Iowa Pacific Railroad equipment in late 2021

A maroon and yellow-stripped cab unit under clear, sunny skies.

ALAMOSA, Colorado — Iowa Pacific Railroad equipment rolled out of Alamosa in the San Luis Valley bound for days of fun, music, and beer in the Colorado mountains until just a few years ago. The Illinois Central colors of Iowa Pacific Holdings and the trains of the San Luis & Rio Grande added to the […]

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Mark Twain Zephyr work continues with dining-car project (with video)

Kitchen in railroad car, with new equipment on one side and original equipment on the other

TREGO, Wis. — The interior of another car has been completed as the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad continues its work to return one of the first diesel-powered streamlined passenger trains to operation. Trains News Wire’s latest visit to northwest Wisconsin to check on restoration of the Mark Twain Zephyr, the articulated trainset built by Philadelphia’s […]

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MBTA light rail operator arraigned on charges from July crash

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority logo

BOSTON — The operator of a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority light rail train that rear-ended another train in July, injuring more than 20 people, has been arraigned on two charges of gross negligence in connection with the accident. WCVB-TV reports Owen Turner, 50, faces charges of gross negligence of a person in control of a […]

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Rail operators to face new cybersecurity requirements

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — Major railroads and rail transit operators, along with airports and airlines, will be required to improve cybersecurity under a new directive from the Transportation Security Administration. Reuters reports that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Wednesday that the companies and agencies will be required to name a chief cyber official, disclose hacks to […]

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Powerful PAs persevere

Streamlined passenger diesels haul freight cars along a waterfront

Powerful PAs persevere Four Alco PAs roll Champlain Division local SC-20 along the shore of Lake Champlain just out of Port Henry, N.Y., en route south to Whitehall, N.Y., on May 7, 1977. Jim Shaughnessy photo […]

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Man killed in shooting on Sunset Limited was 16-year DEA agent

Head-and-shoulders photo of man in coat and tie

TUCSON, Ariz. — A 16-year veteran of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has been identified as the victim in a shooting aboard Amtrak’s Sunset Limited on Monday in Tucson. The Arizona Republic reports that Michael Garbo was killed as agents were detaining 22-year-old Devonte Mathis after finding marijuana and other cannabis products in his backpack, […]

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Seven suits filed over Empire Builder derailment

Three men in hard hats and safety vests in front of derailed passenger train

CHICAGO — A Chicago law firm has filed seven separate lawsuits against Amtrak and BNSF Railway on behalf of passengers injured in the Sept. 25 derailment of the Empire Builder, and says it will challenge an arbitration requirement added to tickets in 2019.  A press release from the Clifford Law Offices says the firm obtained […]

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