Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
June 6, 2023
Amtrak Applies for $7.3 Billion in Federal Grants to Advance Northeast Corridor Infrastructure Upgrades
Amtrak has submitted applications for nearly $7.3 billion in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding for 14 proposed Northeast Corridor projects to modernize critical infrastructure, improve stations and expand Amtrak service.
June 6, 2023
Amtrak Applies for Federal Grants to Improve Long Distance Network
Amtrak has submitted applications for approximately $716 million in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding for 16 proposed projects around the country that would improve Long Distance reliability, reduce travel times and expand service.
June 5, 2023
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Funding for 63 Projects in 32 States That Will Help Reduce Train-Vehicle Collisions and Blocked Rail Crossings in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced it has awarded more than $570 million in Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program funding to projects in 32 states. This inaugural round of funding will address more than 400 at-grade crossings nationwide, improve safety, and make it easier to get around railroad tracks by adding grade separations, closing at-grade crossings, and improving existing at-grade crossings where train tracks and roads intersect.
June 5, 2023
Norfolk Southern and SMART-TD Reach Yardmaster Sick Leave Deal, Completing Negotiations with all Unions
Norfolk Southern Corporation and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — Transportation Division (SMART-TD) announced today that they have reached an agreement with representatives for their final group of craft employees – yardmasters – to provide up to seven paid sick days per year.
June 1, 2023
SEPTA Board Votes to Reappoint Leslie S. Richards as General Manager & CEO
SEPTA announced the reappointment of Leslie S. Richards as the Authority’s General Manager and CEO. The SEPTA Board and Richards agreed to terms on a four-year contract that runs through January 2027.
June 1, 2023
Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending May 27, 2023
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 27, 2023. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 480,998 carloads and intermodal units, down 4.8 percent compared with the same week last year.
May 31, 2023
Return of LIRR Cannonball Service to the Hamptons and Montauk Signals Start of Summer Season
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that the Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) Cannonball express train made its seasonal return on May 26 departing from Penn Station at 4:07 p.m. providing the fastest, safest and greenest way to and from the Hamptons and Montauk on Fridays all summer long.
May 31, 2023
CapeFLYER Returned for 10th Summer on Memorial Day Weekend
The CapeFLYER train which operates between Boston and Cape Cod returned for its 10th summer on Memorial Day weekend.
May 24, 2023
Norfolk Southern and Twelve Labor Unions Commit to Working Together to Enhance Rail Safety
Norfolk Southern Corporation President and CEO Alan H. Shaw and leaders of 12 Norfolk Southern labor unions sent a joint letter Tuesday underscoring their shared goal of partnering together to drive continuous improvement in rail safety at the company. The letter was sent to all Norfolk Southern craft and management employees. The signatories wrote in the letter:
May 24, 2023
MBTA $10 Weekend Pass Expanded to Include Federal Holidays
The MBTA and Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis), the agency’s operating partner for Commuter Rail, announced a six-month pilot program which will expand the $10 Weekend Commuter Rail Pass to include federal holidays.
