Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
July 19, 2023
Maryland Purple Line Now Scheduled to Open in Spring 2027
The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration and Purple Line Transit Partners announced they are seeking Board of Public Works approval of a modification to the Purple Line Public-Private Partnership Agreement that extends the contractual deadline for achieving Revenue Service Availability to Spring 2027.
July 19, 2023
CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour in 2024
CPKC has announced the “Final Spike Steam Tour,” departing Calgary, Alberta on April 14, 2024. The steam train, powered by Canadian Pacific 2816, will mark the one year anniversary of the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern
July 18, 2023
MTA Announces Balanced Budget Through 2027 in July Financial Plan
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released its preliminary five-year financial plan that shows a balanced budget through 2027. The financial plan reflects updates since the MTA warned of a fiscal cliff heading into 2023, with a projected $600 million deficit. With the increase of the payroll mobility tax, increased City funding for paratransit and other dedicated taxes in the FY 2024 New York State Budget, the MTA projects a balanced budget through 2027, the first time in more than 20 years the Authority has projected a balanced budget for five consecutive years.
July 18, 2023
Amtrak Improves Northeast Corridor Tracks
As Amtrak launches a new era of rail, advancing infrastructure improvements on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) remains a key priority. This summer, annual track improvement work continues as part of a long-term effort to ensure the railroad operates at a level of peak performance.
July 17, 2023
Amtrak Kicks Off Procurement for New Maintenance Facilities
Amtrak has published two Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) that will help deliver new and upgraded maintenance facilities in Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C. Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Amtrak’s facilities upgrade program will prepare more than 20 sites around the country for new trainsets scheduled to enter service in the coming years.
July 14, 2023
Siemens Mobility to replace Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s Red Line fleet with 24 S200 LRVs
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) has selected Siemens Mobility to replace GCRTA’s Red Line fleet. GCRTA’s purchase of 24 S200 Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) includes an option for up to 36 additional vehicles which would replace GCRTA’s Blue and Green Line fleet.
July 14, 2023
Two WMATA Orange Line Stations to Reopen
On Monday, July 17, two Orange Line stations will reopen following the completion of rail replacement and fiber-optics installation between Vienna and Dunn Loring stations.
July 13, 2023
Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending July 8, 2023
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 8, 2023. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 407,843 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.1 percent compared with the same week last year.
July 13, 2023
VIA Rail Breaks Ground on Construction of Toronto Maintenance Centre
VIA Rail Canada broke ground on construction at its Toronto Maintenance Centre (TMC). This major upgrade will provide a state-of-the-art maintenance facility for VIA Rail’s new fleet of 32 trains in the Québec City-Windsor corridor and is an important pillar in VIA Rail’s large-scale modernization which aims to transform the way Canadians travel from reservation to destination.
July 12, 2023
Metro-North Railroad Announces Restoration of Train Service on Upper Hudson Line and Upper Harlem Line
MTA Metro-North Railroad announced the restoration of limited northbound train service on the Hudson Line. On Wednesday, the Hudson Line will operate nearly full service, starting with the morning peak.
