Swiss Spectacular, Part 9: Bernina and beyond

Stone viaduct seen through train windows

ZERMATT, Switzerland — The last couple of days on the Trains/Special Interest Tours “Majestic Switzerland” tour have been long but memorable, so it’s going to take a bit of time to catch up. Today, let’s look back on our activity from Saturday, Sept. 16: If you built a model railroad with track like the route […]

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Atlanta Beltline launches initiative to complete light-rail loop

Transit study map in Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta Beltline ATLANTA — Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. is launching a study that proposes using 13.6 miles of a 22-mile rail transit corridor to circle downtown Atlanta. Known as the BeltLine loop, a mixture of biking and hiking trails along with a light-rail line will reuse sections of an inactive right-of-way. The study, a recent press […]

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PCC cars return to the streets of Philadelphia (updated)

Cream, green and maroon PCC trolley car running in street. PCC cars return to the streets of Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA — Fans of the Presidents’ Conference Committee trolley car, we direct your attention to Route 15 on the SEPTA system. This fall six refurbished PCC cars will return to the route occupied by buses since 2020, according to an AXIOS Philadelphia story. The PCC cars were to begin operating this week, however, SEPTA is […]

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Swiss Spectacular, Part 7: Cogs and gauges

Two trains at station

ZERMATT, Switzerland — Today was largely a work and transit day — interviews in Montreux for a feature, and a great deal of travel getting from Gstaad to Zermatt — so I’m going to backtrack a bit to talk about part of Tuesday’s trip, the prelude to the GoldenPass Express, our journey on Zentralbahn’s Luzern-Interlaken […]

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Brightline Orlando to launch service Sept. 22

black and yellow high-speed train. Brightline Orlando to launch service Sept. 22.

MIAMI — Brightline announced today that service to Orlando International Airport will begin on Sept. 22, 2023. The new service will offer connections between Orlando and South Florida (Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach), the company stated in a press release. “Opening Orlando fulfills our ultimate business model. We have seen incredible […]

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Hudson River rail tunnel project starts … again

Train running through a tunnel. Hudson River rail tunnel project starts … again

NEW YORK — Following a 13-year delay, it appears construction will begin in October on the initial steps leading to a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River to Midtown Manhattan, according to a story in the New York Times.  The Gateway Program, which will address infrastructure needs on 10-miles of the Northeast Corridor, is […]

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Swiss Spectacular, Part 6: A golden experience

Dark blue train with streamlined nose

GSTAAD, Switzerland — I believe I may have had the single finest train-riding experience of my life today. I have only one significant criticism: it wasn’t nearly long enough. The experience in question was on the GoldenPass Express, the gauge-changing passenger train that runs between Interlaken and Montreux. As part of our Swiss Tourism group […]

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Amtrak awards two contracts for Frederick Douglass Tunnel project

An Amtrak Acela train exits a tunnel in a mountainside. Amtrak awards two contract for Frederick Douglass Tunnel project.

BALTIMORE – Clark Construction/Stacy and Witbeck Joint Venture has been selected by Amtrak as the construction contractor for the Southern Approach Package (package B) of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program, according to an Amtrak news release. This is one of three major contracts to be awarded in work on the tunnel project. The Frederick Douglass […]

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Swiss Spectacular, Part 5: The regal views of Rigi

Glass-front cog railway trains

LUCERNE, Switzerland — Measured strictly by height, Mount Rigi is not one of Switzerland’s great mountains. Measured by view, it’s another story. Our Swiss Tourism group trekked to the top of Mount Rigi today, which is an interesting trip from a railroading standpoint because the trip to the top of the 1,798-meter (5,988-foot) summit is […]

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