Amtrak, LIRR update work on East River Tunnel project

Interior of railroad tunnel

NEW YORK — Amtrak and Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials say the East River tunnel rehabilitation project is on schedule after six months, with repairs on the first of two tunnels to be completed by July. The operators addressed progress on the tunnel project with local media on Wednesday (Dec. 10), with Laura Mason, Amtrak executive […]

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National Railroad Hall of Fame announces 2025 inductees

Logo of the National Railroad Hall of Fame

GALESBURG, Ill. — Former Norfolk Southern CEO David Goode, 1880s Santa Fe President William Strong, and former Santa Fe CEO John Reed are the 2025 inductees to the National Railroad Hall of Fame, the Galesburg-based organization has announced. The honorees were selected by the Hall of Fame’s national Rail Industry Advisory Group from among nine […]

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C&NW No. 1385 successfully test fired

Steam locomotive surrounded by steam.

NORTH FREEDOM, Wis. — The Mid-Continent Railway Museum, after nearly 30 years of work, has completed a successful test firing of former Chicago & North Western R1 4-6-0 No. 1385. The locomotive now moves into the final phases of its restoration, with plans to have No. 1385 operational by summer 2026. The test was originally […]

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CSX grounds its corporate jet fleet

CSX logo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX has shut down its aviation department, which flew corporate jets to whisk railroad executives around the system and elsewhere. The department, which had been in operation for 84 years and employed pilots and mechanics, was disbanded on Dec. 1, the railroad confirmed. A spokesman declined to release any details about the […]

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Operation North Pole train returns to Metra

Commuter train wrapped with predominantly white holiday design

CHICAGO — For the first time in six years, the Operation North Pole train for seriously and terminally ill children and their families is set to operate on Metra on Dec. 20, with Metra and Operation North Pole encouraging area residents to come view the train to show support for those on board. The train […]

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Amtrak mechanical issues hobble departing Chicago trains

Passenger train at grade crossing in snow

CHICAGO — More evidence of the toll Amtrak’s aging locomotive and passenger car fleet is taking on operations was provided in recent days when long-distance and regional trains were canceled or suffered hours-long delays, most shortly after leaving Chicago. The common thread? Problems with electrical head-end power. On Monday, both the westbound California Zephyr and […]

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Lake State Railway purchases four SD70ACe-T4 locomotives

SAGINAW, Mich. — Lake State Railway Co., the Michigan regional railroad, today announced that it is purchasing four SD70ACe-T4 locomotives from Progress Rail. LSRC received an emissions grant to replace five older locomotives with four newer Tier 4 locomotives. The railroad says it chose the SD70ACe-T4 built by EMD successor Progress Rail due to several […]

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