WASHINGTON — The nomination of former U.S. Rep Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) to Amtrak’s board of directors will move to the U.S. Senate after being approved on a voice vote in committee this week. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved the nomination earlier this week. President Donald Trump nominated Rokita in May for […]
SEATTLE — Sound Transit will drop the name “Red Line” for its light-rail corridor because of objections that the title evokes redlining, the former practice of denying home loans to non-white families in some areas of Seattle and other cities. The Seattle Times reports that CEO Peter Rogoff said during a meeting of the transit […]
ATLANTA — The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority has signed a contract with Stadler for 127 METRO trainsets, with two options for additional 25-train orders. The contract, valued at more than $600 million, is the largest single order for rail vehicles in the company’s history, and is the first major U.S. order for METRO trains. […]
Jim Stoddard, of Stoddard’s LTD Co., shows of a piece off lighted locomotive art with Digital Editor Steve Sweeney at Trainfest 2019. MRVP WAUKESHA, Wis. – Kalmbach Media is reinstating a tradition that began in the 2000s. On Friday, Nov. 22, modelers, railfans, and train lovers are invited to take their trains to work to […]
Trains editors regularly share with you rail news that is fit to publish (and comment on!) This week, Brian and Steve talk about Amtrak’s Coca Cola locomotive, Joe Biden’s push for a rail revival, and more. Only from Trains! […]
A new Acela trainset at Alstom’s Hornell, N.Y., shops. Amtrak HORNELL, N.Y. — Amtrak released a new photo today of a prototype high speed trainset being built in upstate New York. France’s Alstom is building the new Acela trainsets at its Hornell shops. The passenger sets with power cars are expected to enter service on […]
Amtrak marks a new partnership with Coca-Cola by wrapping ACS-64 locomotive No. 606. Here, it hustles the northbound ‘Silver Meteor,’ train No. 98, through Newark, Del., on Nov. 14. Gary Pancavage NEWARK, Del. – Amtrak has debuted a new look for Siemens ACS-64 No. 606: the colors of Coca-Cola. The locomotive has pulled the northbound […]
Former South African Railway NG-16 No. 129 made its first run on the puffing Billy Railway in Australia on Nov. 11, following an extensive overhaul that included re-gauging from 24-inch to 30-inch. Puffing Billy Railway: Russ Hicks BELGRAVE, Australia – Twenty-three years after it arrived at the Puffing Billy Railway, former South African Railways Beyer-Garratt […]
BOSTON — Boston-area government leaders are calling for a 15-cent increase in Massachusetts’ gas tax to help fund transit and roadway projects. The State House News Service reports that Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, along with members of the Metropolitan Mayors Coalition, the North Shore Coalition, and the Commuter Rail Communities Coalition, have called on Massachusetts […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Canadian National is more focused on growing with its customers than railroads that are currently implementing Precision Scheduled Railroading, a shipper noted at an investor conference this week. How did CN transition from an emphasis on profit margins, he asked, to one of growth? “We are, as you say, the pioneers of […]
Former Clinchfield Railroad car 100 brings up the rear of southbound CSX manifest Q693 as it passes by the former Clinchfield offices in Erwin, Tenn., while en route to Jacksonville to be prepped for this year’s Santa Train. Mike Tilley JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – New life has been breathed into a famed former Clinchfield Railroad […]
Jim Foote, CSX Corp. CEO CSX Corp. NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dramatic improvements in service reliability will enable CSX Transportation to grow faster than the overall economy over the long term, CEO Jim Foote told an investor conference this week. That would be an accomplishment: Since 2011, CSX’s overall traffic volume has been flat while the […]
