Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
January 3, 2023
United Railroad Historical Society Hires New Executive Director
The United Railroad Historical Society (URHS) has announced the hiring of its new Executive Director and first-ever employee, Kevin Phalon! He has served at URHS’s President since May of 2020. In that time, URHS has grown substantially as an organization, and the group is thrilled to be able to accelerate that growth with the addition of a full-time staff member.
January 3, 2023
Metro-North Railroad Celebrates 40th Anniversary
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today noted that New Year’s Day marked the 40th anniversary of the founding of MTA Metro-North Railroad, which began operation on Jan. 1, 1983.
December 22, 2022
Nearly $9 Billion Available to Modernize Northeast Corridor
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) today announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) making available nearly $9 billion in funding to upgrade and expand passenger rail services along the Northeast Corridor (NEC). These funds will be issued through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program (Partnership Program), which grew to $36 billion over the next five years thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
December 22, 2022
MTA Announces Rehabilitation Project of the Metro-North Park Avenue Viaduct
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority today announced that MTA Construction & Development will award a $382 million Design-Build contract to begin reconstruction efforts on the Park Avenue Viaduct in East Harlem.
December 22, 2022
Rail Traffic for the Week Ending December 17, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending December 17, 2022. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 476,232 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.5 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending December 17 were 226,977 carloads, down 3.2 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 249,255 containers and trailers, down 7.5 percent compared to 2021.
December 21, 2022
MBTA Receives Over $66 Million in Federal Funding for Accessibility Improvements at Symphony Station
The MBTA is pleased to announce that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded the T with over $66 million in funding for accessibility improvements at Symphony station, which was constructed in 1941 and is one of downtown Boston’s last inaccessible underground Green Line stations.
December 20, 2022
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $686 Million in Grants to Modernize Older Transit Stations and Improve Accessibility Across the Country
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA)announced 15 grants in nine states to help make it easier for people with disabilities and mobility needs to access some of the nation’s oldest and busiest rail transit systems through essential upgrades, such as elevators. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the approximately $686 million in grants represents the first round of funding from the new All Stations Accessibility Program, which is designed to improve the accessibility of transit rail stations so everyone, including those who use wheelchairs, push strollers, or cannot easily navigate stairs, can reliably access the rail systems in their communities.
December 20, 2022
SEPTA Awarded Federal Grant To Support Station Accessibility Commitment
SEPTA has been awarded $56,050,000 in federal funding to improve station accessibility on its Broad Street and Market-Frankford Lines the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and members of Pennsylvania’s southeast Congressional delegation announced. The funding is the first grant awarded through the FTA’s All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP), which was created in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed into law last November.
December 20, 2022
MTA Announces Long Island Rail Road to Bolster Existing Schedules with Grand Central Direct Service
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that the Long Island Rail Road will introduce special Grand Central Direct service to Grand Central Madison beginning when facility systems testing is complete, to enable the public to begin exploring the new terminal and its route while the LIRR continues to maintain full existing schedules to Penn Station.
December 20, 2022
Norfolk Southern Unveils Automotive Buyer Benchmark
Norfolk Southern Corporation today unveiled the results of its first-ever Automotive Buyer Benchmark, a look into the decision-making processes of consumers who are, or will soon be, searching for a new vehicle. The findings underscored the importance car buyers place on automotive supply chain sustainability.
