Digest: U.S. Sugar operates steam-powered holiday train

Steam locomotive pulling train over water on a pile causeway.

U.S. Sugar fires up No. 148 for ‘Santa Express’ U.S. Sugar volunteers, joined by members of the U.S. Marine Corps and local representatives from Toys for Tots, operated its 4-6-2, No. 148, as the “Santa Express” from U.S. Sugar’s Clewiston, Fla., headquarters on on Saturday, delivering presents for children of the Florida Glades farming communities […]

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Digest: Florida DOT to provide $67 million for Tampa streetcar expansion

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Florida DOT commits $67 million for Tampa streetcar expansion The Florida Department of Transportation announced Tuesday it will contribute $67 million toward a plan to expand Tampa’s TECO Line Streetcar, a proposed $234 million project which would add 1.3 miles to the existing 2.7-mile heritage streetcar system connecting downtown to the Ybor City district. The […]

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Digest: Brightline, Disney World sign agreement for station

Brightline logo

Monday midday rail news: Brightline, Disney World announce station agreement Brightline and Walt Disney World have announced an agreement to build a Brightline station at to serve the resort at the Disney Springs shopping, dining, and entertainment complex. The preliminary concept calls for ground level lobby and passenger facilities with an upper-level train platform. “Brightline […]

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Digest: Jupiter, Fla., seeks fencing along Brightline route

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Still more Monday morning rail news: Jupiter, Fla., requests fencing along Brightline route Jupiter, Fla., is asking Brightline to erect fencing along its right-of-way in anticipation of the start of Miami-Orlando service, which is projected to begin in 2023. The Palm Beach Post reports the city and passenger operator have looked at fencing the Pine […]

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Digest: Brightline nears halfway mark in Orlando expansion work

person walking on the platform next to a passenger train

Monday morning rail news: Brightline expansion work about 45% complete, company says Brightline’s northward expansion from West Palm Beach to Orlando, Fla., is about 45% complete and on target to complete construction in 2022, according to a presentation by Michael Cegelis, executive vice president of infrastructure development, during a meeting last week of the Central […]

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Digest: SunRail shut down because of tropical storm

SunRail train with city skyline in background

Thursday morning rail transit news:

 SunRail shut down because of tropical storm
 Orlando-area commuter railroad SunRail will suspend operations today in preparation for the arrival of Tropical Storm Eta, which is expected to make landfall today along Florida’s west coast after meadering around the Gulf of Mexico for several days. Watch the SunRail website or […]

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Digest: NS donates historic car ‘Marco Polo’ to Georgia museum

office car

Tuesday morning preservation and museum news:

 NS donates historic ‘Marco Polo’ to Southeastern Railway Museum
 Norfolk Southern is donating private car Marco Polo, used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt while in office, to the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Ga. The car is scheduled to arrive at the museum at 11 a.m. on Nov. 14 […]

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Digest: Tri-Rail shuts down because of tropical storm

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Sunday morning rail news: Miami’s Tri-Rail suspends operations because of Tropical Storm Eta Miami-area commuter railroad Tri-Rail has suspended operations as of today because of severe weather expected with the arrival of Tropical Storm Eta. WFOR-TV reports Tri-Rail will also be removing arms from crossing gates, as is procedure when there are sustained winds of over 35 […]

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Digest: Train-truck collision in Georgia leads to lengthy fire; no injuries reported

More Thursday morning rail news: Truckload of mattresses burns after being hit by train in Georgia No injuries were reported when a stalled tractor-trailer rig caught fire after being struck by a Norfolk Southern train in Rex, Ga., on Wednesday afternoon, snarling traffic in the community a dozen miles southeast of Atlanta. WXIA-TV reports the truck was […]

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Virginia Passenger Rail Authority begins work to improve area’s rail transportation

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Former Norfolk Southern and Amtrak CEO Charles “Wick” Moorman and retired NS executive Deborah Butler Painter are among members of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority board of directors, which held its first meeting Monday to begin its efforts to improve rail transportation in the state. Created by a law passed earlier this year, the […]

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Digest: Brightline to begin work on Tampa route in 2022

Still more Monday morning rail news: Brightline to begin work on Tampa route in 2022; reaching Disney World a priority Work on Brightline’s planned Orlando-Tampa line line will not begin until 2022, with a goal of operation beginning in 2025. The Tampa Bay Business Journal reports Michael Cegelis, Brightline’s executive vice president of rail infrastructure, laid out […]

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