Amtrak reveals new long-distance trainset concepts at accessibility hearing (updated)

Bilevel passenger cars at station at night

WASHINGTON — Equal accessibility to onboard amenities for passengers with disabilities is the goal of potential new long-distance railcar designs Amtrak unveiled Wednesday at an in-person and online hearing. Amtrak held the gathering to obtain feedback prior to procurement from the accessibility community regarding plans to replace its existing Superliner and single-level fleet with new […]

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Siemens breaks ground on new North Carolina plant

Aerial-view illustration of factory

LEXINGTON, N.C. — Siemens Mobility broke ground Wednesday, Aug. 23, on its new Lexington, N.C., plant, which aims to begin production in 2024 and expects to employ more than 500 people by 2028. The new facility, on a 200-acre site with room for expansion, will produce passenger cars as well as offering locomotive and passenger […]

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First new trainset for Vancouver’s SkyTrain begins testing

Blue rail transit trainset emerges from building

NEW WESTMINSTER, British Columbia — The first set of next-generation railcars for the Vancouver-area SkyTrain system have begun testing in Ontario, transit agency TransLink has announced. The 205 Mark V cars — to comprise 41 five-car trainsets are being manufactured by Alstom and are undergoing testing in Kingston, Ont. The fully articulated trainsets, being built […]

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Western Maryland Scenic adds former California Zephyr dome (corrected)

Stainless steel dome car with red stripe along windows

CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has added dome-lounge Silver Palace, a well-traveled car built by the Budd Co. in 1948 for Western Pacific for use on the California Zephyr. Following completion of maintenance, inspections, and upgrades, the car will enter excursion service, replacing dome-lounge Stampede Pass, which the heritage railroad had previously […]

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Atlas O PS 4427 high-side covered hopper

Color photo of O scale three-bay covered hopper in Oxide Red paint with white graphics.

A Pullman-Standard 4427 high-side three-bay covered hopper is making its debut in the Atlas O Premier line. The model, acquired when Atlas O purchased select M.T.H. tooling in March 2021, features plastic and die-cast metal construction and a mix of molded and separate, factory-applied detail parts. Prototype history The PS 4,427-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper […]

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Amtrak exercises contract option for 10 more Airo trainsets

Blue and red cab car leads train into curveint

WASHINGTON — Amtrak said it has exercised a contract option and ordered 10 additional Airo trainsets for use on regional and state-supported routes, bringing to 83 the total number of the trainsets to be manufactured by Siemens Mobility at its plant in Sacramento, Calif. “We’re thrilled to satisfy the soaring demand for train travel with […]

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