California sues over FRA cancellation of high speed funding

Man speaking at podium under banner marking California high speed rail construction

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California High Speed Rail Authority is suing the Trump administration over its termination of $4 billion in previously awarded federal funding for the state’s high speed project. A press release from Gov. Gavin Newsom says the lawsuit alleges the Federal Railroad Administration’s termination of the funding is political retribution “motivated by […]

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Union Pacific floats transcon merger trial balloons: Analysis

Union Pacific appears to be using a familiar playbook that large, publicly traded companies trot out when considering mergers and acquisitions: Send up trial balloons and see how they fly. These trial balloons let management gauge market reaction, political sentiment, and how the media might spin the story, all without committing to a deal. They […]

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Metro-North Danbury Branch faces 17-day maintenance shutdown

Green and yellow diesel leading commuter train

DANBURY, Conn. — The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced a 17-day shutdown of Metro-North’s Danbury Branch, set to begin Aug. 1. Bus service will replace trains from Friday, Aug. 1, to Sunday, Aug. 17. CTDOT said the shutdown, for state-of-good-repair work, saves costs and is more efficient compared to daily mobilization and demobilization of work […]

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News photo: A ‘Big’ deal in Colorado

Large steam locomotive surrounded by spectators

GREELEY, Colo. — Union Pacific’s Big Boy began its only scheduled trip of 2025 today (July 17), heading from its home base in Cheyenne, Wyo., to Denver as part of a round trip for the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo. The 4-8-8-4 is accompanied by the railroad’s Abraham Lincoln diesel, No. 1616. Today’s servicing stop […]

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Woman sought in latest theft of New York subway train

Logo of New York City Transit

NEW YORK — New York police are seeking a woman who allegedly broke into a parked New York City Transit subway train today (Thursday, July 17) and took it for a one-stop joy ride — at least the fourth such incident since January 2024. The news site Gothamist reports the incident occurred about 4:30 a.m. […]

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Milwaukee No. 261 set for two October excursions

Steam engine, E unit and passenger trian

CHANHASSEN, Minn. — Former Milwaukee Road 4-8-4 No. 261 will make its first extended excursion in three years in October, powering “Harvest BBQ Express” trains on the Twin Cities & Western Railroad, Oct. 4-5. Trips along a portion of the route of Milwaukee’s Olympian Hiawatha will originate at Chanhassen, Minn., with six classes of accommodations […]

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CPKC reports merger-related growth figures

Train with two CPKC locomotives crossing bridge

WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s merger-related traffic grew 18.8% during the six-month period covered in its latest report to federal regulators. The July 15 report, which is required as part of the STB’s ongoing monitoring of the merger, covers the period from Nov. 1, 2024, through April 30 and compares traffic levels to the […]

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Report: Investment firm advising Union Pacific on potential merger

Freight train with yellow locomotive

Union Pacific is working with Morgan Stanley investment bankers to provide guidance on the potential acquisition of another Class I railroad, the online publication Semafor reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. UP and Morgan Stanley declined to comment to the media outlet. CSX and Norfolk Southern stock prices surged on the news, […]

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Few rail projects included in latest BUILD grant awards

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation on Tuesday (July 15) announced some $488 million in grants under the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD, grant program. While 77% of the funding is for road and bridge projects, two projects totaling $3.2 million are designated as rail projects and at least two others […]

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