Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
January 10, 2023
Brightline Reveals First Look Inside Its Orlando Station
Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, is pulling back the curtain on Central Florida’s latest attraction, Brightline’s Orlando Station. The station spans three-stories, featuring groundbreaking design and a unique synthesis of luxury amenities that meet the demand of today’s modern traveler. Opening this year, Brightline’s Orlando Station will revolutionize train travel in America and continue Brightline’s vision of offering a guest-first travel experience.
January 10, 2023
Biden-Harris Administration Releases First-Ever Blueprint to Decarbonize America’s Transportation Sector
The Biden-Harris Administration today released the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization. Developed by the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Blueprint is a landmark strategy for cutting all greenhouse emissions from the transportation sector by 2050.
January 5, 2023
SEPTA Announces New Regional Rail Schedules Effective Sunday, Jan. 8
SEPTA is advising passengers that some changes are being made to select Regional Rail schedules starting this weekend. These updates will impact the Wilmington/Newark, West Trenton, Lansdale/Doylestown, Warminster, and Glenside Lines. New timetables will go into effect on Sunday, January 8.
January 4, 2023
Rail Traffic for December and the Week Ending December 31, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending December 31, 2022, as well as volumes for December 2022. U.S. railroads originated 842,171 carloads in December 2022, down 4.4 percent, or 38,476 carloads, from December 2021. U.S. railroads also originated 900,213 containers and trailers in December 2022, down 5.2 percent, or 49,107 units, from the same month last year. Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in December 2022 were 1,742,384, down 4.8 percent, or 87,583 carloads and intermodal units from December 2021.
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.
