CEO of Raleigh-Durham area transit agency resigns, citing stalled commuter rail project

Map of rail line in North Carolina

DURHAM, N.C. — The president and CEO of the transit system for the Raleigh-Durham area has resigned because the commuter rail system he was hired to develop has been postponed indefinitely. The Raleigh News & Observer reports the board of directors of transit agency GoTriangle accepted the resignation of Charles Lattuca on Wednesday. Lattuca joined […]

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Norfolk Southern offers alternative origins for West Coast intermodal ahead of coastal port strike

Intermodal train on bridge

ATLANTA — With longshoremen and port operators still unable to come to terms for a new labor agreement at East Coast ports, Norfolk Southern is recommending alternative origins for West Coast-destined international intermodal that normally flows into the eastern seaboard. NS outlined its recommended service Thursday, making use of its inland intermodal terminals to originate […]

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Railroads prepare for tropical storm threat in Southeast (updated)

Satellite image of hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico

TAMPA, Fla. — After an unusual lull in hurricane activity in August and September, railroads are monitoring a new tropical disturbance that will make landfall around Tallahassee, Fla., on Thursday, Sept. 26, likely as a Category 2 or 3 hurricane. “CSX is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Helene, which is projected to intensify to hurricane strength […]

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Amtrak combines Capitol Limited, Silver Star to create the new Floridian (updated)

Locomotive and caboose on display next to passenger station

WASHINGTON — Amtrak is temporarily combining the Capitol Limited and Silver Star trains to create the new Floridian. Amtrak says the change is due to the upcoming East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project in New York. During this project, one tunnel tube will be closed at a time, minimizing service impacts, maximizing construction access and modernizing the tunnel infrastructure to […]

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Evans Auto-Railer to join National Capital Trolley Museum’s collection

Old looking trolley/bus vehicle sitting on a trailer

COLESVILLE, Md. — A unique predecessor to the renowned hi-rail vehicle has recently hit the road for a renewal in its preservation odyssey. The National Capital Trolley Museum announced in a Sept. 17 post on Facebook and Instagram the acquisition of Evans Auto-Railer No. 109. The 1936-built vehicle was transported on Sept. 9 on a […]

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Analysis: What a work stoppage at East, Gulf coast ports means for CSX, NS

Yellow-and-blue diesel locomotive with containers on curve

  Class I railroads’ intermodal volumes have been strong this year, but the growing threat of an East Coast ports work stoppage risks upending supply chains just as the freight industry was normalizing.   East Coast Class I railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern are keeping an eye on the potential for a widespread strike at […]

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CSX train collides with truck hauling military equipment in South Carolina

Screenshot of video showing train hitting truck carrying tan military equipment

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. — Amateur video shows when a CSX Transportation train collides with truck hauling military artillery equipment at Goose Creek, The Post and Courier reports.   Goose Creek is located about 15 northwest of Charleston on a former Atlantic Coast Line route that also hosts Amtrak’s Silver Meteor.   The incident occurred Thursday […]

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Florida’s Sugar Express adds former Florida East Coast observation car to its fleet

silver train

Sugar Express CLEWISTON, Fla. — U.S. Sugar’s Sugar Express train consist continues to grow in length, and its latest addition is an historic streamlined railcar with a strong Florida pedigree. Round-end observation lounge car Bay Biscayne arrived on U.S. Sugar’s Clewiston headquarters in July, and has been added to the Sugar Express 9-car excursion train […]

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No deal for planned Brightline station in Stuart, Florida

Passenger train at grade crossing

STUART, Fla. – Nearly six months after its March 4 ceremony, announcing a new intermediate station to be constructed in downtown Stuart, Brightline is now heading back to the drawing board. The TC Palm newspaper reported a city commissioners meeting on Sept. 9 to rescind both its ground lease and interlocal agreements with the passenger […]

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Charlotte council approves purchase of NS line for commuter rail project

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

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte City Council has voted to purchase 22 miles of a Norfolk Southern rail line for a long-discussed commuter rail project, and to seek a 1-cent sales tax increase to pay for a transportation plan including the Red Line project. In a vote this evening (Tuesday, Sept. 3), the council voted […]

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CSX turned down in appeal of lawsuit against Norfolk Southern

Intermodal train navigating switches

CSX Transportation said it was considering its options after a U.S. appeals court refused to restart its lawsuit against competitor Norfolk Southern over access to a key Virginia container port, causing it hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. The allegations fell outside the four-year window for filing claims under U.S. antitrust law, a three-judge […]

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Rebuilding the S-Line | Amtrak in North Carolina and Virginia

Rebuilding the S-Line | As detailed in the November 2024 issue of Trains magazine, the neighboring states of North Carolina and Virginia are up to something big! They are cooperating, collaborating, and even co-funding to create a 110-mph interstate passenger-train speedway dubbed, the “S-Line”. Watch this video to see some of the existing Amtrak trains […]

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