Control of long-delayed Toronto light rail line transferred to TTC

Black and white light rail trainset on track with construction work visible in background

TORONTO — The Toronto Transit Commission, operator of the city’s subways and streetcars, has officially taken control of the long-delayed Eglinton Crosstown light rail line, the head of regional transit agency Metrolinx said on Tuesday (June 17). Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay said the TTC would begin controlling train movements no later than today, June 18. […]

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Pennsylvania House passes bill to increase transit funding

White trolley car going uphill on street

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives has passed a bill to provide more than $290 million in funding for public transit statewide that could address major shortfalls for the transit systems in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas. However, the key legislative hurdle — passage by the Senate — remains. House Bill 1364 would provide […]

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Fort Worth transit agency approves 10-year extension with commuter rail contract operator

Diesel multiple-unit trainset approaches station

FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth-area transit agency Trinity Metro has approved a 10-year extension of a contract with operating company Herzog Transit Services Inc. for its two commuter rail operations, the TEXRail line between Fort Worth and DFW International Airport and the Trinity Railway Express between Fort Worth and Dallas. Trinity Metro’s board approved […]

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East Troy Railroad Museum’s Milwaukee Day scheduled for June 28

Orange trolly car on display in front of depot

EAST TROY, Wis. — The East Troy Railroad Museum’s Milwaukee Day, scheduled for June 28, will feature rare displays and trolley rides with equipment directly tied to the Brew City’s past. Three rarely-seen pieces in the museum’s collection are planned to be brought out of storage for display at the East Troy depot. Chicago North […]

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First ENS Sign Awareness Day set for June 24

Graphic illustration for ENS Sign Awareness Day

WASHINGTON — The U.S. rail industry is supporting Emergency Notification System Sign Awareness Day on June 24, seeking to raise public awareness of the blue signs at railroad grade crossings on who to contact in an emergency. “The sign may be small, but its impact is enormous,” Rachel Maleh, executive director of Operation Lifesaver Inc., […]

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Senate subcommittee to hold rail hearing

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — Officials from Brightline, Anacostia Rail Holdings, and the Association of American Railroads are scheduled to testify Wednesday (June 18) at a Senate subcommittee hearing on railroading. The Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Surface Transportation will hold the hearing, “On the Right Track: Modernizing America’s Rail Network,” at 10 a.m. in Russell Office Building room […]

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Caltrain engineers ratify new contract

Red and white electric mutliple-unit commuter trains at station

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Engineers who operate Caltrain commuter trains have ratified a new five-year agreement with the service’s contract operator, Transit Services America, Inc., the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has announced. The agreement, announced last week, covers 68 locomotive engineers. Fifty-six of those BLET members voted, with 50 (or 89%) voting in favor […]

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Colorado DOT to hold open house updating Mountain Rail project

Map of rail route between Denver and Craig, Colo.

FRASER, Colo. — The Colorado Department of Transportation will hold an open house meeting on Wednesday, June 18, to discuss the Mountain Rail proposal for passenger service between Denver and Craig, Colo. The meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7:30p.m. at Fraser Valley Elementary School, 125 Eastom Ave., in Fraser. It will be live […]

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Rapido HO Amtrak Non-Powered Control Unit

Color photo of HO scale diesel locomotive painted silver with red, white, and blue stripes on white background.

Rapido HO Amtrak Non-Powered Control Unit Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin plug, $239.95; with dual-mode sound decoder, $289.95 Era: Mid-1990s to present (varies based on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains, 382 High St., Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Rapido HO Amtrak Non-Powered Control Unit features: Enlarged marker lights Etched-metal radiator grills and […]

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VIA reports increased ridership, revenue in 2024

MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada saw a 6.6% gain in ridership and an 11% increase in total revenues during 2024, according to the company’s annual fiscal-year report. Revenues for the calendar year were Ca$480.2 million (U.S. $353.8 million), while ridership reached 4.4 million. The company recorded an operating loss of Ca $385.2 million (U.S. $283.7 […]

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News & Products for the week of June 16th 2025

Two model locomotives, one in a blue paint scheme and one in a black paint scheme

News & Products for the week of June 16th 2025   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of June 16th, […]

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East Troy Industrial Park EXTRA | Progress Report #1

Now that trains are running on the HO scale East Troy Industrial Park (ETIP) project layout, David Popp hosts this BONUS video to share some of the behind-the-scenes efforts and design considerations the MR crew still needs to tackle. As so many model railroaders can attest, there’s no such thing as “finished” layout…especially when structure […]

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