News photos: Metro-North introduces locomotive honoring veterans (updated)

Red, white, and blue locomotive with labels for all branches of U.S. Armed Forces

NORTH WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.  — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad has introduced the eighth in its series of heritage locomotives, wrapping P32AC-DM No. 216 to honor U.S. veterans. The locomotive will be on display at Grand Central Terminal on Tuesday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day — and Wednesday, Nov. 12. It will enter service […]

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SEPTA Regional Rail cancellations increase as Silverliner inspections continue

Electric multiple-unit railcars in shop building

PHILADELPHIA — The ongoing inspection process for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s fleet of Silverliner IV electrical multiple-unit cars has led to a significant increase in train cancellations as of today (Nov. 10, 2025). A SEPTA message posted on Sunday says Regional Rail service is “running with extremely limited vehicle availability” because of the inspections, […]

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CTA plans 24-hour rail service to Midway Airport thanks to new funding

Map of Chicago Transit Authority rail system

CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority will add 24-hour service on a third rail line and look to increase frequencies across its rail system, the CTA’s acting president said this week in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. Acting President Nora Leerhsen told the newspaper the agency is looking to turn the Orange Line — […]

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Mexico begins work on passenger line to Nuevo Laredo

Map showing planned passenger rail projects in Mexico

MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday (Nov. 7) announced the start of the country’s latest major rail project, the Gulf of Mexico Train, a planned passenger route linking Nuevo Laredo at the U.S. border to the cities of Saltillo and Monterrey. Groundbreaking was held Friday in Nuevo Laredo for the first phase […]

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Caltrain warns of significant cuts without new funding

People on platform taking photos of new train

SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Caltrain has become the latest commuter operator to outline dire operational impacts without new funding — in this case, a regional funding measure to be on the ballot a year from now, in November 2026. As outlined at the November meeting of the Caltrain board, potential impacts without funding from the […]

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Amtrak has seats, rooms at high prices as air cancellations mount

Streamlined electrified trainn approaching station

WASHINGTON — Taking the train as an alternative to a cancelled flight is only rarely mentioned in news reports on the flight reductions ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration starting today (Nov. 7, 2025). The lack of Amtrak awareness is not surprising, given the spindly nature of its national network compared to air travel and […]

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Security and Emergency Response Training Center announces 2026 courses for first responders

PUEBLO, Colo. — MxV Rail’s Security and Emergency Response Training Center has announced its lineup of 2026 specialist-level and advanced courses to train first responders in dealing with surface transportation hazards. SERTC offers resident courses of 40 to 80 hours at its Pueblo training center, featuring full-scale props and live drills; remote courses of four […]

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Amtrak starts work on maintenance-facility upgrades in Washington, Boston

Man speaking at podium outdoors with shovels in background

Amtrak this week launched work on a pair of eastern maintenance facilities, breaking ground on Wednesday (Nov. 5) for construction of a new facility at Washington’s Ivy City Yard and holding a similar event Thursday for Southampton Yard in South Boston. In both cases, the work is tied to preparations for the new Airo trainsets, […]

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Charlotte-area voters back sales tax increase for transportation plan

Map of rail line between Charlotte and Mt. Mourne, N.C.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Voters in Mecklenburg County, N.C., on Tuesday (Nov. 4) approved a 1% sales-tax increase to fund a transportation plan, including a commuter rail line. The Charlotte Observer reports that the referendum approved by a 52%-48% margin is expected to raise more than $19 billion over 30 years. The measure requires 40% of […]

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Metra to operate Holiday Trains on five routes; tickets on sale Nov. 17

Holiday decorated F40PH-3

CHICAGO — Tickets go on sale Nov. 17 at noon for Metra’s annual Holiday Trains, to operate on five of its routes in December. The specially decorated trains featuring holiday characters will operate on the Metra Electric, BNSF, Milwaukee West, Rock Island, and Union Pacific Northwest lines. The Metra Electric trips will also feature a […]

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LA’s Metrolink sets annual Holiday Express trains

People in pajamas or holiday clothing waiting to board train

LOS ANGELES — Tickets are now on sale — and some are already sold out — for Metrolink’s annual Holiday Express trains, set to operate during three December weekends at sites in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura counties. The trains feature round trips of approximately 75 minutes, featuring Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, […]

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