Western Maryland Scenic acquires former Conemaugh & Black Lick switcher

Three-quarters angle image of yellow end-cab switcher with black trim

CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has acquired former Conemaugh & Black Lick Railroad SW7 locomotive No. 111, a fully functional EMD end-cab switcher which the railroad plans to use on some of its seasonal excursion trains. The locomotive built in 1949 is the last of 25 such locomotives that served the railroad […]

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New York MTA awards contract for next phase of Second Avenue Subway extension

Map of New York's Second Avenue Subway project

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board has approved a $1.97 billion contract for tunnel boring to extend the Second Avenue Subway, a 1.5-mile addition to extend the Q Line from 116th Street to 125th Street, and then west along 125th Street to Park Avenue in East Harlem. The contract approved today (Monday, Aug. […]

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SEPTA railcar inspections lead to Regional Rail cancellations (updated)

Meet of electric multiple-unit commuter trains

PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has removed some of its electric multiple-unit railcars from service for inspections related to two fires earlier this year, leading to delays and cancellations of some Regional Rail service. In an Aug. 14 press release, SEPTA said it has been cancelling some trips because  “out of an abundance […]

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SEPTA begins preparing for service cuts as funding deadline passes

Four-car electric multiple-unit trainset

PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will begin service cuts on Aug. 24 after the agency’s Thursday, Aug. 14, deadline passed for funding to avert the service reductions. According to a statement from the agency released early today (Aug. 15, 2025), “With no new funding secured, SEPTA must proceed with work to implement service […]

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Union Pacific adds lobbyists as part of merger effort

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — Union Pacific has bolstered its lobbyist efforts on Capitol Hill to support its effort to merge with Norfolk Southern. Politico reports the railroad has hired a team from the firm of Squire Patton Boggs led by former U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), who spent 18 years in the House, including six as chair […]

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BLET ratifies contract extension with New York & Atlantic

Green and black locomotives with freight train

NEW YORK — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have ratified a two-year contract extension with the New York & Atlantic Railway, the union has announced. The agreement includes a $1 per hour pay increase to all pay grades effective June 1, 2025, as well as two raises totaling 8% through the […]

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Pennsylvania Senate passes budget including transit funding, but House is unlikely to agree

White trolley car going uphill on street

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Senate has passed a funding bill that would largely use capital funding to maintain transit operations, a move the state’s governor and Democratically-controlled House say is not a viable solution to the funding shortfall that could lead to major service cuts in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The Philadelphia-area Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation […]

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LIRR adds more customer seating at Grand Central Madison

Seats in corridor-like area of train station

NEW YORK — The Long Island Rail Road has added more seating on the mezzanine level of Grand Central Madison, responding to customer requests during a period of rising ridership at the two-year-old facility. The station originally had no seating on the mezzanine — the area between the two levels of tracks well below Grand […]

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MBTA to offer free night subway service on five fall Fridays and Saturdays

Light rail train, gray with green nose, at station

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is expanding service on subways and some bus lines on five Fridays and Saturdays this fall, and will also offer free rides after 9 p.m. on those dates on all forms of transit: rail rapid transit, commuter rail, buses, ferries, and RIDE paratransit. The additional service and free […]

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Pennsylvania House again passes transit funding bill

Map of SEPTA rail network showing lines to be cut

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s House on Monday passed legislation that would address the funding crisis faced by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and other state agencies, but the bill’s future in the state Senate remains uncertain. The bill passed Monday by the House would provide $292 million from state sales tax, public radio station WITF […]

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EBT opens more trackage, returns steam locomotive No. 16 to service

Low-angle view of steam locomotive

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — The East Broad Top Railroad celebrated two notable events on Friday (Aug. 8, 2025), returning 2-8-2 No. 16 to operation after it was sidelined for several months, with the locomotive bringing ta train to the campus of Southern Huntingdon County High School adjacent to the railroad. It is the first train […]

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