Minor derailment disrupts MBTA, Amtrak operations

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority logo

BOSTON — No one was injured but commuter rail and Amtrak operations were disrupted after a low-speed derailment of a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter train arriving at Boston’s South Station today (Saturday, Feb. 8). The derailment involved train No. 1806, an 11:45 a.m. departure from Providence, R.I., that was due at South Station at […]

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Extensive delays, Empire Builder cancellation add to Amtrak disruptions

BNSF locomotive leading passenger train

CHICAGO — In the latest round of Amtrak operating issues, fallout from days of late trains has again inconvenienced passengers along the Empire Builder’s Chicago-Seattle/Portland, Ore., route, causing cancellation of one round trip. Other significant disruptions befell Southwest Chief and Lake Shore Limited departures, and reports say VIA Rail Canada’s westbound Canadian encountered snow-covered frozen […]

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MBTA announces March 24 start date for South Coast Rail

Map of rail lines in southeastern Massachusetts

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will launch South Coast Rail operations —  serving a group of southeastern Massachusetts communities that have been without passenger rail for 65 years — on March 24, 2025, the agency announced today. The start date — two months ahead of the most recent timeline, which called for service […]

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MTA names Vonashek as new president of Metro-North Railroad

Man in suit on balcony at Grand Central Terminal

NEW YORK — Justin Vonashek will become president of the Metro-North Railroad, succeeding Catherine Rinaldi, who will retire after almost seven years in the position. The change will be effective April 1. Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Janno Lieber announced the succession plans on Thursday, Feb. 7. Vonashek joined Metro-North as vice president of system safety […]

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Service resumes on SEPTA line after fire

Fire trucks on street with train in background

RIDLEY PARK, Pa. — Service on the Southeastern Pennysylvania Transportation Authority’s Wilmington-Newark line resumed late Thursday after a fire that caused significant damage to a train and led to the evacuation of an estimated 350 passengers. WPVI-TV reports service resumed about 11 p.m. ET. The fire occurred about 6 p.m., with one car of a […]

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Pop Up Metro under consideration for Philadelphia riverfront operation

Map of area along Delaware River waterfront in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — Pop Up Metro has another potential customer, this time in Philadelphia. KYW Radio reports the Delaware River Waterfront Corp. is considering the concept of operating Pop Up Metro’s battery-electric trainsets along existing tracks on Columbus Boulevard, paralleling the Delaware River. Karen Thompson, DRWC director of planning, policy, and engagement,told KYW the exact route […]

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Fire engulfs SEPTA railcar; no injuries reported (updated)

Image of railcar on fire. For use only as featured image

SEPTA train goes up in flames in Delaware County; 350 passengers evacuated https://t.co/W8mvALli43 — Action News on 6abc (@6abc) February 7, 2025 RIDLEY PARK, Pa. — No injuries were reported when at least one car of a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Regional Rail train was destroyed by fire this evening (Feb. 6, 2025). An image […]

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Gateway commission awards $1.8 billion contract for Hudson tunnel

Aerial view of tunnel project

NEW YORK — The agency overseeing construction of the new rail tunnel connecting New Jersey and Manhattan on Monday awarded a $1.8 billion contract for the connection on the tunnel’s New York side. NorthJersey.com reports that the Gateway Development Commission awarded the contract to a joint venture of Frontier, Kemper, Tutor, and Perini because of […]

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Lawsuit blames seven deaths on East Palestine derailment

Black cloud of smoke above town

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — A new lawsuit blames the East Palestine derailment and toxic-chemical release for seven deaths, including that of a week-old infant. The suit was announced Monday — two years after the Feb. 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern derailment — by a trio of law firms on behalf of some 744 plaintiffs. It names […]

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Bill requiring Amtrak refunds for cancelled, late trains is introduced

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — A New Jersey congressmen has introduced a bill first announced last summer that would require Amtrak to provide passengers with ticket refunds when trains are cancelled or delayed “due to a failure of Amtrak.” H.R. 769 was introduced by U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) on Jan. 28 and sent to the House Committee […]

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Bill calls for Connecticut to establish rail service to Hartford-area airport

Exterior of airport building

HARTFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut legislator has introduced a bill that would require the state’s Department of Transportation to develop rail service to Bradley International Airport, the Hartford-area facility in Windsor Locks, Conn. General Assembly Bill 5061, introduced by state Rep. Christopher Rosario (D-Bridgeport), would require service from Hartford Union Station to the airport with […]

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