Amtrak, commuter railroads say Penn Station expansion will be required to handle growth

Plan for additional tracks below current facilities at Penn Station

NEW YORK — Penn Station must be expanded to accommodate future traffic, according to Amtrak and the commuter railroads using the Manhattan rail hub. That is the conclusion of a report — commissioned by Amtrak, NJ Transit, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority — released Wednesday after studying alternatives to expansion. The report determined that the […]

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Dockworkers’ union rejects latest pay offer

Aerial view of trucks and containers at port

The war of words continues as the strike by International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) workers against U.S. East and Gulf Coast port employers entered its second day. The job action primarily affects container handling and roll-on, roll-off services at ports and terminals from Texas to Maine, and comes as importers enter the critical end-of-year retail selling […]

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Operation Toy Train announces expanded schedule for 2024

Aerial view of toy-collection train stop

DINGMANS FERRY, Pa. — Operation Toy Train has announced the schedule for its 16th year collecting toy donations for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and other organizations that benefit underprivileged children. This year, the program has expanded to include Southern California and New York’s capitol region, joining previous operations in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, […]

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MBTA Green Line remains disrupted following derailment

Small segment of MBTA transit map

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Service on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Green Line remains disrupted today (Oct. 2) following a Tuesday derailment of a Green Line train — an incident the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. The MBTA says in a post on social media site X that shuttle buses continue to replace service between […]

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New Jersey rail regulation bill advances in state senate

Train with two black locomotives on spur

TRENTON, N.J. — A New Jersey state senate committee has approved a bill that would require two-person crews for freight trains and set a maximum length of 8,500 feet for “dangerous hazardous trains.” Bill S3389, sponsored by Sens. Patrick Diegnan Jr. (D-Middlesex) and Raj Mukerji (D-Hudson), defines “dangerous hazardous trains” as those carrying tank cars […]

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Amtrak Inspector General sees risks of cost overruns, delays in Baltimore tunnel project

Map showing route of the current B&P Tunnel and the planned route of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel which will replace it.

WASHINGTON — Amtrak is increasing the risk of cost overruns and schedule delays on Baltimore’s Frederick Douglass Tunnel project because it has not completed all necessary planning as the start of major construction approaches, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General says in a report released Tuesday, Oct. 1. Major construction is slated to begin this […]

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Seven taken to hospital following MBTA derailment

Aerial view of derailed light rail trainset

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Seven people were taken to hospitals for treatment following the derailment of a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line train this evening (Oct. 1) near the Lechmere station in Cambridge, WBTS-TV reports. The incident occurred about 5 p.m. About 50 people were reported to have evacuated from the light rail vehicle onto […]

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Keolis preparing request for MBTA battery-electric equipment

Purple and silver multiple unit trainset with pantograph

BOSTON — Keolis Commuter Services, contract operator of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, has announced plans to release a Request for Proposals for battery-electric rolling stock later this year. The new equipment will be used on the commuter system’s Fairmount Line under a plan proposed by Keolis last year and approved by the MBTA board […]

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MBTA Red Line work eliminates 37 speed restrictions

Wooden ties undergoing replacement on transit line

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority eliminated 37 speed restrictions on an 18-mile section of track during a 24-day shutdown of a portion of its Red Line Braintree Branch, the transit agency says. Work was conducted between the JFK/UMass stations from Sept. 6 to Sept. 29, with one day of work also extended onto […]

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Shore Line East adds two round trips, restores Stamford-New London service

Train of electric multiple-unit cars on bridge

NEWINGTON, Conn. — Shore Line East commuter rail service will gain two additional round trips and see the resumption of direct service between Stamford, Conn., and New London as of Monday, Oct. 7, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced. Added are westbound trains No. 1633, departing New London at 5:46 a.m. and arriving at Stamford […]

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