Amtrak Chicago departure delays mount

Passenger train leaves rooster tail of snow as it runs on three-track main line

CHICAGO — Lack of standby equipment and the inability of Amtrak mechanical forces to sufficiently prepare cars and locomotives for service led to the cancellation of one pair of Chicago-based trains and departure delays to 11 others on Thursday, Feb. 2. The cancellation of one Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha round trip, and the cumulative delays to the […]

Read More…

Operating the layout — State Line Route in N scale, Episode 26

Operating the layout | In the previous Episode 25 (Car routing with JMRI OperationsPro), you saw the crew prepare the State Line Route N scale model railroad for an operating session. Now, host David Popp walks you through the prototypical actions as they transpire over the simple, yet engaging layout! Enjoying this coverage of our […]

Read More…

Alstom’s hydrogen passenger train to debut in Quebec

Blue and white passenger train with people

QUEBEC CITY — A hydrogen-powered passenger train will make its North American debut this summer in Quebec. Alstom’s Coradia iLint, which first entered commercial service in Germany in 2018, will operate in a demonstration project on the Réseau Charlevoix rail network, following the St. Lawrence River between Parc de la Chute Montmorency and Baie-Saint-Paul, approximately […]

Read More…

Long-delayed Tri-Rail operations to downtown Miami now expected this fall

Commuter train at station

MIAMI — Tri-Rail commuter service to Brightline’s MiamiCentral station is now projected to begin this fall, according to David Dech, executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The website Miami Today reports Dech made that projection last week during a presentation to the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust board. Tri-Rail, which currently has its […]

Read More…

Maine DOT proposes $3 million for pilot of Brunswick-Rockland RDC service

Rail Diesel Car outside shop building

PORTLAND, Maine — The prospect of regular passenger service on a state-owned route between Brunswick and Rockland, Maine, received a big boost last week when Maine’s Department of Transportation budgeted $3 million to advance a two-year pilot project utilizing 1950s-era Budd Rail Diesel Cars. The Camden, Maine, Courier Herald originally reported the development. Northern New […]

Read More…

California agency awards more than $2.5 billion for transit projects

Map of light rail project in LA's San Fernando Valley

SACRAMENTO — A $600 million award to L.A. Metro for its East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Corridor project heads the more than $2.5 billion in funding announced this week by the California State Transportation Agency for transit projects, most of them rail-related. The awards are to 16 projects, including funding announced earlier this […]

Read More…

Property owners sue NJ Transit, county over 2021 flooding

NJ Transit logo

BOUND BROOK, N.J. — A group of 17 property owners have filed suit against NJ Transit and New Jersey’s Somerset County over damage from September 2021 flooding, saying their losses resulted from a stalled commuter train that prevented a flood gate from properly closing. NJ.com reports photos and videos from the Sept. 1, 2021, incident […]

Read More…

Equipment issues, derailment lead to Wolverine cancellations (updated)

Passenger train on straight track

CHICAGO — Citing “ongoing equipment issues,” Amtrak has cancelled one round trip of Wolverine service between Chicago and Detroit on Thursday, following similar cancellations today (Wednesday, Feb. 1), as well as other disruptions because of a Canadian National derailment Tuesday night in Detroit. Equipment problems are also being cited for a series of delays on […]

Read More…