Amtrak to launch ‘Mardi Gras Service’ on Aug. 18

Crowd of people greeting passenger train in view from onboard train

MOBILE, Ala. — Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service between Mobile and New Orleans will launch on Aug. 18, ending the lengthy effort to restore passenger operations on a route that last saw an Amtrak train in 2005. Tickets were placed on sale this morning; adult coach fares will be as low as $15 for full-route service, […]

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No injuries reported in NS derailment in Georgia

Aerial view of derailed freight cars

POWERSVILLE, Ga. — Twenty-three cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed near the community of Powersville in Peach County early Saturday (June 28, 2025), WMAZ-TV reports. The derailment occurred about 3 a.m., a railroad representative told the station.No injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were involved. Byron Police Chief Wesley Cannon said flash flooding […]

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Virginia Railway Express CEO Dalton to step down

Man standing in front of commuter train

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Virginia Railway Express CEO Rich Dalton, who has led the commuter operation since 2019, has announced plans to retire effective Oct. 3, 2025. Dalton announced his retirement plans at the VRE Operations Board meeting on June 20. Dalton joined VRE in 2009 as Chief Operating Officer, although he had been involved with […]

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Virginia approves six-year, $7 billion transportation plan

Logo of Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board has approved a six-year transportation improvement plan including more than $7 billion for public transi. Some $1.7 billion of that is slated for the Transforming Rail in Virginia project acquiring and developing rail lines for passenger service. Other key rail-related elements of the plan for fiscal years 2026 […]

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Amtrak schedules hit by equipment, heat issues (updated)

Blue passenger locomotive next to station platfrom

Amtrak has experienced a series of train cancellations because of “equipment unavailability,” as well as due to heat issues, in the Midwest and East on Tuesday and today (June 25, 2025), according to the company’s social media feeds. In the Midwest, Wolverine Train No. 355, a 5:28 pm. departure from Pontiac, Mich., to Chicago, has […]

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Coalition completes purchase of Saluda Grade for trail

Green and white diesels at crest of mountain pass

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — A coalition of nonprofit groups has officially completed its purchase of Norfolk Southern’s Saluda Grade line for conversion into a hiking and biking trail. The Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy announced today (June 24, 2025) that it had finalized purchase on June 17 of the 31.5-mile trail between Zirconia, N.C., and Inman, S.C. […]

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Fifteen cars of NS train derail in Virginia (updated)

Norfolk Southern logo

DOOMS, Va. — Fifteen cars of a Norfolk Southern train — including seven carrying hydrochloric acid — derailed today (Monday, June 23) near the community of Dooms in Augusta County, Va., according to Virginia State Police. The incident was reported to authorities about 1:57 p.m. with Augusta County Fire/EMS and the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office […]

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CPKC says service is on the mend in former KCS territory

red, yellow and other colors on a locomotive

WASHINGTON – Canadian Pacific Kansas City expects service to return to normal by late July in former Kansas City Southern territory that has experienced congestion, delays, and missed customer switches since a May 3 computer cutover. “CPKC’s level of service performance on the legacy-KCS network since May 3, 2025 — as reflected in part in […]

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