Start-up Lunatrain plans private night trains in East, Midwest

Illustration of sleeping car accomodation

PHILADELPHIA — A new company has announced plans to develop a private sleeper-train service connecting major destinations, and says it aims to have a demonstration unit in the second half of 2026. Lunatrain, which describes itself as “a private, early-stage company,” says it will develop a network of express, non-stop night trains in the Midwest […]

Read More…

Canadian government announces plans for high speed rail (updated)

Silver and red high speed train

MONTREAL — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced plans to build a high speed rail line linking Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City, calling it “the largest infrastructure project in Canadian history.” The 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) system, to be known as Alto, will have a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour (186 mph), with intermediate […]

Read More…

CN derailment adds to VIA Rail corridor operating woes

VIA Rail Canada logo

MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada service between Toronto and Montreal, already struggling to cope with a massive snowstorm, was further disrupted today (Feb. 18, 2025) by a Canadian National derailment near Montreal. The 12-car derailment occurred at CN’s Taschereau Yard near Lachine and adjacent to Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport. CN said no leaks or injuries […]

Read More…

UP train derails on Tehachapi Pass

Derailed freight cars on curve

CALIENTE, Calif. — About 15 cars of a Union Pacific train derailed on Tehachapi Pass today (Tuesday, Feb. 18), blocking traffic on the busy route shared by UP and BNSF Railway. KBAK-TV reports the Kern County Fire Department was called to the derailment about 9:29 a.m. on Caliente-Bodfish Road, 2 miles north of State Route […]

Read More…

Flood recovery efforts continue for NS, CSX

Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation are continuing to deal with the impacts of severe flooding in the southeastern U.S. that occurred earlier this week An NS customer alert posted today (Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025) says the railroad is working to restore both tracks of its mainline west of Williamson, W.Va., on the which are out […]

Read More…

FRA study recommends developing and testing prototype dual-mode freight locomotives

WASHINGTON — A Federal Railroad Administration study on mainline electrification recommends that the railroad industry develop a prototype dual-mode freight locomotive and battery tender that could test the feasibility of leaving cost-saving gaps between sections of overhead catenary. Over the decades, North American freight railroads have studied electrification but have always reached the same conclusion: […]

Read More…

Freight derailment disrupts NJ Transit service (updated)

NJ Transit logo

UNION, N.J. — Commuter rail service on NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line has been suspended because of the derailment of a freight train, according to an alert on the agency’s website. While media reports identify the incident as a Conrail derailment, the train involved is actually a Norfolk Southern intermodal train operating on Conrail Shared […]

Read More…

Floods halt Amtrak’s City of New Orleans (updated)

Passenger train on curve

CHICAGO — Flooding is disrupting operation of Amtrak’s City of New Orleans, while Empire Builder departures have been cancelled for a fourth straight day. Other Amtrak cancellations announced for today (Feb. 18) include both directions of the Borealis between St. Paul and Milwaukee and a Lincoln Service trip from St. Louis to Chicago, according to […]

Read More…