Process begins to select ‘master developer’ for revamp of New York’s Penn Station

NEW YORK — The Amtrak-led project to redevelop New York’s Penn Station announced several steps forward on Thursday, most notably a call for the project’s master developer. A 98-page request for letters of interest available at Amtrak’s procurement site describes the project as a “a comprehensive redevelopment … to transform the station into a modern […]

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NTSB issues final report on 2024 MBTA Green Line derailment

Aerial view of derailed light rail train

WASHINGTON — An operator’s failure to obey a stop signal was the probable cause of an Oct. 1, 2024, derailment of a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority light rail train in Somerville, Mass., the National Transportation Safety Board said in its final investigation report released this month. The train’s excessive speed was a contributing factor, according […]

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Hub Group sizes up watershed intermodal growth opportunity

OAK BROOK, Ill. — Hub Group sees the opportunity to gain 2.5 million intermodal loads from the watershed area in the country’s midsection if the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger is approved. The watershed, the area within a few hundred miles of the Mississippi River that also is the de facto dividing line between the big […]

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Partnership to restore D&RGW No. 223 C-16

Black and white Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-8-0 steam locomotive.

OGDEN, Utah — The City of Ogden, the 223 Locomotive Foundation, and the Colorado Railroad Museum have announced plans for an operational restoration of Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 223. The 2-8-0 locomotive is one of three remaining C-16 class engines built in 1881. It is the only remaining C-16 built by Grant Locomotive […]

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New York MTA orders 378 additional subway cars

Subway train on curve in open-air segment

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board has approved purchase of 378 R268 subway cars from Kawasaki Railcar under a contract valued at $1.507 billion. The approval came during the board meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Tim Mulligan, the MTA’s chief of rolling stock, said the purchase would complete replacement of R68 and R68a […]

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Schneider intermodal volume rises due to strength in Mexico and eastern U.S.

Orange containers on intermodal train

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Schneider National’s intermodal growth continued in the third quarter, the No. 3 intermodal operator said on Thursday (Oct. 30), thanks to higher volumes in the East and an ongoing surge cross-border Mexico traffic. Executives said it’s still too early to assess the potential ramifications of Union Pacific’s proposed acquisition of Norfolk […]

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Amtrak urges passengers to book early for Thanksgiving

crowds in station

WASHINGTON — Amtrak is advising passengers to book early for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday period to get the best prices and ensure seating, saying it is expecting record-breaking ridership based on early bookings. Last year, the company saw 1.2 million riders during the Thanksgiving season. The company will add cars to Northeast Regional routes between […]

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UP and NS seek faster merger review as rivals turn up pressure

Yellow and black locomotives leading train of tank cars

Eager to tie the knot, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have asked federal regulators for a faster review of their proposed transcontinental merger, Trains has learned. The Surface Transportation Board in September proposed a roughly 390-day schedule to review the railroads’ $85 billion deal. The calendar includes wiggle room that would allow the board to […]

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SMART-TD ratifies new five-year national agreement

Logo of SMART-TD union

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division has ratified the five-year collective bargaining agreement reached with railroads represented by the National Carriers Conference Committee. The tentative deal had been announced in September [see “SMART-TD reaches national tentative agreement …,” Trains.com, Sept. 16, 2025]. The agreement, covering SMART-TD […]

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British regulator’s decision opens path for Virgin Trains operation through Channel Tunnel

Interior of building with three high speed trains being serviced

LONDON — Eurostar’s long run as the sole operator of rail service through the Channel Tunnel between England and France is likely to end following a decision today (Oct. 30, 2025) by the UK regulatory Office of Rail and Road to allow Virgin Trains access to the only servicing facility on the high-speed route between […]

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Latest Illinois proposal for transit funding shot down by governor

Commuter train at station

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A new proposal to fund Chicago’s transit agencies was introduced on Tuesday (Oct. 28) in the state’s House of Representatives. By Wednesday, it appeared to be dead. Gov. JB Pritzker said at a Wednesday event that the bill was “not going forward” in its current form because he had issues with the […]

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