Autumn is a great time for railroad adventure. Give me days with cool air and sunny skies or days when a gentle rain glosses colored foliage. Decades ago, I’d embark on week-long trips in the Fall to explore my favorite railroads. I’d arrange my itinerary to make the most of the autumn foliage, carefully planning […]
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the Port Authority-Trans Hudson fire that sent nine people to the hospital today (Monday, Aug. 4, 2025). The fire broke out under an eastbound PATH train at the Newport station in Jersey City about 6:20 a.m. The news site Gothamist reports 13 people were […]
DALLAS — Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail service continues to deal with disruptions as of the start of service today (Aug. 4, 2025) following last week’s fire on a light rail train in the tunnel below the downtown area. As of late last week, service was expected to be restored today. Additionally, service on […]
While David and Bryson allow the previously painted rail (Episode 16) to dry, they take a moment to focus on installing a switch motor…and they made an electrifying discovery! Follow along as they reveal the issue and the simple remedy that kept the project on the rails. Of course, other efforts must continue as the […]
SEATTLE — Evidence that Amtrak is literally running the wheels off of its available equipment became apparent today (Sunday, Aug. 3) when both Oregon-owned Series 8 Talgo trainsets in Amtrak Cascades service were sidelined because of condemned wheels. The setback follows a week in which passengers on many routes across the country encountered significant equipment […]
WASHINGTON — Marcus Molinaro, a former Republican member of the House of Representatives from New York, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. Molinaro was confirmed by a 71-23 vote on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. Results of the roll-call vote are available here. “I applaud the U.S. Senate […]
MIAMI — Florida East Coast Railway is suing Brightline over the proposed commuter service along the FEC route used by Brightline in South Florida, saying the passenger operator does not have the authority to negotiate the use of the line and that the plan is part of a Brightline effort to stave off “financial collapse.” […]
NEW YORK — The Interborough Express, the planned Metropolitan Transportation Authority light rail line linking Brooklyn and Queens, has entered the engineering and design phase. The MTA board this week selected a joint venture of Jacobs and HDR to oversee the project, which will be built along a currently freight-only, 14-mile Long Island Rail Road […]
DALLAS — Light rail service in downtown Dallas remains disrupted as a result of Wednesday’s fire involving a train near the Pearl/Arts District station. As of today (Aug. 1, 2025), Dallas Area Rapid Transit reports shuttle trains are operating between the Victory and Pearl/Arts District stations, as well as the EBJ/Union and Pearl/Arts District station. […]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak and Union Pacific have reached a settlement in their dispute over performance of the Sunset Limited and have asked the Surface Transportation Board to end its investigation into the train’s handling. An Amtrak filing on Thursday, July 31, asks that the STB case — the first of its kind regarding host-railroad handling […]
WASHINGTON — An on-line-only public Amtrak board of directors meeting today (July 31, 2025) lasted only 45 minutes and concluded with a flashy video embedded in a PowerPoint presentation extolling the virtues of the company’s long-awaited Next Generation Acela trainsets. But no date for its Northeast Corridor revenue service introduction was announced. Amtrak president Roger […]
WASHINGTON — Costin Corneanu has been named as Amtrak’s executive vice president, chief financial officer, effective Aug. 4. The Amtrak board approved the appointment today (July 31, 2025). Corneanu will succeed Tracie Winbigler, who will retire on Jan. 1, 2026. Until then, she will remain in her executive vice president role as chief transformation officer. […]
