Scotland decides to nationalize passenger rail

Electric multiple unit trainset in trainshed

The Scottish government in Edinburgh has announced it will create a company to take over operation of almost all passenger trains in Scotland from next year. The Scottish rail network, which has been branded Scotrail since the 1980s, is currently run by Abellio, the international division of Dutch Railways, which also operates rail services in […]

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Massachusetts DOT, MBTA challenge CSX acquisition of Pan Am Railways

Train coming around curve

WASHINGTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority have told federal regulators that they oppose CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. In a filing with the Surface Transportation Board this week, state officials claim the transaction will harm rail competition, potentially hinder commuter rail operations, and […]

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Inside GN’s Red River

Interior view of coach with passengers seated

Great Northern launched its Red River pocket streamliner between Grand Forks, N.Dak., and St. Paul in June 1950, part of the road’s big postwar push for passengers. The coach seats featured a wheat motif on their upholstery. Great Northern […]

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Behind Amtrak’s new locomotive designs

Amtrak locomotive in new Midnight Blue paint scheme

WASHINGTON — “If you’re planning for a 50th anniversary, you’ve got to look at where you came from to see how far you’ve gone,” Amtrak’s Matt Donnelly tells Trains News Wire. Donnelly, the company’s lead brand communications specialist, and Devon Parsons, Blair Slaughter, John Skalski, John Dzedzy, and Seth Geist — equipment and rolling stock engineering […]

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Digest: Caltrain adjusting schedules as of March 22

Caltrain logo

Caltrain schedule changes include two more weekday trains Caltrain will make schedule changes as of March 22, adjusting its weekday and weekend schedules to support regional transit connections. In a press release, the commuter railroad says the changes will maintain connections with BART at the Millbrae Transit Center to coincide with BART’s March 22 schedule […]

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Digest: MBTA sidelines new CRRC cars after derailment

Rapid transit trainset in factory

MBTA takes new cars out of service, will run bus bridge for three weeks after derailment The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has taken its new Orange Line and Red Line subway cars out of service as it investigates Tuesday’s low-speed derailment of a train with 100 passengers aboard. The Boston Herald also reports a bus […]

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Digest: UP CEO says vaccine process has been challenging

Union Pacific’s Fritz says railroad’s process of getting vaccine for workers has been complex Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz says railroad employees have begun receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, but that the process is a challenging one. “We serve 23 western states, and in every state the process to get a vaccine into an arm is different,” […]

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