Catskill Mountain to use New York grants to extend route, upgrade locomotives, build new engine house

Black locomotive with short tourist train

KINGSTON, New York — The Catskill Mountain Railroad will use three grants from the New York State Department of Transportation to build a new engine house and connecting track, a new terminal at Basin Road, and an upgrade to reduce diesel locomotive emissions, the railroad has announced. The grants, totaling $4.485 million, were among those […]

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Failure of switch part led to MBTA Red Line derailment

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority logo

BOSTON — A failure in a counterpin, a small switch part, led to the derailment of a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Red Line train on March 23, MBTA CEO Phillip Eng told a meeting of the agency’s board on Thursday. WCVB-TV reports the failure of that small pin allowed a larger pin connecting to a […]

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Maine legislature votes down study of Portland-Bangor passenger service

Portion of Maine rail map

AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill calling for a study to extend rail passenger service from Portland, Maine, to Bangor, via Lewiston, Auburn, and Waterville, was defeated this week in the state’s House of Representatives, CentralMaine.com reports. In a Wednesday vote, LD 860 was defeated 82-63, a week after the state Senate had approved the legislation […]

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Connecticut to rename Fairfield Metro station to reduce confusion

Aerial view of commuter rail station

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — In a move to address a longstanding source of confusion, the Fairfield Metro station on Metro-North’s New Haven Line will be renamed Fairfield-Black Rock, local and Connecticut Department of Transportation officials have announced. The station in question, which opened in December 2011, is approximately 1.7 miles northeast of the downtown Fairfield station. Commuters […]

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Study offers five possibilities for passenger service to Allentown, Pa.

Map of possible passenger routes to Allentown, Pa.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A study on the potential return of passenger service to Allentown, Pa., by Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation and consulting firm WSP was released Wednesday, narrowing from 12 to five the potential routes such service might take. The full 60-page study, available here, provides a roadmap for the process it would take to […]

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CT rail passenger service along the Hartford Line

Travel with Trains.com to the Hartford Line, a busy stretch of commuter railroad operating passenger service between New Haven, Conn. and Springfield, Mass. Opened in 2018 and featuring up to 35 passenger trains a day, this state-supported passenger rail corridor features both CT rail service and Amtrak Regionals. In addition, we’ll view Amtrak Vermonter, which […]

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New York MTA approves tolls for congestion pricing plan

Man speaking in meeting room

NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board has approved toll rates for Manhattan’s planned congestion pricing program, which is intended to fund improvements to MTA transit programs. The board voted 11-1 at a meeting today (March 27) to approve tolls of $15 during the day and $3.75 at night in the congestion zone below […]

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NTSB looks at NS rules, procedures, and training as investigation of three-train Pennsylvania incident continues (corrected)

Scene of three-train derailment along river

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board is looking at Norfolk Southern rules, procedures, and crew training relating to train handling as it continues its investigation into the collision and derailment involving three trains that occurred March 2 in Lower Saucon Township, Pa., according to the preliminary investigation report issued today (Tuesday, March 26). The […]

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MBTA Orange Line work leads to elimination of seven speed restrictions

Crew works on track in subway tunnel

BOSTON — A four-day shutdown of Massachusetta Bay Transportation Authority’s Orange Line between Jackson Square and North Station resulted in elimination of six speed restrictions, with a seventh removed over the weekend after the conclusion of the March 18-21 suspension of service, the MBTA reports. “I’m proud of the dedicated workforce that worked in a […]

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MBTA Red Line train derails

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority logo

BOSTON — A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Red Line train derailed this morning (Saturday, March 23) while changing tracks to accommodate a planned service shutdown, WCVB-TV reports. The incident occurred just before 6 a.m. near the Broadway station in South Boston and involved the first car of the trainset. Shuttle buses for a planned shutdown […]

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Port Authority approves project providing neighborhood access to Newark Airport station on Northeast Corridor

Passenger train with electric locomotive

NEWARK, N.J. — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has approved a project that will provide the ability for local residents to use the Newark Airport station on the Northeast Corridor, previously accessible only for NJ Transit and Amtrak passengers going to the airport. NorthJersey.com reports the Port Authority board this week […]

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Project 113 sets trips with CNJ 0-6-0 for Minersville, Pa., Community Day

Steam locomotive and vintage passenger cars at station

MINERSVILLE, Pa. — Railway Project 113, the group that has restored Central of New Jersey 0-6-0 No. 113 to operation, will be operating the train for six trips on May 18 as part of Minersville’s first Community Day. Trips will operate from the Minersville station to Reading Anthracite’s New St. Nicholas Breaker and return. The […]

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