Railpace Hot News

Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.

Reading and Northern Railroad to Donate $10,000.00 to Downtown Pittston Partnership

May 23, 2023

Reading and Northern Railroad to Donate $10,000.00 to Downtown Pittston Partnership

The Reading & Northern Railroad met with Pittston Mayor Mike Lombardo last week and agreed to donate $10,000.00 to Downtown Pittston Partnership, a non-profit organization advancing the revitalization of downtown Pittston. The group promotes activities and programs that benefit local businesses, residents, and visitors.

Amtrak Adds More Northeast Regional Service to Springfield Beginning June 5

May 22, 2023

Amtrak Adds More Northeast Regional Service to Springfield Beginning June 5

Amtrak, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) are pleased to announce two additional Amtrak Northeast Regional trains serving Springfield Union Station beginning Monday, June 5, 2023. Amtrak Northeast Regional trains offer customers single seat rides and direct access from Springfield to New York City in three and half hours and connections to the Northeast Corridor for travel to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and more.

Amtrak and NC By Train Increasing Daily Service for Travel between Charlotte and Raleigh

May 22, 2023

Amtrak and NC By Train Increasing Daily Service for Travel between Charlotte and Raleigh

Passengers can soon take advantage of additional opportunities to travel on the Piedmont as Amtrak and NC By Train add a daily roundtrip for service between the vibrant commercial center of Charlotte and state capital of Raleigh. Tickets are now available to purchase for travel beginning on July 10.

Amtrak and Restaurateur Stephen Starr Unite to Redefine Culinary Excellence Onboard

May 19, 2023

Amtrak and Restaurateur Stephen Starr Unite to Redefine Culinary Excellence Onboard

 Amtrak and STARR Restaurant Group, led by James Beard award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr, today announced the launch of an all-new, premium Acela First Class dining menu on trains traveling on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington D.C.

Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending May 13, 2023

May 18, 2023

Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending May 13, 2023

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 13, 2023. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 466,381 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.9 percent compared with the same week last year.

Brightline Orlando Tickets Now On Sale

May 17, 2023

Brightline Orlando Tickets Now On Sale

Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, today, has launched ticket sales for the highly anticipated Brightline Orlando connection. While final preparations are being made for grand opening, tickets between South Florida (Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach) and Orlando are on sale now for late summer through early 2024.

FRA Releases Washington Union Station Expansion Project Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement

May 16, 2023

FRA Releases Washington Union Station Expansion Project Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement

On May 12, 2023, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the Washington Union Station Expansion Project (Project) as well as a Draft Section 106 National Historic Preservation Act Programmatic Agreement and Draft Section 4(f) of the US Department of Transportation Act Evaluation.

As Metro-North Railroad Continues to Break Pandemic-Era Ridership Records, Railroad Rebrands a Series of Diesel Locomotives to Celebrate 40 Years of Public Service

May 15, 2023

As Metro-North Railroad Continues to Break Pandemic-Era Ridership Records, Railroad Rebrands a Series of Diesel Locomotives to Celebrate 40 Years of Public Service

As Metro-North Railroad continues to set post-pandemic ridership records, the railroad is rebranding up to five locomotives with special colors and designs as a Heritage Series to highlight the railroad’s 40 years of service to the public.

Columbus & Ohio River Rail Road to Receive Grant

May 15, 2023

Columbus & Ohio River Rail Road to Receive Grant

On May 11, 2023, the Ohio Rail Development Commission (Rail Commission) approved a grant of up to $750,000 to Columbus & Ohio River Rail Road (CUOH) to improve capacity at CUOH’s Newark Yard and mitigate the possibility of blocked railroad crossings in Zanesville.

USDOT Highlights New Efforts to Keep Communities Safe and Hold the Rail Industry Accountable

May 12, 2023

USDOT Highlights New Efforts to Keep Communities Safe and Hold the Rail Industry Accountable

As part of its ongoing work to protect the American public, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration laid out a new round of steps focused on the safety and accountability of the freight rail industry. In recent days, FRA has issued two safety advisories to railroad companies—one regarding the length of trains, which can be more than one or two miles long; and another on weight distribution of railcars and how that affects the risk of derailment. FRA has also issued a new report summarizing rail safety violations in 2022, and it completed safety training with personnel from around the country, an important opportunity to share updated safety practices.