North Carolina DOT awards $16.3 million for rail infrastructure work

Logo of the North Carolina Department of Transportation

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation will provide $16.3 million in funding for 15 rail infrastructure projects through its Rail Division’s Freight Rail & Rail Crossing Safety Improvement program. With matching grants from participating railroads and the N.C. Ports Authority, the projects will have a total value of $41.5 million. “These projects […]

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Winter weather forecast leads to several days of Amtrak cancellations

Train kicking up snow

CHICAGO — Amtrak has canceled several long-distance trains in and out of Chicago for multiple days because of a forecast of extreme cold weather. The regional Borealis is also affected. The first cancellations begin today (Wednesday, Jan. 21). The eastbound and westbound Empire Builder departures slated for today through Saturday, Jan. 24, have been canceled. […]

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Florida’s Tri-Rail orders Siemens Charger locomotives

Illustration of blue passenger diesel locomotive with multicolored striping

MIAMI — Florida commuter operator Tri-Rail has ordered seven Siemens Charger locomotives intended to replace the oldest units in its diverse locomotive fleet. Funding from the Federal Transit Administration will assist with the purchase by the South Florida Regional Transporation Authority. Siemens is the only builder currently capable of meeting Tri-Rail’s operational needs and regulatory […]

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Brightline defers another bond interest payment

Yellow and white locomotive leads passenger train across bridge

MIAMI — Brightline last week deferred interest payments on private activity bonds after initially indicating it would draw from financial reserves to make the payments. The company’s just-issued December revenue and ridership report says it elected to defer interest payments on debt due Jan. 15 on 11 bonds issued by the Florida Development Finance Corp., […]

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North Carolina Railroad Museum granted $280,000 for exhibits

Man standing inside a baggage car. North Carolina Railroad Museum granted $280,000 for exhibits.

NEW HILL, N.C. — The North Carolina Railroad Museum, home of the New Hope Valley Railway, was recently awarded $280,216 in federal grants to support interactive exhibit development. The new exhibits will illustrate North Carolina’s railroad history and its role in transportation innovation. The Institute of Museum and Library Services grants will support the creation […]

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Sixteen U.S. unions ratify agreements with CPKC

Stack train in snow

CALGARY, Alberta — A total of 16 tentative bargaining agreements covering Canadian Pacific Kansas City workers with various U.S. unions in recent weeks have all been ratified, the railroad announced on Thursday (Jan. 15). The five-year agreements cover approximately 700 railroaders in 11 states. “We are very pleased to see all these agreements ratified and […]

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Brightline hires former Eurostar executive to run Florida operation

Man in coat and open-collar shirt

MIAMI — Nicolas Petrovic has been named CEO of Brightline Holdings’ Florida operation, effective today (Wednesday, Jan. 14). Petrovic was CEO of Eurostar from 2010 through 2018 after a four-year stint when he was responsible for all aspects of train operations, safety, and service delivery on the high-speed European network linking London, Paris, Brussels, and […]

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Brightline confronts cash crunch even as it gains riders, revenue in Florida: Analysis

Passenger train comes down steep ramp from above-ground station platform

MIAMI— In the first full month following a strategy revamp in early October, Brightline showed promising revenue growth, driven by increased premium-class seating on its Orlando trains and additional customers riding more frequent West Palm Beach-Miami service. However, its mounting, increasingly expensive debt load is causing concern among investors as a hefty interest payment is […]

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Western Maryland Scenic’s No. 1309 makes first 2026 trip

Large black steam locomotive and passenger train in a winter setting.

CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad launched its first trips for 2026 with four excursions from Cumberland to Frostburg, Md., on Jan. 3 and 4. The trips were powered by the railroad’s former Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309, which ran flawlessly. Named the Allegheny Winter Express, the 10-car trains were well patronized, […]

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