Pacific Surfliner, Metrolink halt operations in South Orange County

Heavy equipment moving rocks along rail lline at beach as train waits in distance

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and LA-area commuter rail operator Metrolink have suspended service until further notice between Irvine and Oceanside, Calif., over “safety concerns” regarding the right-of-way in San Clemente, according to a notice on the Surfliner website. The Los Angeles Times reported earlier this week that erosion along the beach in […]

Read More…

A bad week for the California Zephyr

Passenger train with bilevel cars at station

CHICAGO — Amtrak’s westbound California Zephyr has been cancelled this Sunday, Sept. 25 — continuing a week of disruptions for the service between Chicago and Emeryville, Calif. The sequence that led to Sunday’s cancellation began with the westbound departure of Monday, Sept. 19, which sustained delays totaling 16 hours, 35 minutes on its way to […]

Read More…

California’s Valley Link rail system to pursue hydrogen power

Map of a planned commuter rail line between Dublin and Lathrop, Calif.

TRACY, Calif. — The planned Valley Link commuter rail system, which would run from Lathrop, Calif., to Dublin/Pleasanton, will pursue the possibility of using hydrogen-powered equipment when it launches in 2027, the Modesto Bee reports. The Valley Link board voted earlier this month to accept a report that found the alternative energy source feasible and […]

Read More…

LA’s Metrolink prepares for cancellations, Metra updates plans in event of freight rail stoppage (updated)

Amtrak_Metrolink_Lassen

UPDATE: Railroads and unions have reached a tentative agreement as of early Thursday morning, averting a work stoppage. Watch Trains News Wire for more information. Los Angeles-area commuter rail operator Metrolink, which operates some of its trains on BNSF Railway and Union Pacific trackage, has informed customers that some operations will be suspended on Friday […]

Read More…

Burlington Northern locomotive one-offs

Black-and-white photo of end-cab switcher at diesel servicing track

Burlington Northern locomotive one-offs. Burlington Northern (BN) had more than 2,000 diesel locomotives on its roster. With a fleet of that size, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there were more than a few Burlington Northern locomotive one-offs. Paint scheme variations, wreck rebuilds, and test subjects were among the examples I found when searching […]

Read More…

More Amtrak services set to be suspended

Passenger train runs on single track with Chicago skyline in the background

Amtrak will suspend seven more long-distance trains as of today (Wednesday, Sept. 14) as it prepares for a possible interruption of national freight rail service. Also, the three regional operations in California — the San Joaquins, Capitol Corridor, and Pacific Surfliner — are preparing for service disruptions to begin Thursday and take full effect on […]

Read More…