NTSB releases preliminary report on PATH fire that injured 19

WASHINGTON — Signs of electrical arcing were found at the site of a fire that injured 19 people on a New York-bound Port Authority Trans-Hudson train on Aug. 4, 2025, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report released today (Aug. 27, 2025). The incident occurred about 6:18 a.m. and involved train No. 609 […]

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Short Line Safety Institute promotes Leone, expands research efforts

WASHINGTON – The Short Line Safety Institute has promoted Julia Leone to assistant director of research and organizational development, an expanded role that includes leading efforts to improve delivery and outcome for the organization’s safety and research programs. “Our program expansion has come as a direct result of research led by Julia Leone. Improvements to […]

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OmniTRAX adds executive to sales and economic development team

DENVER — Shortline holding company OmniTRAX has named former BNSF Railway official Ryan Dreier as its executive vice president of sales and economic development. Dreier has held multiple commercial leadership roles in both carload and intermodal at BNSF. “OmniTRAX has grown more than 50% in the past five years, prompting an expanded sales structure that […]

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Amtrak’s NextGen Acelas make debut (updated)

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has introduced its long-awaited NextGen Acela service between Washington and New York, with the first new trainsets departing today (Aug. 27, 2025) from Washington at 5 a.m. and Boston at 6 a.m. ET on trips for invited guests. Service for the general public begins Thursday, Aug. 28. The first of what will […]

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U.S. DOT to take over management of Washington Union Station

People standing in line in hallway of railroad station

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation plans to take over management of Washington Union Station, the agency announced Wednesday, ending a period of just over a year when Amtrak held managerial control of the structure. “Instead of being a point of pride, Washington’s Union Station has fallen into disrepair,”  Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said […]

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Duluth Winnipeg & Pacific: Delivered with pride

Three blue and red diesel locomotives lettered DWP. A hill beyond is covered with vegetaton in fall colors. A railroad track covered with taconite pellets is in the foreground.

Freight on the Iron Range The Canadian-owned Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific line (now part of Canadian National) links the Midwestern United States with the CN’s east-west line in Ontario and provides CN with a direct route to the Port of Duluth on Lake Superior. According to The Historical Guide to North American Railroads, Third Edition […]

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NTSB releases preliminary report on Dallas light rail fire

Image of smoke coming from light rail tunnel with stopped train in foreground

WASHINGTON — A Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail train came in contact with an overhead catenary wire, leading to arcing that started a fire, the National Transportation Safety Board says in its preliminary report on the July 30, 2025, incident that led to injuries to 11 passengers. The incident occurred about 3:33 p.m., and […]

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FRA cancels more funding for California high speed project

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has cancelled an additional $175 million in funding for four projects related to the California high-speed rail project, saying it determined that advancing the funding “ius not justified” after reviewing the projects and given the current state of the high-speed rail project. “As of today, the American people are […]

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Man arrested for stealing railroad track in South Carolina

Booking photo of scowling man

BENNETTSVILLE, S.C. — A man has been charged with grand larceny for allegedly stealing railroad track valued at $22,000 from Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad property in Bennettsville, the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. Walter Tyndall was also charged with trespassing on a railroad track following […]

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