George Walker, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum general manager, dies

Man in safety vest in door of steam locomotive cab

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — George Walker, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum general manager, passenger operations, died Jan. 4, 2023, following an accident at the organization’s shop facility in the early afternoon hours, according to Penelope Soule Gault, museum marketing and public relations director, and a statement posted on their website. The museum’s statement reads: “The Tennessee Valley […]

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Brightline update: PTC plans outlined for 125-mph operation

Yellow and white passenger train at grade crossing

COCOA, Fla. — Brightline crews are set to resume 110-mph tests this Friday, Jan. 6, south of Fort Pierce, Fla., as part of continuing preparations for the passenger operator’s expansion of service to Orlando. The tests in Martin and St. Luicie counties, along an 11-mile stretch of the 129-mile segment of Florida East Coast Railway […]

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Top 10 stories of 2022, No. 5: Gulf Coast passenger conflict

Passenger train crossing long bridge at dusk

Continuing our countdown of the Trains News Wire Top 10 stories of 2022, as determined by a vote of Trains editors, columnists, and masthead correspondents: A lengthy and acrimonious process finally produced a settlement between Amtrak, Norfolk Southern, CSX Transportation, and Alabama State Port Authority late in the year, providing a framework to bring passenger […]

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One passenger injured as Amtrak Piedmont hits truck

Amtrak logo.

LEXINGTON, N.C. — One passenger was reportedly hospitalized after a Charlotte-bound Amtrak Piedmont train struck a tractor-trailer at a grade crossing on Tuesday morning, the Raleigh News & Observer reports. The accident occurred about 9 a.m. No additional information was available on the injured passenger. No other injuries to passengers or crew were reported, and […]

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Brightline Aventura station opens

Inside of new passenger station waiting room, featuring large yellow letters spelling out "Train"

AVENTURA, Fla. — After a three-day delay caused by inspection issues, Brightline’s new Aventura station opened on Dec. 24. The passenger operator had held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new stations at Aventura and Boca Raton on Dec. 20, only to have the Aventura opening delayed by issues regarding its elevators [see “Opening delayed […]

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Operation Sergeant Santa

The Military Railroad Society, a 501 C3 not for profit organization, returns to provide military families, both current and retired, with an affordable train option for the holidays. The Fort Eustis (Virgnia) Railroad hosted the 2022 operation aboard its train set consisting of holiday-themed cars lead by United States Army (rebuilt) GP9u no. 4624. […]

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Opening delayed for Aventura Brightline station

White and yellow station exterior

AVENTURA, Fla. — Brightline passenger service from the new Aventura station north of Miami, which was slated to begin Wednesday (Dec. 21) after ceremonies Tuesday marking its completion, has been postponed over delays in final construction inspections, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. Brightline spokeswoman Vanessa Alfonso told the newspaper the issue involved the stations’s elevator […]

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