Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
December 24, 2025
MTA Announces Record Breaking Ridership on Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road in December
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) have both broken post-pandemic ridership records this December.
December 23, 2025
New York Governor Hochul Announces Major Congestion Pricing-Funded Subway Improvement Projects Moving Forward
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the advancement of $1.75 billion in key transit projects for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) that will modernize the subway system, funded by revenue generated by congestion pricing.
December 19, 2025
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern File Merger Application with STB
Union Pacific Corporation and Norfolk Southern Corporation today filed an application with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) requesting approval to combine the two railroads. The companies entered into a merger agreement on July 29, 2025, to create America’s first transcontinental railroad.
December 18, 2025
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Will Submit Merger Application Tomorrow
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern will submit their application to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, requesting approval to combine the two railroads and create America’s first transcontinental railroad.
December 18, 2025
MBTA Announces Three Qualified Teams Shortlisted for Opportunity to Operate Its Commuter Rail Network
The MBTA today announced that three qualified teams have been short-listed to submit proposals as the MBTA considers its Commuter Rail operating contract successor. The MBTA’s current Operating Agreement for managing, operating, and maintaining the Commuter Rail system will expire on June 30, 2027.
December 17, 2025
Reading & Northern Railroad Announces Early 2026 Excursions with Lower Ticket Prices
As it closes in on another record-breaking year for ridership in 2025, the Reading & Northern Railroad Passenger Department is already at work finalizing its 2026 schedule. Tickets for some of these excursions, scheduled for January and early February, went on sale with special early-season pricing.
December 17, 2025
AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending December 13, 2025
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending December 13, 2025. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 518,904 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.4 percent compared with the same week last year.
December 16, 2025
B&O Railroad Museum Announces 2026 Unveiling of the American Freedom Train No. 1
B&O Railroad Museum will unveil the newly restored American Freedom Train No. 1 (AFT No. 1) on January 12, 2026, as part of the Museum’s contribution to the national America 250 celebration.
December 15, 2025
President Trump & Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Have Struck a Great Deal to Deliver Christmas Bonuses to Amtrak’s Unionized Workforce
President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced a deal struck between the U.S. Department of Transportation and Amtrak’s management and board of directors to deliver bonuses of $900 to more than 18,000 Amtrak rail workers this Christmas season to celebrate a record year of ridership and revenue.
December 12, 2025
Ottawa-Montreal chosen as starting point for Alto High-Speed Rail
The Alto High-Speed Rail project will be one of Canada’s largest infrastructure investments in decades. Building the first high-speed rail network in Canada will turbocharge our economy, create well-paying jobs, support Canadian businesses and industry while delivering to Canadians the transportation system deserving of a major economy.
