A sign of summer: LIRR launches annual ‘Cannonball’ service

Train at platform of underground station

NEW YORK — The Long Island Rail Road launched its “Cannonball” summer service from Penn Station to Montauk, N.Y., on Thursday (May 22), marking a key change in the railroad’s summer schedule that took effect on Monday, May 19. The 4:07 p.m. “Cannonball” train, long a Friday-only operation, added a Thursday train last year. Those […]

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New York governor, Amtrak meet on East River tunnel project

Interior of railroad tunnel

NEW YORK — Amtrak will shut down one tube of the East River Tunnel for major rehabilitation as planned on Friday night, but has agreed to some measures sought by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul during the project, Hochul said in a statement following a meeting today (May 22, 2025) with Amtrak and Metropolitan Transportation […]

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Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway marks 20th anniversary

Passenger train with diesel locomotives at each end on curved bridge

JIM THORPE, Pa. — Memorial Day weekend marks the 20th anniversary of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, the excursion operation of the Reading & Northern from Jim Thorpe to Lehigh Gorge State Park. Hour-long train rides from Jim Thorpe debuted on the holiday weekend in 2005, with three trips per day at 11 a.m., 1 […]

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Amtrak on-time performance remains a struggle

Passenger train in late afternoon lighting

WASHINGTON — Amtrak’s overall customer on-time performance improved in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the previous quarter, according to the latest report from the Federal Railroad Administration. But the 72% overall figure is down from 77% in the same quarter a year ago, and none of the company’s three business segments (long distance, […]

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Union Pacific to open new Kansas City intermodal ramp in July

Yellow locomotives lead container train in snowy landscape

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific announced yesterday that it plans to open its new Kansas City Intermodal Terminal in mid-July as the railroad looks to strengthen its position in the Kansas City market. UP would not disclose the terminal’s annual lift capacity, but said the facility, located in Armourdale Yard, will have twice as much […]

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MBTA meeting on South Coast Rail is postponed

Commuter train at station

FALL RIVER, Mass. — A public meeting scheduled by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to address issues with its new South Coast Rail commuter service has been postponed because of weather concerns. The meeting, which had been scheduled for this evening at Morton Middle School, will now be held June 5 at a location yet […]

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Michigan’s Old Road Dinner Train to relocate

Old Road Dinner Train logo

BLISSFIELD, Mich. — Michigan’s Old Road Dinner Train, based in Blissfield, must find a new home and new host railroad to operate on. This comes after exhausting options for continuous operations on the Adrian & Blissfield Railroad  in the wake of increased grain traffic to the short line, reports The Blade of Toledo, Ohio. “When […]

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