NJ Transit engineers ratify new contract

Two commuter trains on curve

NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit engineers have ratified a new agreement, ending a five-year contract dispute including a three-day strike in May. Neither side immediately released details of the seven-year deal, retroactive to 2020. But the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen said it includes a pay increase that will raise hourly wages to more […]

Read More…

Manitoba wildfires threaten remote Keewatin Railway

Smoke and fire along railway

THE PAS, Manitoba — Keewatin Railway Co. employees are part of a continuing effort to save the bridges on the remote Manitoba railroad from the wildfires ravaging the province, the CBC reports. Manitoba is under a state of emergency as 29 wildfires, 10 of them out of control, continue to burn, forcing evacuations of 27 […]

Read More…

FRA, FTA projects among those to receive grants from funding backlog

View of underground station platform

WASHINGTON — Thirty-four Federal Railroad Administration projects and 154 under the Federal Transit Administration are among a batch of more than 500 Department of Transportation projects that had previously been approved that have now received their financial obligation, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced today (June 10, 2025). The 529 projects, with funding of more than […]

Read More…

California lawmakers announce deal on transit funding

New transit train with mountains in background

SACRAMENTO — California legislators have reached a deal to provide almost $2 billion in funding for the state’s public transit that was not part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget. The deal announced by state Sens. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Jesse Arreguin (D-Berkeley) restores a $1.1 billion transit cut included in Newsom’s budget, and […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of June 9th 2025

A model passenger train on elevated track

News & Products for the week of June 9th 2025   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 June 9th, […]

Read More…

Phoenix light rail system opens 5.5-mile addition

Light rail trainset in downtown Phoenix

PHOENIX — The Phoenix light rail system has grown by 5.5 miles, and gone from a single route to a two-line system, after the opening of the South Central Extension and Downtown Hub on Saturday, June 7. The opening of Valley Metro’s seven-station extension southward along Central Avenue from downtown to Baseline Road is projected […]

Read More…

Some of my favorite train stations

Sunlight lights the interior of a glass and steel arched train shed where three passenger trains await departure

Among the delights of railroad travel is departing and arriving at great stations. I have more than a few favorite stations, so I’ll limit today’s essay to active stations served by regularly scheduled trains. This excludes favorites that are gone but not forgotten, such as Philadelphia’s magnificent Broad Street Station; station buildings that survive but […]

Read More…

East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 13 | DCC system installation

Even though track wiring is in place, our hosts still need to install a Digital Command Control (DCC) system before trains will run on the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout! David and Bryson first examine the components of the NCE PH5R Power Pro DCC system before working to integrate the parts […]

Read More…

Trump budget greenlights more National Network investment: Analysis

Passenger train with mix of single and bilevel equipment

WASHINGTON — Although the Trump Administration’s budget for fiscal 2026 provided little rationale for boosting Amtrak’s National Network funding by almost 23% while decreasing Northeast Corridor money by 25.5%, the proposal provides insight for Congress and company leadership on what their priorities should be. The recent release of budget details [see “Trump budget calls for […]

Read More…