AUSTIN, Texas — Continuing operation of the Oklahoma City-Fort Worth, Tex., Heartland Flyer past June 30, 2025, could depend on whether the Texas legislature renews financial support it has contributed annually since 2006. But the train is also at risk because a yearly stipend from Oklahoma hasn’t changed since 2003, while Amtrak charges have risen […]
WASHINGTON — Saying the Federal Railroad Administration and Amtrak agree the project “is a waste of taxpayer funds,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced today (April 14, 2025) that the government is rescinding a $63.9 million grant for the proposed high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston. “The Texas Central Railway project was proposed as […]
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Many events can affect Amtrak service, but a Florida tragedy illustrates that some are far from the passenger operator’s control. A fatal private plane crash Friday, April 11, on tracks used by Tri-Rail and Amtrak trains caused cancellation of the day’s northbound Floridian and its counterpart east from Chicago today (Sunday, […]
CHICAGO — Storm-related cancellations will continue today (Monday, April 7) for Amtrak’s Texas Eagle and City of New Orleans, the fourth such day for such disruptions. In posts on the Amtrak Alerts social media feed late Sunday night, the company said today’s departures of the City of New Orleans from Chicago and New Orleans would […]
CHICAGO — A major, slow-moving storm has led to a flurry of Amtrak cancellations today (Friday, April 4) in the Midwest. Cancellations today, according to the Amtrak Alerts social media feed, include: — Both directions of the Texas Eagle between St. Louis and Marshall, Texas; — Both directions of the City of New Orleans; — […]
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Central is once again the subject of unwelcome attention from Texas legislators. The state House Transportation Committee on Thursday (April 3) voted to subpoena financial documents from the company, KBTX-TV reports, saying a Texas Central representative did not sufficiently answer questions about finances, management, and foreign backing for the proposed Dallas-Houston […]
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas state Senate this week passed a bill to provide $350 million for grade crossing separation projects, as well as a related resolution calling on the city of Houston to build a pedestrian bridge at the site where a high school student was killed last December. Senate Bill 1555, introduced in […]
Colorado & Southern’s Denver–Dallas Texas Zephyr, led by a pair of rakish E5s from parent Burlington Route, speeds southward through Colorado foothill country in July 1965. The train will cross a corner of New Mexico and then switch to Fort Worth & Denver rails at Texline on the Texas/New Mexico state line. Roger Meade photo […]
SEATTLE — Amtrak maintenance issues that caused cancellation of Sounder commuter service spilled over into Cascades intercity departures, with buses substituting for Seattle-Eugene, Ore., service because of a shortage of serviceable equipment. Meanwhile, Amtrak’s eastbound California Zephyr tried to fight its way through a dangerous Nebraska blizzard — and lost. Those were among the operational […]
KENT, Texas — Approximately 33 cars of a Union Pacific manifest freight train derailed Friday in near the Culberson County community of Kent, KWES-TV reports. The derailment occurred about 5 a.m., a UP representative told the station. No one was injured and no hazardous materials were involved. The incident occurred near Interstate 10 about […]
WASHINGTON — Three railroads — the Belpre Industrial Parkersburg, South Kansas & Oklahoma, and Union County Industrial — have been named by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association as winners of its 2025 Business Development Award. The award goes to railroads that show leadership and innovation with advancements in service, operations, and economic […]
Two Burlington Route 2-10-2s power away from Edgemont, S.Dak., with a westbound “Banana Special,” 67 reefers of bananas bound for the Pacific Northwest, in November 1948. G. B. Taylor photo […]
