First US high-speed rail production facility to set up shop in Horseheads, New York

Rendering of high speed passenger train

US high-speed rail HORSEHEADS, N.Y. – The United States’ first high-speed rail production facility will reside in New York state, according to a joint announcement by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Brightline West, and Siemens Mobility today (Monday Sept. 9). The press releases, provided to Trains.com News Wire, states that the new 300,000 sq […]

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Memorable train rides: VIA Rail Canada ‘Ocean’

Trains.com Kent Johnson’s pick: VIA Rail Canada Ocean Name of train: Ocean, Train No. 14 The route: Montréal, Quebéc to Halifax, Nova Scotia Duration: ~22 hours (one night, one day), tri-weekly service Waylaid by wet leaves on the rails, VIA Rail’s No. 14 eastbound Ocean arrives hours late into Moncton, N.B., Canada, on Oct. 19, […]

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‘Adirondack’ resumes Monday with Canadian trackwork incomplete

Passenger train viewed from pedestrian overpass

MONTREAL — Amtrak’s New York City-Montreal Adirondack is set to resume operation north of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., this Monday, Sept. 9, with a northbound trip. The first southbound train from Montreal will run the following day, Sept. 10. Amtrak chose to cancel the train beginning May 19 because, as a result of deferred track maintenance, […]

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Tom Kaiser’s O gauge layout

A toy train track plan for Tom Kaiser's O gauge layout

Name: Tom Kaiser’s O gauge layoutDimensions: 10½ x 11 feetTrack: Lionel FasTrack (diameters range from 31 to 60 inches)Motive power:Atlas O, K-Line, Lionel, MTH Electric Trains, Ready Made Trains, WilliamsRolling stock: K-Line, Lionel, Menards, MTH, Ready Made Trains, WilliamsControls: MRC transformers (2)Accessories: K-Line, Lionel, MarxStructures: Bachmann, K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Plasticville U.S.A., scratchbuiltVehicles: American Heritage Models, […]

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The HO scale Hudson, Delaware & Ohio and Trenton Northern Transportation & Light Co. layout

A large model railroad track plan for the Hudson, Delaware & Ohio railroad layout

Facts and features Name: Hudson, Delaware & Ohio and Trenton Northern Transportation & Light Co.Scale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 40 x 40 feet (phase I), 60 x 80 feet (phase II, under construction)Theme: freelance, inspired by Eastern Class I railroadsLocale: northern New Jersey and PennsylvaniaEra: steam-to-diesel transition (circa 1955)Style: multi-level walkaroundMainline run: HD&O (40 x 40-foot section), […]

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Amtrak breaks ground on Connecticut River Bridge

Illustration of double-track bridge with lift span in middle

OLD LYME, Conn. — Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner and a host of federal, state, and local officials were on hand Thursday for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on a replacement for the Connecticut River Bridge between Old Lyme and Old Saybrook, Conn. The $1.3 billion project will replace a bridge dating […]

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STB sets speaker schedule for hearing on rail growth, adjusts starting time

Train with red, black, and white locomotives

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board today (Sept. 5) announced the schedule for those who will testify in its upcoming hearing on growth in the freight rail industry, and adjusted the starting time for each day of Sept. 16-17 hearing to 9 a.m. ET — a half-hour earlier than the original schedule. The hearing will […]

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News photo: MBTA’s ‘Cranberry’ locomotive

"Cranberry" red and silver locomotive with bilevel commuter coaches

ATTLEBORO, Mass. — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has, in fairly subtle fashion, joined the list of commuter operators employing locomotives with heritage paint schemes. Newly rebuilt GP40MC No. 1129 — handling a test train of Hyundai-Rotem bilevel cars — passes through Attleboro on Aug. 28, 2024, displaying a version of the “cranberry” paint scheme […]

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Presidential Emergency Board recommends NJ Transit offer in dispute with engineers

An NJ Transit Bergen County Line train

WASHINGTON — A Presidential Emergency Board appointed to address a labor dispute between NJ Transit and the union representing its engineers has recommended that engineers receive the same raises that other unions have agreed to. NJ.com reports that the three members of Presidential Emergency Board 251 supported NJ Transit’s argument in support of the raises […]

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Steamtown resumes traditional Railfest schedule

Two diesel cab units and steam locomotive on display under cloudy skies

SCRANTON, Pa. — The National Park Service’s Steamtown National Historic Site this weekend revived its traditional Labor Day Railfest event, operating steam and diesel shuttle trains, demonstrating machine-shop skills, and providing a festival venue for a wide array of rail-related activities. After cancellations and schedule disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic, the event returned to […]

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Roger Williams: These Budds are for you, Providence

Semi-streamlined stainless steel passenger train at station

By the mid-1950s, the economic “Passenger Problem” was haunting U.S. railroads in a material way. In addition, older equipment continued to wear out and require replacement. Had this been a non-regulated business, that alone probably would have ended much of intercity passenger service, since there was no real prospect of making a return on investment. […]

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MBTA eliminates six speed restrictions in latest track maintenance project

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority logo

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority eliminated six speed restrictions as a result of its latest major track project, a suspension of service between the Red Line’s JFK/UMass and Kendall/MIT stations Aug. 19-26. Plans were to address five slow orders, but a sixth identified during the service suspension was also taken care of. “We […]

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