Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
December 19, 2022
MTA Details Improvement Projects Along the 7 Line
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) highlighted ongoing and upcoming projects taking place along the 7 line in Manhattan and Queens. Work includes accessibility and safety improvements, state of good repair work and resiliency upgrades in the Steinway Tube.
December 19, 2022
Pennsylvania Announces Rail Freight Improvement Projects
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced the approval of 24 rail freight improvement projects that will enhance freight mobility while creating or sustaining more than 340 jobs across Pennsylvania. The State Transportation Commission voted to approve $26 million for the following projects through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP).
December 16, 2022
Ontario Taking Next Steps to Bring Back Northeastern Passenger Rail
The Ontario government is purchasing three new trainsets as part of its plan to bring back northeastern passenger rail service. The $139.5 million investment marks a significant milestone in reinstating service between Timmins and Toronto, and unlocking the full economic potential of northern industries, resources and minerals.
December 16, 2022
MBTA Seeks to Purchase Widett Circle Property for Commuter Rail Layover Yard
The MBTA Board of Directors authorized the T to begin negotiations for the purchase of approximately 24 acres of land at Widett Circle, located one mile from Boston’s South Station, for a new commuter rail layover yard to service and store trains overnight and between trips.
December 16, 2022
Amtrak Announces Airo Train Sets
Built for the future, visuals of Amtrak’s newest trains reveal a modern customer experience. The new trains, Amtrak AiroTM, will start debuting in 2026 and operate on routes throughout the country. Routes include the Amtrak Northeast Regional, Empire Service, Virginia Services, Keystone Service, Downeaster, Cascades, Maple Leaf, New Haven/Springfield Service, Palmetto, Carolinian, Pennsylvanian, Vermonter, Ethan Allen Express and Adirondack.
December 15, 2022
Gloucester Drawbridge on Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line Has Been Successfully Completed
The MBTA announced that construction is complete on the new Gloucester Drawbridge that carries the Rockport Commuter Rail Line over the Annisquam River. The $100 million bridge replacement began in 2018 and replaces a bridge originally constructed in 1911.
December 15, 2022
Rail Traffic for the Week Ending December 10, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending December 10, 2022. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 500,310 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.5 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending December 10 were 242,007 carloads, up 1.3 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U//.S. weekly intermodal volume was 258,303 containers and trailers, down 5.8 percent compared to 2021.
December 14, 2022
NJ Transit Awarded FTA Grant to Study Transit Oriented Development Along Proposed HBLR Extension
NJ TRANSIT has been awarded a $592,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to study equitable transit oriented development (TOD) along the proposed nine-mile extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) into Bergen County.
December 13, 2022
MBTA Celebrates Opening of the Green Line Extension Medford Branch
Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler, and MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak , on December 13, joined federal, state, and local officials to celebrate the opening of the Medford Branch of the Green Line Extension (GLX). Following a ceremony dedicating the new Green Line Vehicle Maintenance Facility to former Congressman Mike Capuano and a ribbon cutting at the new Tufts/Medford Station, the celebration was held at the Joyce Cummings Center at Tufts University.
December 12, 2022
Winchester and Western Railroad to Serve New West Virginia Steel Mill
Winchester and Western Railroad (W&W), an affiliate of OmniTRAX, has signed an agreement to serve Commercial Metals Company’s (CMC) latest steel mill in West Virginia. CMC, the largest manufacturer of steel reinforcing bar (rebar) in North America and Central Europe, selected Falling Waters, West Virginia after an exhaustive multi-state site review.
