Timeline for Canada’s high-frequency rail corridor grows longer

VIA_Map

MONTREAL — High-frequency rail is developing at something other than a high-speed pace in the hands of the Canadian government. The CBC reports that Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said Thursday that he hopes the proposed passenger-only route between Toronto and Quebec City could be operation by the mid-2030s, rather than early in that decade, as […]

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Spaces open up on 2023 Trains Magazine tour of Switzerland

Train with red passenger cars on curving stone bridge leading to tunnel

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Late cancellations mean a few spaces have opened up on Trains Magazine’s Majestic Switzerland 2023 tour, set for Sept. 14-25, and limited to a maximum of 30 participants. The 2024 edition of the tour, organized by Trains’ partners at Special Interest Tours, is also now available. Join one of Trains’ staff members […]

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Lionel The Chessie Legacy Greenbrier

Lionel The Chessie Greenbrier front

The Lionel The Chessie Legacy Greenbrier is big. It’s colorful. It’s a steam engine. Should steamers be colorful? Like it or not, fantasy paint schemes on them seem to be an attractive alternative to the prototypical (mostly) black models. This one was featured in 2022’s Volume 2 catalog. A look back at previous offerings indicates […]

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LIRR Far Rockaway service restored after Wednesday derailment

Detail of Long Island Rail Road system map

FAR ROCKAWAY, N.Y. — Long Island Rail Road service has been restored this morning on the Far Rockaway Branch after a derailment during Wednesday evening’s rush hour. WABC-TV reports the lead car of an eastbound train derailed while entering the Far Rockaway station about 6:30 p.m. Some 50 passengers were on board, but no injuries […]

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Ottawa still awaiting estimate when light rail service will resume

Red and white light rail train rounds curve

OTTAWA, Ontario — Ottawa’s transit agency will increase the number of buses replacing light rail service along the shuttered Confederation Line as of today (July 20), but it still has no estimate when rail service will resume. OC Transpo General Manager Renée Amilcar said that operator Rideau Transit Group was “developing a plan” for resuming […]

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FRA gives environmental go-ahead for California segment of Brightline West

Illustration of high-speed Brightline West train

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration last week provided environmental clearance for a Southern California section of the proposed Brightline West high speed rail line to Las Vegas, Nev., moving the project closer to construction. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the FRA determined there would be no significant environmental impacts for the 49-mile extension from […]

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No timeline set for reopening of Ottawa light rail line

Red and white light rail trainset in station

OTTAWA, Ontario — No timeline has been set for resuming service on Ottawa’s light rail Confederation Line, officials said during a Tuesday press conference. The line was shut down Monday afternoon because of equipment concerns [see “Ottawa light rail line shut down …,” Trains News Wire, July 18, 2023]. Discovery of a bearing issue on […]

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California Zephyr again fares poorly in on-time statistics

Amtrak_Zephyr_Highlands_Lassen

WASHINGTON — The California Zephyr, Empire Builder, and Heartland Flyer all had on-time performance under 40% in the second quarter of 2023 according to statistics released today (July 18) by the Federal Railroad Administration. The Zephyr had a customer on-time performance of just 31% for the quarter, while the Builder and Flyer were both at […]

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Ottawa light rail line shut down by equipment issue

Red and white light rail train rounds curve

OTTAWA, Ontario — Ottawa’s O-Train light rail Confederation Line has been shut down until further notice because of a bearing issue discovered during a routine equipment inspection. OC Transpo announced the service interruption about 4:30 p.m. Monday. CTV News reports transit services general manager Renée Amilcar informed city officials the move was made “in an […]

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