LIRR, Metro-North revive ‘Summer Saturday’ discounts

Electric multiple unit trainset with red front rounds curve

NEW YORK — The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad announced this week that they will reintroduce a “Summer Saturday” discount travel program this Saturday (July 5, 2025). The program, good on Saturdays through Aug. 30, allows monthly ticket holders to bring up to two additional travelers along for just $1 per person each […]

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Buses step in for Amtrak long-distance trains over holiday weekend

CHICAGO — Two planned and two unplanned bus bridges are occurring over the Fourth of July holiday weekend to keep passengers moving on Amtrak’s long-distance network. Coast Starlight equipment will spend the night of July 4-July 5 at Sacramento, Calif., and Klamath Falls, Ore., while Seattle-Los Angeles passengers are bused overnight between the two stops […]

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First runs of Mardi Gras Service sell out quickly

Train of two locomotives and one passenger car stopped on siding

MOBILE, Ala. — It has been a long wait for the launch of Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service. Clearly, some people can’t wait to take a trip. A day after the start date for service was announced and tickets went on sale, the first regular run of Amtrak Mardi Gras Service in each direction on Aug. […]

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CPKC says local service continues to improve on former KCS

Two red locomotives and one blue locomotive on freight train with grain silo in background

WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific Kansas City says its service continues to improve in former Kansas City Southern territory, where a May 3 computer system cutover led to congestion, delays, and missed switches. Local service performance on the former KCS rose to 88% in the week ending June 27, CPKC said in an update to the […]

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Reading & Northern promotes passenger department’s Knadler

Man in cab of black F unit with gray and red trim

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Jeff Knadler has been promoted to assistant vice president-passenger at the Reading & Northern, the railroad has announced. Knadler, who started with the R&N as a freight conductor in 2007 and advanced to designated supervisor of locomotive engineers, has most recently served as senior director of the passenger department. In that […]

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NTSB releases report on Union Pacific conductor fatality

Aerial view of scene of fatal accident at Chicago-area rail yard

WASHINGTON — The probable cause of a July 2024 fatal collision at Union Pacific’s Proviso Yard was an inexperienced conductor’s failure to alert the engineer to stop the train at a designated point during a shove move in unfamiliar territory, the National Transportation Safety Board said today (July 2, 2025). The conductor — who was […]

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STB turns down Metra request for injunction in dispute with UP (updated)

Commuter train on curve with multistory buildings in background

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has denied Metra’s request for a temporary injunction or emergency service order protecting commuter operations on three Union Pacific lines in the Chicago area, saying Metra has not shown the situation meets “the standard required for either avenue of relief.” The five-page ruling was made Tuesday, July 1, but […]

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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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Caltrain fares rise by 25 cents

Front view of two red-and-white EMU trainsets

SAN CARLOS, Calif. – Bay area commuter rail operator Caltrain is increasing its base fare by 25 cents as of today (July 1, 2025). The move reflects actions taken after the operator delayed a 50-cent increase in its base fares, scheduled for July 1, 2023, to avoid discouraging riders from returning to public transportation following […]

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Naugatuck Railroad FL9 sustains ‘significant damage’ in derailment

FL9NH2019

THOMASTON, Conn. — No injuries resulted when the Naugatuck Railroad’s restored New Haven FL9 locomotive, No. 2019, derailed during a Sunday, June 29, excursion — an incident captured on video and circulating on social media. The locomotive sustained “significant damage,” the Railroad Museum of New England said in a statement. Thirty-five passengers were on board […]

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