Amtrak adds to Tuesday storm cancellations

Passenger train behind electric locomotive in snow

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has expanded its list of train cancellations for Tuesday, Jan. 7, as a result of the winter storm currently moving across the nation’s midsection. In a service advisory today (Jan. 6, 2025) at 5 p.m. ET, Amtrak announced these Tuesday schedule changes: — Acela Nos. 2103, 2107, 2121 (Boston-Washington) and 2108, 2122, […]

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Amtrak Gulf Coast service to receive $21 million grant (updated)

Man speaking to crowd in front of Amtrak train

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration will award a $21.1 million grant for the return of Amtrak Gulf Coast service, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) announced today (Jan. 6, 2025). The funding will support operating costs for the planned twice-daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. Funds will come from the FRA’s Restoration […]

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MARC, VRE to operate reduced schedules on Tuesday (updated)

Commuter train with diesel locomotive on electrified line

WASHINGTON — Maryland’s MARC Train and Virginia Railway Express will operate on reduced schedules on Tuesday, Jan. 7, as the Washington, D.C., area continues to feel the impact of a significant winter storm. Both operators suspended all service today (Monday, Jan. 6) based on the weather and the decision of the federal government to close […]

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SunTrain’s battery storage technology heads for the rails

Electric charger connected to container flatcar

PUEBLO, Colo. — SunTrain, a San Francisco company, is designing a method to transport power by rail, moving containerized batteries between solar and wind farms in Colorado to existing rail-served power plants in the Denver area. The concept is that batteries, inside standard 20-foot containers and loaded onto 89-foot railcars, are charged at originating solar […]

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European group corrects rail operator rankings over pricing errors

Passenger trains with red electric locomotives meet

BRUSSELS — The organization that issued a report in December ranking Europe’s major rail operators has revised its findings, to the significant detriment of Switzerland’s federal rail company, SBB. Corrections on SBB’s ticket prices led to the company dropping to 11th in the rankings of 27 companies by clean-transportation advocacy group Transport and Environment, from […]

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DC-area commuter lines halted by storm

Commuter train with two engines and bilevel coaches

WASHINGTON — Both commuter rail operators serving the Washington, D.C., area have suspended operations today (Monday, Jan. 6, 2025) as a winter storm hits the area. Virginia Railway Express announced its decision not to operate about 7:45 p.m. on Sunday night, citing both the weather and the decision to close federal offices in Washington today. […]

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North American rail traffic has yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels

Intermodal train navigating switches

The Big Four U.S. Class I railroads all showed year-over-year traffic growth in 2024, while Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City experienced volume declines. Looking longer term, however, CSX is the only railroad whose 2024 volume rebounded to pre-pandemic levels of 2019. CSX’s traffic was up 0.6% last year compared to 2019, due largely […]

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No injuries reported as bridge collapses under train in Oregon

Logo of Portland & Western railroad

CORVALLIS, Ore. — A bridge collapsed under a Portland & Western train crossing Mary’s River in Corvallis today (Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025), sending at least one car into the river. KPTV-TV reports the incident occurred around noon PT near Avery Park in Corvallis. A Portland & Western representative told the station a 19-car train was […]

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