Railpace Hot News

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

Autonomous Battery-Electric Rail System Pilot

May 1, 2025

Autonomous Battery-Electric Rail System Pilot

Parallel Systems, the world’s first autonomous battery-electric rail system, will launch its first commercial pilot in April after securing approval from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to deploy its railcars along a 160-mile stretch of two Georgia railroads

NJ Transit Contingency Service Plan for Possible Rail Stoppage:

May 1, 2025

NJ Transit Contingency Service Plan for Possible Rail Stoppage:

As a result of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLET) membership voting down a tentative agreement reached between NJ TRANSIT and the BLET leadership, the BLET is threatening to disrupt the lives of more than 350,000 commuters by calling for a strike as early as Friday, May 16 at 12:01AM.

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending April 26, 2025

April 30, 2025

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending April 26, 2025

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 26, 2025. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 502,105 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.5 percent compared with the same week last year.

NJ Transit Celebrates Completion of  the new Lyndhurst Station:

April 29, 2025

NJ Transit Celebrates Completion of the new Lyndhurst Station:

NJ TRANSIT yesterday celebrated the completion of construction of the new Lyndhurst rail station.

LIRR Announces Schedule Changes Effective Monday, May 19, Will Add More Weekday Service to Montauk

April 29, 2025

LIRR Announces Schedule Changes Effective Monday, May 19, Will Add More Weekday Service to Montauk

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced new Long Island Rail Road summer service options for the Montauk Branch and adjusted schedules systemwide to accommodate multiple track work programs. The new schedules, which will be in effect from May 19 to Sept. 1, introduce new weekday Montauk service.

Empire Service Schedule Changes Due to East River Tunnel Project

April 28, 2025

Empire Service Schedule Changes Due to East River Tunnel Project

To accommodate ongoing East River Tunnel rehabilitation work near Penn Station New York,  Amtrak Empire Service schedules will change effective today.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin Breaks Ground on New River Valley Project

April 25, 2025

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin Breaks Ground on New River Valley Project

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin today broke ground on the highly-anticipated New River Valley Rail Project in Christiansburg, Va. As part of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s (VPRA) Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative, the New River Valley Project encompasses railroad infrastructure upgrades that will allow VPRA to extend its Amtrak Virginia service from Roanoke to Christiansburg and return passenger rail service to the New River Valley for the first time since 1979.

Introducing Amtrak Mardi Gras Service twice daily between New Orleans and Mobile via Coastal Mississippi

April 24, 2025

Introducing Amtrak Mardi Gras Service twice daily between New Orleans and Mobile via Coastal Mississippi

Agreements have been reached for new twice-daily Amtrak intercity train service along the Mississippi Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. Starting this summer, the new state-sponsored Amtrak Mardi Gras Service will offer convenient morning and evening departures from both cities.

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending April 19, 2025

April 24, 2025

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending April 19, 2025

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 19, 2025. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 496,053 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.5 percent compared with the same week last year.

April 23, 2025

Norfolk Southern Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

Norfolk Southern Corporation announced Wednesday its first quarter 2025 financial results. For the quarter, revenue was $3.0 billion, income from railway operations was $1.1 billion, operating ratio was 61.7%, and diluted earnings per share were $3.31.