BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has released the initial schedule for the South Coast Rail service to New Bedford and Fall River, Mass., set to begin on March 24. The debut of the new operation will feature free weekend travel and free parking through the end of April, the MBTA announced last week. […]
CLEVELAND — The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority will purchase an additional 18 light rail vehicles from Siemens Mobility for use on its Red, Blue, and Green lines, Siemens has announced. The order for the S200 LRVs exercises a second option from an initial purchase for 24 of the vehicles made in 2023 [see “Siemens […]
WASHINGTON — Cargo theft cost U.S. Class I railroads more than $100 million in 2024, the Association of American Railroads says, calling for more federal efforts to address the thefts and more effective prosecution of those arrested. The AAR says in a recently released fact sheet that organized criminal groups are increasingly targeting freight moves, […]
Britain’s Railway 200 celebration — marking the 200th anniversary of modern railroading — has a new element: A traveling exhibition train. The four-car train, named Inspiration, is expected to visit 60 locations over 12 months concluding in summer 2026. Curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, the train’s cars, provided by rail infrastructure owner […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Members of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers have ratified a new five-year agreement with CSX Transportation, the railroad announced today (March 3, 2025). “IAM’s ratification is a testament to the strength of our partnership with union leadership,” CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs said in a press release. “This underscores our […]
IRVINE, Ky. — An auction by Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. to sell former Nickel Plate Road 2-8-2 No. 587 has been halted on the day the auction’s winner was to be announced. Kentucky Steam said in a brief post on its Facebook page today (March 3, 2025) that the sale has been withdrawn because the […]
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has turned down a request to reconsider its approval of construction of Utah’s Savage Tooele Railroad. In a decision issued today (March 3, 2025), the board’s four members agreed that those who had petitioned for reconsideration — the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, Erda Community Association, and two […]
For as long as he can remember, Adam Matthews has been an aficionado of the former New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad — aka the Nickel Plate Road. The admiration for the Midwest’s fast-freight hauler has gotten the Ohio-based 33-year-old involved in three preservation organizations simultaneously: Social Media Administrator, Special Marketing Consultant and member […]
Beginning in the early 2000s, the rail industry was introduced to something not seen before, new-build six-axle locomotive lease fleets. CIT Group was the first to purchase, acquiring 40 EMD SD9043MACs in late 1999 and early 2000. This was followed by 25 new General Electric AC4400CWs in 2001 and another 35 AC4400CWs in 2004. The […]
Well, I left everybody hanging with the end of my last story, the Cascade Tunnel adventure. The adventure continued even after my conductor, Chris, and I left our freight train inside the 7.9-mile-long Cascade Tunnel after the ventilation failed and hurried our light engines to daylight — and fresh air. Once outside, Chris and I […]
MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway and Iowa Northern Railway have officially joined their operations, CN said today (Monday, March 3). “This additional investment in the United States underscores our dedication to delivering outstanding rail service while driving economic growth,” CN CEO Tracy Robinson said in a press release. “CN customers and partners along this network […]
WASHINGTON — Disbursement of funds from grants awarded under a variety of Federal Railroad Administration continue to be held up by a lengthy approval process involving FRA personnel. These investments are threatened by potential staff reductions at the agency, as well as possible vetos by overseers invoking new Trump administration ideological criteria. Concerned about such […]
