Train Watching — Short line: Connecticut Southern Railroad

Grey diesel locomotive leads freight train past an old station building.

Connecticut Southern Railroad was created by short line holding company RailTex in 1996, assuming Conrail’s freight operations over 55 miles of Amtrak’s Springfield Line between Springfield, Mass., and North Haven, Conn., as well as branches the new railroad purchased from Conrail. Four years later, RailTex was purchased by RailAmerica, which in turn was acquired by […]

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Fixed forward and backward seating to speed Northeast Regional equipment turns, allow more frequencies

Interior of passenger car with seats facing toward the car center

WASHINGTON — Coaches where half of the seats face backwards have been standard for years on Amtrak services ranging from many regional state-supported corridors to Acela First Class. Beginning March 2, that configuration is being extended to all Northeast Regional Amfleet-equipped trains. Acela Business Class will transition to permanent “fixed forward and backward” seating later […]

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MTA details projects at risk without congestion pricing funds

Long Island Rail Road train arrives at station

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which had previously announced it was placing much of its capital spending on hold because of uncertainty over implementation of Manhattan’s congestion pricing plan, on Monday detailed the projects at risk while the lawsuits against congestion pricing are pending. Congestion pricing, intended to discourage driving in Manhattan below […]

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NJ Transit unveils locomotive wrapped for Black History Month

Multicolored locomotive and bus

NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit has unveiled a locomotive wrapped to commemorate Black History Month, featuring historical contribution of African Americans to American history and society. The unveiling today (Monday, Feb. 26) of wrapped dual-mode Bombardier ALP-45DP No. 4508 at Newark Penn Station was accompanied by the release of two NJ Transit buses also wrapped […]

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Broken rail caused Berkshire & Eastern derailment

VALLEY FALLS, N.Y. — A broken rail was responsible for a derailment earlier this month that sent two cars of a train on the Berkshire & Eastern Railroad into the Hoosic River, a Genesee & Wyoming representative told WRGB-TV. The Feb. 7 derailment involved 10 cars of a 94-car train on the Pan Am Southern, […]

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SEPTA train misrouted onto de-energized NEC track

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority logo

PHILADELPHIA — Approximately 250 passengers on were stranded for about an hour this morning (Thursday, Feb. 22) when their Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Regional Rail train was misrouted onto a de-energized track on the Northeast Corridor, KYW Radio reports. A SEPTA spokesman said the train was misrouted by Amtrak. Passengers remained on the inbound train […]

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Maryland to receive $213 million grant for replacement of Baltimore light rail fleet

White, red, and yellow light rail trainset

BALTIMORE — The Maryland Transit Administration will receive more than $213 million in federal funding to help replace its entire light rail fleet, Democratic members of the state’s congressional delegation announced Tuesday. The $213,696,341 from the Federal Transit Administration’s Rail Vehicle Replacement program will go toward MTA plans to replace the 52-vehicle light rail fleet. […]

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