Mexican government to begin work on two passenger rail lines

Map showing planned passenger rail projects in Mexico

MEXICO CITY — Construction of two passenger rail lines — Mexico City-Querétaro and Mexico City-Pachuca — will begin in April, the Mexican government’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) announced this week. The announcement confirmed a portion of plans announced in November by President Claudia Sheinbaum, who had previously said three routes would see […]

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Streamliner pioneer

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The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy’s Zephyr was the first diesel streamliner, entering service in 1934. The locomotive, which was articulated with the train set, was powered by a 660-hp Winton 201A diesel engine. Classic Trains collection […]

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Joint SunRail-Brightline Sunshine Corridor gets more support

Locomotive with two bilevel passenger cars rounding curve

ORLANDO, Fla. — A rail corridor that would enable Brightline to extend service to Tampa while allowing commuter operator SunRail to link Orlando International Airport and area theme parks has received a funding boost. Commissioners in Seminole County, just north of Orlando, this week voted to contribute $500,000 to a $6 million feasibility study for […]

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New York rail ridership up since start of congestion tolling

EMU train arrives at station

NEW YORK — Rail ridership — both on the subways and the commuter rail network — is up in the first three weeks of congestion-zone tolls, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board was told in a presentation on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. Overall, the agency said the number of vehicles entering the congestion pricing zone — […]

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Trump administration scraps freeze on grants

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has rescinded its freeze on federal grants, which created confusion regarding a broad variety of government programs, including some in the rail industry. The Washington Post reports that a memo today (Jan. 29, 2025) from Matthew J. Vaeth, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, said an order […]

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North Texas agency provides funding for Heartland Flyer shortfall

Short passenger train at station platform

ARLINGTON, Texas — A North Texas governmental agency will provide $100,000 to address a funding shortfall for the Fort Worth-Oklahoma City Heartland Flyer. The news site Fort Worth Report says the Regional Transportation Council, a 45-member organization that it part of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, has allocated the money from regional toll […]

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STB seeks nominations for passenger advisory committee vacancy

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Safety Board is seeking candidates to fill a vacancy on its Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, the board has announced. The vacancy is for a representative from a state that provides funding from intercity passenger rail. Application deadline is Feb. 27. The vacancy is to replace Roger Millar, secretary of the […]

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James La Vake photographed passenger trains at their peak

Men washing front of streamlined diesel locomotive

Of the many first-rate photographers who became fascinated by postwar railroading, one of the best was James La Vake. An airline pilot by profession, he also had some experience as a photographer, and it showed: his photos in Trains magazine in the late 1940s and early ’50s are among the best featuring diesel-powered streamliners. I’ve […]

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MBTA to raise speeds on Red Line’s Braintree Branch

Map detail showing southern portion of MBTA Red LIne

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will increase top operating speeds on the rapid transit Red Line’s Braintree Branch from 40 mph to 50 mph as a result of last year’s Track Improvement Program, the agency has announced. “Reaching this milestone is a testament to the hard work of our team,” MBTA CEO Phillip […]

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