News Wire top stories of 2024, No. 7: Caltrain electrification

People on platform taking photos of new train

The switch to full electrification between San Francisco and San Jose came on Sept. 21 (San Jose-Gilroy service is still diesel powered), and ridership showed an immediate jump. In October, the first full month of electrified service, ridership increased 54% from the same month a year earlier. The average weekday ridership was up 38% at […]

Read More…

Pittsburgh transit agency victim of ransomware attack

Gray light rail trainset

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Regional Transit is investigating a ransomware attack on its operations that slowed light rail operations last week — a problem originally believed to be a computer glitch. The agency announced on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, that it has “launched an investigation, activated its Cyber Incident Response Team, notified law enforcement, and engaged […]

Read More…

Amtrak service restored on Northeast Corridor

Long-distance passenger train behind elecric locomotive on S curve

NEW YORK — Amtrak says service has been fully restored between New York’s Penn Station and Philadelphia. The company said “all services are operating” in a post shortly before 8 a.m. ET today (Dec. 24, 2024) on its Northeast Corridor alerts feed on X.com. However, Amtrak also reports that Acelas No. 2154 (a 7 a.m. […]

Read More…

MBTA completes work to remove slow orders

Maintenance crew working in tunnels of transit system

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has completed its massive Track Improvement Program, announced late last year, which has addressed more than 200 slow orders plaguing the MBTA’s rail transit network. In a ceremony at North Station on Monday, Dec. 23, MBTA CEO Phillip Eng, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, and […]

Read More…

New Amtrak board members ready for the challenge: Analysis

Single-level, long-distance passenger train on multi-track main line

WASHINGTON — Just before adjourning last weekend, the U.S. Senate confirmed four nominees to Amtrak’s Board of Directors who are in position to bring different perspectives and active oversight to the organization. The last-minute legislative action early Saturday morning was championed by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) [see “Senate confirms four for Amtrak […]

Read More…

NS derailment leads to Amtrak Michigan service cancellations

Norfolk Southern logo

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. — Amtrak Michigan service is dealing with cancellations today because of a Norfolk Southern derailment Sunday in northwestern Indiana. NS said in a statement that eight cars of ethanol derailed on a train traveling through Gary, Ind., at about 10:35 p.m., resulting in a spill of about 250 gallons of ethanol from […]

Read More…

Amtrak Northeast Corridor issues continue (updated)

Streamlined high speed train passing brick tower

NEW YORK — Operating issues continue for Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor today (Dec. 23), well over 24 hours after disruptions began because of downed overhead power lines near Philadelphia. The signal issues reported reported an an Amtrak advisory at 4:30 a.m. today have now been resolved, the company says in a 2:30 p.m. ET […]

Read More…

Three holiday trains involved in minor mishaps

The Santa train season is nearing its end — which may be just as well, considering a weekend with minor mishaps involving three such trains, from one side of the country to the other. On Friday, the Polar Express operated by the California State Railroad Museum from its station in Old Sacramento was involved in […]

Read More…