Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
September 30, 2026
Airo Trains Make Their Amtrak Cascades Debut
Amtrak is welcoming customers aboard its all-new Airo trainsets today as a new era of passenger rail arrives in the Pacific Northwest. Beginning today, two cutting-edge Airo trainsets will join the Amtrak Cascades route, operating four daily trips between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Portland, and Eugene and marking the first introduction of Airo trains into passenger service anywhere in the country.
September 29, 2026
Start of Tunnel Boring for Hudson Tunnel Project:
The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) celebrated on September 28th the start of tunnel boring for the Hudson Tunnel Project. In the coming days, final testing will be completed and the first tunnel boring machine that will be used to build the new train tunnel under the Hudson River will begin digging. A second machine will launch soon after.
September 28, 2026
Brightline Florida Reaches Agreement on Financial Restructuring
Brightline, Florida’s high-speed passenger rail system connecting Miami-to-Orlando, announced that certain entities associated with the company have entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (the “RSA”) with certain of its financial stakeholders including Assured Guaranty, Inc. and an ad hoc group of Mutual Fund bondholders. The RSA will significantly deleverage Brightline’s balance sheet and greatly improve liquidity.
September 25, 2026
Accelerate: SEPTA Announces Best-in-Class Vision
SEPTA announced Accelerate – the Authority’s vision for safe, reliable and accessible service. SEPTA is planning a sustained set of investments over the next decade.
September 24, 2026
Mass DOT Approves Funding for New MBTA Locomotives;
Yesterday the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Board of Directors voted to approve the transfer of $600 million for three major transportation investments across Massachusetts: modernizing the MBTA’s commuter rail fleet, supporting infrastructure needed to build more housing, and improving the safety and resilience of roads, bridges and parkways managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
September 24, 2026
The Magenta Train Charlotte
Historic passenger railcars are arriving in Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood, bringing a new destination for celebrations, gatherings and community experiences. The Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway (ACWR) will introduce The Magenta Train Charlotte with a ribbon cutting and media meet & greet at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, followed by a public Open House from 4 – 7 p.m.
September 23, 2026
Progress Rail Highlights EMD SD70H Hybrid Locomotive
Progress Rail is showcasing its new EMD® SD70H hybrid locomotive technology at InnoTrans 2026. Built on the proven SD70 platform, the SD70H combines diesel-electric reliability with battery-assisted energy management to reduce fuel consumption, improve operating efficiency, and lower total cost of ownership while integrating seamlessly into existing fleets.
September 23, 2026
AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending September 19, 2026
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 19, 2026. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 535,663 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.9 percent compared with the same week last year.
September 23, 2026
Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Combination Gains Additional Momentum
Union Pacific Corporation and Norfolk Southern Corporation acknowledged two significant milestones in the creation of America’s first transcontinental railroad
September 22, 2026
Stadler and Metra to Showcase First Zero-Emission Battery-Electric FLIRT Train at APTA EXPO 2026
Stadler and Metra will present the first battery-electric FLIRT train developed for the U.S. market at APTA EXPO 2026 on October 5th. This technology marks a significant milestone in the evolution of sustainable, zero-emission passenger rail transportation in North America.
