MIAMI — Brightline passenger service is now featuring wi-fi service provided by Starlink, the satellite-based high speed broadband internet service engineered by SpaceX. It becomes the first rail operator to use the service, already used by some aviation and marine firms, as well as businesses and residences. “Brightline will be the first train sets in […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak is preparing plans for new maintenance facilities in Seattle, Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C., and is providing advance notice of its procurement plans to allow companies time to prepare bids for those projects. The facilities will handle maintenance, repairs, inspections, and cleaning for new Acela, Airo, and long-distance equipment. Each […]
On May 1st, 1971, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, or Amtrak, was formed. On this 52nd anniversary, I thought we should take a look at small Amtrak trains from the start. If you want to learn about how to model modern short Amtrak consists, check out my previous article. Instead of focusing on two individual […]
MARTINEZ, Calif. — The Amtrak station in Martinez has been closed after a mercury spill was discovered in the station’s parking lot, Bay City News Service reports. Hazardous material teams responded to a reported spill at the station about 5:45 p.m. Monday evening, Contra Costa Health reported. The scene was eventually cleared, but the station […]
PORTLAND, Ore. — Amtrak service between Seattle and Portland has been canceled through at least Wednesday after a landslide between Vancouver, Wash, and Kelso, Wash., on Monday. Amtrak announced the service disruption on Monday evening following the cancellation of the Seattle-Portland portion of several Cascades trains earlier in the day. The passenger operator cites a […]
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration announced Monday the availability of $5.8 million in funding to help states develop agreements for intercity passenger rail service. The Notice of Funding Opportunity is for the Interstate Rail Compact Program. It helps provide funds and technical assistance for improvement, promotion, or development of multi-state or regional rail operations. […]
Passengers wait in the shade at Des Moines, Iowa, as Rock Island train 10, the Corn Belt Rocket from Omaha, pulls in on April 15, 1960. Ed Wojtas photo […]
CHICAGO — With horns blaring while track crews working in the tunnel at the scene of Sunday afternoon’s derailment stepped safely out of the way, the westbound Empire Builder emerged from the north side of Chicago Union Station this afternoon (Monday, May 8) with an extra coach and two additional sleeping cars compared to its […]
SEATTLE — Light rail service is returning to normal frequencies through the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, Sound Transit has announced, following a period of single tracking for emergency repairs at the Westlake station. The repairs, required after a ground-level construction crew broke through the roof at the Westlake station, were completed ahead of schedule. The […]
News & Products for the week of May 8th 2023 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of May 8th 2023. […]
DUNCANSVILLE, Pa. – A rare anthracite-region steel heavyweight office car has been rescued by the Everett Railroad, which intends to restore it for first-class service on its excursion trains. The only known surviving passenger car from the Lehigh & New England Railroad, car No. 100 was built by American Car & Foundry Co. in September […]
WASHINGTON — Six rail transit systems will receive more than $700 million in grants to replace aging railcars under grants announced Friday by the Federal Transit Administration as part of the Rail Vehicle Replacement Program. “Every day, millions of Americans rely on subways, commuter rail, and light rail to get to work or school, buy […]
