BNSF nears completion of PTC on former Montana Rail Link

A blue Montana Rail Link train works alongside a river with mountains in the background.

MISSOULA, Mont. — BNSF Railway expects to complete installation of positive train control on the former Montana Rail Link by December, concluding a long-running project that predates BNSF’s acquisition of the regional railroad. BNSF said on social media that PTC was implemented on 36 miles of its MRL Subdivision in June, with work in progress […]

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BLET reaches tentative agreement with Western New York & Pennsylvania

Logo of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has reached a tentative five-year agreement with the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad, and ratification voting is now in progress, the union has announced. The agreement through 2030 would provide for a guaranteed 40-hour work week, a signing bonus, annual wage increases, and improvements […]

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Amtrak service to Newport News, Va., remains suspended after CSX derailment (updated)

Overturned coal hopper next to bridge

RICHMOND, Va. — Amtrak service between Richmond and Newport News, Va., will now remain suspended until Monday, Nov. 3, as the result of last weekend’s CSX derailment, the passenger operator has announced in an update on Thursday, Oct. 30. Amtrak had previously announced that service would be suspended until Nov. 1. The 70-mile Richmond-Newport News […]

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T1 No. 5550 cylinders nearing completion

Unfinished T1 steam locomotive cylinder temporarily mounted to engine frame.

Pennsylvania Railroad No. 5550 continues to move toward reality. The T1 Trust reports that cylinder fabrication is now nearly 66% complete. Overall, the new locomotive is about 53% done. Two prototypes of the 4-4-4-4 duplex design were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1947. The Pennsy liked what they saw and between 1945 and […]

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Amtrak’s Chicago train wash open for business; other locations to follow

Train moving through small building across tracks

CHICAGO— The questions “what took so long?” and “when will the others be operational?” weren’t entirely answered Thursday, Oct. 23, when Trains was among those invited to observe, along with Amtrak president Roger Harris, the workings of the long-overdue train wash located near the south end of the company’s 16th Street coach yard. “Each one […]

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MTA says Penn Access project will take an additional three years to complete (updated)

Illustraiton showing planned station for MTA Penn Access project

NEW YORK — Completion of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Penn Access project, which will bring Metro-North trains to Penn Station and add four new stations in the Bronx, will likely be pushed back by three years to 2030 because of Amtrak’s failure to meet its obligations to the project, MTA executives said at a meeting […]

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TRAC Intermodal to provide domestic chassis for Florida East Coast Railway

Red-and-yellow locomotives with fuel tender cross street

PRINCETON, N.J. — TRAC Intermodal has reached an agreement with Florida East Coast Railway that allows TRAC Intermodal to stage 53-foot domestic chassis directly at the Sunshine State railway’s terminals. This partnership will support FEC-controlled business and introduces a standardized domestic chassis fleet. The companies said, in an announcement on Monday, that their collaboration reflects […]

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NS and UP launch interline intermodal service in Louisville, Ky.

Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific have launched their new domestic interline intermodal service linking Louisville, Ky., with UP terminals via interchange at Kansas City, Kan. GE Appliances is among the anchor customers on the service, which first rolled on Oct. 20, NS said today. The railroads announced the joint service on Sept. 15, roughly six […]

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Amtrak touts progress on Connecticut River Bridge Replacement Project

Illustration of double-track bridge with lift span in middle

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has posted a video update showing progress made to date on its $1.3 billion Connecticut River Bridge Replacement Project on the Northeast Corridor. The new span is being built next to the existing 1907 bridge that links Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, Conn. Construction began late last year, with completion eyed by […]

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Metrolink installs ‘smart crossing’ system at first LA County locations

New logo for Metrolink, introduced 2022

LOS ANGELES — Metrolink has rolled out the use of smart crossing technology — which avoids unnecessary delays at grade crossings near stations — with its introduction at two crossings near its Baldwin Park station. The Wireless Crossing Nearside Station Stop technology communicates with positive train control to prevent crossing gates from lowering as a […]

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Cathcart Rail rebrands as Guardian Rail

Logo of Guardian Rail, formerly Cathcart Rail

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Cathcart Rail, which provides a range of freight rail services, has rebranded itself as Guardian Rail as of today (Oct. 27, 2025). The company says the rebrand reflects its focus on safety, consistency and operational excellence, while setting the tone for a new chapter of growth, clarity, and purpose. “We’re doing more […]

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