U.S. weekly rail traffic continues to run ahead of 2024 levels

Weekly table showing U.S. carload rail traffic by commodity type, plus overall intermodal volume

WASHINGTON — With carload and intermodal traffic both up, weekly U.S. rail traffic remains head of 2024 levels, according to the Association of American Railroads. Statistics for the week ending May 10, 2025, show overall U.S. volume 495,552 carloads and intermodal units, a 5.7% increase over the same week a year earlier. That includes 222,238 […]

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Rapido HO tie-service flatcar

Rapido HO tie-service flatcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $64.95; six-pack, $389.70 Era: 1990s to present Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Rd., Unit 21, Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 5H5; 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com Rapido HO tie-service flatcar features: Based on ex-TTX cars purchased by Burlington Northern and converted to crosstie cars Body-mounted metal couplers Two […]

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Broadway Limited Imports N scale EMD F3

Screen capture from product review video with N scale cab unit and text in lower left corner.

The Broadway Limited Imports N scale EMD F3 decorated in Chesapeake & Ohio colors recently powered an excursion train over our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy State Line Route. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he shares a brief history of the Electro-Motive Division cab unit and C&O No. 8016; points out the molded […]

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Flooding knocks out key CSX routes in the Cumberland, Md., area

CSX logo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Severe flooding that hit the Cumberland, Md., area on Tuesday has shut down key CSX routes, the railroad said in a customer service alert today. Among the routes affected: The former Baltimore & Ohio main line linking Baltimore and Pittsburgh, which has taken on increased importance as a detour route for traffic […]

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Bill seeks to tighten prohibition on federal funding for transit equipment from China

Subway train at station

WASHINGTON — Legislation announced in Congress this week would bar federal funding for Chinese-built railcars and buses, tightening an existing prohibition. Six senators — three Republicans and three Democrats — announced the “Safebuarding Transit Operations to Prohibit China, or STOP China, Act. It would prohibit the use of Department of Transportation funding for the purchase […]

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Coalition of states sues over federal threat to withhold transportation funds over immigration actions

Train operating in the median of Interstate 90

WASHINGTON — A coalition of 20 state attorneys general has filed two federal lawsuits over a threat to withhold transportation and disaster relief funds unless the states agree to comply with the Trump administration’s immigration policies. One lawsuit names Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, while the other targets the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department […]

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LCCA announces 2025 convention updates

LCCA logo

The Lionel Collector’s Club of America announced updates to their 2025 National Convention lineup. This year’s convention will be July 21-26, 2025 in Scranton, Pa., and will celebrate the group’s 55th anniversary. Highlights of the convention include: Angela Trotta Thomas will host a special drawing class for moms and kids, and a special run of […]

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Funding released for completion of Springfield, Ill., rail project

Illustration of new Springfield, Ill., train and bus station

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation has obligated more than $157 million in funding, allowing construction to move forward on the final phase of the Springfield (Ill.) Rail Improvements Project. The project involves relocating some rail lines from Third Street to 10th Street in the state capital, as well as several grade-crossing separations. The […]

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