FRA, FTA projects among those to receive grants from funding backlog

View of underground station platform

WASHINGTON — Thirty-four Federal Railroad Administration projects and 154 under the Federal Transit Administration are among a batch of more than 500 Department of Transportation projects that had previously been approved that have now received their financial obligation, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced today (June 10, 2025). The 529 projects, with funding of more than […]

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Ethanol cars on UP train derail in Texas; no spill reported

Image from X.com of overturned tank car at derailment in Waxahachie, Texas. USE ONLY AS "FEATURED IMAGE"

? BREAKING: Train derailment in downtown Waxahachie ? Happened just before midnight. 16 cars jumped tracks, 14 are tanker cars carrying ethanol. City officials confirm no leaks, no injuries, no immediate danger to the public. We’re live on scene on @NBCDFW with updates. pic.twitter.com/fh4uBv0CHT — Alanna Quillen (@AlannaNBC5) June 10, 2025 WAXAHACHIE, Texas — Sixteen […]

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Ohio Senate eliminates funding for membership in rail passenger group

Map of existing and proposed Ohio passenger rail service

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s Senate has moved to eliminate funding for the state to rejoin a Midwest passenger rail planning group, public broadcasting’s Statehouse News Bureau reports. The version of the state’s biennial budget passed by the House includes $25,000 for each of the next two years for membership in the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail […]

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California lawmakers announce deal on transit funding

New transit train with mountains in background

SACRAMENTO — California legislators have reached a deal to provide almost $2 billion in funding for the state’s public transit that was not part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget. The deal announced by state Sens. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Jesse Arreguin (D-Berkeley) restores a $1.1 billion transit cut included in Newsom’s budget, and […]

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Two trains derail in UP incident in Wyoming

Union Pacific logo without slogan. UP Bailey Yard explosion appear to be accidental.

SINCLAIR, Wyo. — At least 15 cars derailed in an incident Monday (June 9) involving two Union Pacific trains, Cowboy State Daily reports. The incident was reported about 9:30 a.m. A Union Pacific representative told the news site in an email that cars on two trains had derailed near Sinclair, and that there were no […]

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UP’s Lincoln locomotive to be displayed in Omaha

Red, maroon, and gray locomotive in shop building

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific’s Abraham Lincoln commemorative locomotive will be displayed at baseball’s College World Series, the railroad has announced. The locomotive, along with cars from the UP heritage fleet, will be on display at the railroad’s “Home Plate” location adjacent to Charles Schwab Field, site of the baseball tournament, from noon to 6 […]

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C&O No. 614 restoration to begin after arrival at Strasburg

Steam locomotive being pulled by diesel on bridge

STRASBURG, Pa. — Not even the dreary weather put a damper on the arrival of Chesapeake & Ohio No. 614 at the Strasburg Rail Road on Sunday (June 8, 2025).  The Class J3a 4-8-4 arrived in style during the afternoon, as 2-10-0 No. 90 escorted the locomotive along the tourist railroad’s main line from its […]

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Phoenix light rail system opens 5.5-mile addition

Light rail trainset in downtown Phoenix

PHOENIX — The Phoenix light rail system has grown by 5.5 miles, and gone from a single route to a two-line system, after the opening of the South Central Extension and Downtown Hub on Saturday, June 7. The opening of Valley Metro’s seven-station extension southward along Central Avenue from downtown to Baseline Road is projected […]

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Trump budget greenlights more National Network investment: Analysis

Passenger train with mix of single and bilevel equipment

WASHINGTON — Although the Trump Administration’s budget for fiscal 2026 provided little rationale for boosting Amtrak’s National Network funding by almost 23% while decreasing Northeast Corridor money by 25.5%, the proposal provides insight for Congress and company leadership on what their priorities should be. The recent release of budget details [see “Trump budget calls for […]

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Launch of South Shore’s West Lake service may not come this year

Map of 8-mile branch on South Shore Line

CHESTERTON, Ind. — The start of service on South Shore Line’s new West Lake Corridor, the 9-mile spur between Hammond and Dyer, Ind., has slipped back further, and now is not likely until at least the end of this year, General Manager Mike Noland said in a recent message to riders. The message on the […]

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Santa Cruz, Calif., rail project could cost $4.3 billion

Blue and white passenger trainset

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Construction of the long-discussed, much-debated rail line to Santa Cruz using a former Southern Pacific branch line could cost up to $4.3 billion, according to a document released Friday (June 6, 2025). The draft version of the executive summary of an upcoming report on the project, known as the Zero Emission […]

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News Wire Recommended Reading: rail stories from India to Illinois

Commuter train changing tracks

The latest edition of News Wire Recommended Reading ranges around the world, looking at everything from a new rail line in India to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s long, strange trip to replacing some of its rapid transit equipment. — The New York Times provides a look at India’s new rail line to Kashmir, which […]

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