Sound Transit committee recommends Timm as new CEO

Woman with short hair and black coat

SEATTLE — Julie Timm, currently CEO of the Greater Richmond (Va.) Transit Co., has been recommended by a selection committee for the CEO position of Sound Transit. The full Sound Transit board will vote on the nomination June 23, after the board’s committee made its recommendation last week. Timm was selected from a group of […]

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90200 isn’t just any former locomotive

Passenger train about to pass over water on a bridge in a city landscape.

CHICAGO—Non-powered control unit 90200 isn’t just any former locomotive that lost its prime mover and traction motors when converted to a glorified baggage car with cab controls. Seen here outside Amtrak’s Chicago locomotive shop on June 2, 2022, coupled to an Illinois-owned Siemens SC-44 Charger, the carbody once was number 200. It is the first […]

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Amtrak adds Capitol Limited bike capacity

Amtrak logo.

WASHINGTON—Effective immediately, each departure of the Chicago-Washington, D.C. Capitol Limited is accepting reservations for up to 12 full-size bicycles along the route of a train that parallels popular trails through Maryland, West Virginia, and southern Pennsylvania. Last Friday, Amtrak announced increased capacity through mid-September, “due to high demand.” For $20, passengers can check a bike […]

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Rail unions again request arbitration as contract talks remain stuck

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Rail unions negotiating new national contracts with Class I railroads have again requested arbitration as talks remain stalled. Labor and the National Carriers Conference Committee have been working on joint mediated negotiations under the direction of the National Mediation Board. The talks had resulted from the unions’ request to be released from mediation after more […]

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FRA announces CRISI grants for 46 rail improvement projects in 32 states

Susquehanna

WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration on Thursday announced more than $368 million in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program funds to 46 projects in 32 states and the District of Columbia. The grants were awarded to passenger and freight projects, as well as several technology and safety development programs. The Bipartisan […]

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Florida receives $15.875 million engineering grant for Brightline route

platforms with train in distance

ORLANDO, Fla. — Brightline’s plan to extend its passenger route past the Orlando Convention Center, Disney World, and down the wide median of Interstate 4 to Tampa got a public boost Wednesday with the announcement that the U.S. Department of Transportation would release a $15.875 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant. The […]

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MBTA operators injured in Green Line collision in Boston

A streetcar

BOSTON – Two MBTA Green Line trains collided and derailed near the Government Center station on Wednesday night. Three Green Line operators were injured in the 9:20 p.m. accident and taken to a hospital for treatment. The collision involved a westbound train with 20 to 25 passengers aboard and an empty train that was just […]

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Fire danger pushes back Cumbres & Toltec’s opening day

Two steam locomotives leading train through fall colors

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad has pushed back the start of its excursion season by nearly three weeks due to extreme wildfire danger. The 64-mile steam-powered narrow gauge railroad, owned by the states of New Mexico and Colorado, now aims to begin its season on July 1 rather than the previously scheduled June 11 […]

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Trails and Rails volunteers return to Amtrak trains

Man with glasses handing small object to pre-teen girl

WASHINGTON — The National Park Service has relaunched its informative Trails and Rails program on Amtrak trains for summer 2022 after a two-year hiatus, but some previously featured segments will no longer be covered. Volunteers apply through the National Park and National Historic sites that sponsor the lecturers, who board trains and talk to travelers […]

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Siemens leaves Russian market as result of Ukraine war

Two high-speed trainsets in shop building

Multifaceted manufacturing firm Siemens has announced plans to leave Russia after over 170 years. The move is part of the continuing response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine [see “War in Ukraine sees massive rail destruction …,” Trains News Wire, June 1, 2022]. Siemens Chief Executive Officer Roland Busch said in a May press statement: […]

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Visiting Rapido – Bus and Train Tour

Visiting Rapido – Bus and Train Tour | When David Popp and Ben Lake recently traveled north of the Canadian Border to explore all that’s new with Jason Shron, President of Rapido Trains Inc., they were treated to a special sidetrack trip. On their way to see what new N and HO scale models Rapido […]

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