Shelter-in-place order lifted after CSX derailment in Kentucky

Aerial view of train derailment

TRENTON, Ky. — A shelter-in-place order has been lifted following a CSX derailment today (Dec. 30, 2025) near the Kentucky-Tennessee state line that saw a leak of molten sulfur from one car. Thirty-one cars were involved in the derailment about today at about 6:15 a.m., according to CSX. Ash Groves, director of emergency management for […]

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BLET members ratify national contract

Intermodal train woth orange locomtives rounding curve.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have ratified a five-year national freight rail contract, the union announced. The contract covers more than 12,000 union members at 10 railroads, including BNSF Railway, Norfolk Southern, and Canadian National’s U.S. operations. Voting concluded today (Dec. 30); vote details were not released. “This […]

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Investigation begins into fatal Interoceanic Train crash

Aerial view of passenger train derailment

MEXICO CITY — A government investigation into the cause of Sunday’s fatal derailment of Mexico’s Interoceanic Train has begun, with President Claudia Sheinbaum ordering the federal Attorney General’s Office to lead that inquiry,  according to the news site Quinto Poder (Fifth Estate). Thirteen people were killed when the train derailed Sunday morning near Nizanda in […]

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Power issue halts Channel Tunnel rail service

Trains in station with large arch roof over platforms

LONDON — Rail traffic through the Channel Tunnel connecting England and France has been halted today (Tuesday, Dec. 30) because of a problem with the tunnel’s catenary power system, creating chaos for holiday travelers. A brief notice on the Eurostar website says the tunnel is currently closed, which “means we have no choice but to […]

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Trains’ top stories of 2025, No. 2: NextGen Acelas debut

Nine years after Amtrak inked a $2.45 billion contract with Alstom, builder of France’s TGV, to build 28 trainsets in the U.S., the new equipment debuted on Aug. 27 with a media trip from Washington Union Station to Boston’s South Station. Beginning the next day, the five Next Generation trainsets that had been accepted began […]

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News & Products for the week of December 29th 2025

Color photo of O scale brick corner building with teal door, billboard on roof, sign on corner, figures, vehicle, and other details on scenicked base with white background.

News & Products for the week of December 29th 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 December 29th, 2025. […]

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Goss, R.J. Corman Railroad Co. president, to retire

Head and shoulders image of man in coat and tie

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — Raymond Goss, president of the R.J. Corman Railroad Co., will retire effective Jan. 30, 2026, the company has announced. He will depart following five decades in the rail industry and seven years leading R.J. Corman short line and switching operations. “Ray has been an exceptional leader whose steady hand and deep industry […]

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UP says it did not misuse confidential material in Metra filing

Two commuter trains side by side at suburban station

WASHINGTON — Union Pacific is disputing Metra’s claim that it “misused confidential communications” in a recent Surface Transportation Board filing in the ongoing fight over the commuter operator’s access to UP’s lines. In a Dec. 24 filing posted to the STB website today (Dec. 29), UP says the material it cited was permissible because it […]

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At least 13 dead in derailment of Mexico’s Interoceanic Train

People climbing hillside

NIZANDA, Mexico — At least 13 people have been killed in a Sunday derailment of Mexico’s Interoceanic train, the two-year-old service across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec launched with a mix of secondhand U.S. and British equipment. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, in a social media post quoting the secretary of the navy, said that 98 people […]

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