CHICAGO — If Union Pacific wanted to show the media how trains can sit around in the nation’s rail capital, it was mission accomplished last week aboard its executive train. As the six-car train headed west at 10 mph on Wednesday — rolling between the Belt Railway of Chicago’s Clearing Yard to the north and […]
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WASHINGTON — Amtrak is celebrating a second consecutive year of record ridership and revenue in its review of fiscal 2025 released today (Nov. 18, 2025), after a year including 34.5 million passenger trips, a 5.1% increase over the previous year. “Amtrak’s operational success is not just about moving more people — it’s about moving them […]
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CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority has announced the schedule for its 2025 CTA Holiday Fleet, a specially decorated L train and bus that roam the system beginning in late November. The Holiday Bus begins operation on Tuesday, Nov. 25; train operations begin Friday, Nov. 28. Both are sponsored by Allstate. This is the 34th […]
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WASHINGTON — A Union Pacific locomotive’s horn and warning devices at a grade crossing provided little advance notice before a fatal collision at a grade crossing in Elgin, Ill., according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report on the Oct. 23, 2025, incident. The accident occurred about 6:30 a.m., when a locomotive running light […]
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MONTREAL — The second portion of Montreal’s Réseau express métropolitain light rail network has opened, with regular service on the Deux-Montagnes line beginning at 5:30 a.m. ET today (Nov. 17, 2025). That follows a Friday ceremony that included Prime Minister Mark Carney and a weekend of free “open house” operations on the new 33-kilometer (20.5-mile), […]
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PHILADELPHIA — Advance cancellation of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Regional Rail trains has continued into this week, although the scope of those cancellations has been reduced. SEPTA announced Sunday that a dozen trains would be canceled today (Monday, Nov. 17) on its Chestnut Hill West and Fox Chase lines — three during the morning commute […]
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MIAMI — Florida East Coast Railway’s lawsuit against Brightline — over Brightline’s efforts to develop commuter rail service in South Florida — has been stayed until the two parties can meet to discuss arbitration. Public broadcaster WLRN reports Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge Robert Watson granted the stay on Thursday, Nov. 13. Brightline is seeking […]
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SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Caltrain is remaking its Holiday Train for 2025, turning it from a trip bringing Santa Claus to stations to an on-board riding experience. Tickets for this year’s trip, set for Dec. 13, go on sale on Thursday, Nov. 20, at noon PT. Those on board will experience a decorated train interior, […]
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WASHINGTON — Amtrak ridership grew 5% in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025, and revenue surged 11%, as robust Northeast Regional gains offset fewer Acela frequencies on the Northeast Corridor. The railroad carried nearly 34.5 million passengers, while ticket revenue was $2.764 billion. The results from the company’s monthly performance reports for 2025 are […]
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CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors has approved a $1.2 billion operating budget for fiscal 2026, eliminating the commuter rail operator’s previously planned fare increase as well as a planned $60 million transfer of operating funds to its capital program. The capital plan for 2026 is budgeted at $515.3 million. The transit bill passed by […]
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CHICAGO — Metra has been awarded $19.3 million in its suit against Union Pacific over UP’s decision not to collect fares on Metra trains during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news report. The suburban Daily Herald newspaper reports a Cook County, Ill., jury delivered the verdict on Wednesday. Metra spokesman Michael Gillis told the […]
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PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has completed inspections of its Silverliner IV electric multiple-unit railcars, the agency says, but the amount of Regional Rail equipment available will remain significantly constrained until cars can be repaired. SEPTA originally faced an Oct. 31 deadline for inspection of the 233-car fleet following a series of fires, […]
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