ROANOKE, Va. — For more than a quarter century, at approximately 5:30 p.m., a Norfolk Southern crew would report in Roanoke and start train V60, commonly known as the “Star City Stinker” or “Trash Train.” No more. The Monday-through-Friday operation would start just east of Roanoke’s famed East End Shops and travel 30 miles west […]
TREGO, Wis. — Wisconsin Great Northern continues to make progress in its effort to restore the Mark Twain Zephyr to operation. The railroad acquired the four-car articulated trainset, plus a spare car from the original Pioneer Zephyr, in 2020. Built in 1935, the train is the fourth of nine complete Zephyr trainsets built by the […]
Metrolink’s Wiggins named as new LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins, currently CEO of Los Angeles-area commuter railroad Metrolink, will become the first female CEO of LA Metro, the Los Angeles-area transportation agency which operates buses, light rail, has a hand in highway projects and is one of the five county transportation agencies which oversees Metrolink. […]
Vermont agency announces July 19 return for Amtrak service Amtrak service in Vermont will resume July 19, the state Agency of Transportation has announced. Intercity bus service will also resume on that date. “We are very pleased to announce the restart of these vital transportation services for Vermonters and those who wish to travel to […]
All of the big six Class I railroads notched volume gains in the first quarter as robust intermodal growth overcame slight declines in carload volume. Intermodal volume is on a tear as retailers aim to keep store shelves and online order fulfillment centers full due to consumers spending more on goods than services during the […]
WASHINGTON — While comparisons with 2020 are skewed because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Association of American Railroad statistics for March 2021 show that “rail traffic has clearly rebounded from last year’s depths,” an AAR official says. U.S. numbers for March 2021 show carloads up 4.1% and intermodal trailer and containers up 24% […]
Denver RTD ready to revive planning for Boulder-Longmont commuter line The Denver-area Regional Transportation District is likely to restart planning on a commuter rail line to Boulder and Longmont, seeking to capitalize on funding that may become available from President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan. Colorado Public Radio reports the RTD board indicated at a meeting […]
Northeast Corridor testing for Amtrak’s new Acela trainsets continues, with the second of the new trains set for about two weeks of testing on the North end of the corridor, including operation at speeds up to 165 mph on high speed trackage in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.It will also spend time in Boston for maintenance […]
MIAMI — As part of preparation for its extension to Orlando, Brightline has completed a second highway grade separation for its 125-mph right-of-way east of the Orlando Airport utilizing the box-jacking process, where pre-cast concrete boxes are pushed under a road to reduce extended auto traffic disruptions and construction costs. Brightline trains have not operated […]
Miami-Dade applies for federal grant to help fund Miami-Aventura commuter rail service Miami-Dade County has applied for federal funding for its proposed Miami-Aventura commuter rail service which would operate on the southern end of Brightline’s Miami-West Palm Beach route. Miami Today reports the county Department of Transportation and Public Works has submitted an “Infrastructure for […]
Rail worker safety makes NTSB’s ‘Most Wanted List’ of transportation improvements A goal of improving rail worker safety is among the 10 items landing spots on the National Transportation Safety Board’s 2021-22 Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements, finalized during a Tuesday NTSB board meeting. “Board members of the NTSB and our advocacy team […]
Hoosier Valley obtains builder’s plate for 2-8-4, seeks National Register status for locomotive The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Ind., has acquired the builder’s plate for Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 No. 2789, reuniting the plate with the locomotive decades after the two were separated. The acquisition comes as the museum launches an effort […]
