friday, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is mostly planning normal Saturday operations. Exceptions include the Mattapan Trolley, which will be replaced by shuttle buses; the Green Line’s D Branch, […]

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Amtrak cuts Northeast service in advance of winter storm

Passenger train in snow

WASHINGTON — With a major winter storm predicted, Amtrak has cancelled all service on Saturday, Jan. 29, between New York and Boston, as well as all New Haven-Springfield, Mass., shuttles and the Vermonter. Forecasts call for up to 2 feet of snowfall for the Boston area and lesser but uncertain amounts further south through Rhode […]

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MBTA to shift money from operating to capital budget

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority logo

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority board of directors has approved a staff plan for a one-time transfer of $500 million from its operating budget to its capital budget for projects including a collision-avoidance system on the rapid transit Green Line and Automatic Train Control on the MBTA commuter rail system. CommonWealth Magazine reports […]

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