Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
August 24, 2022
Rail Traffic for the Week Ending August 20, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 20, 2022. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 501,548 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.1 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending August 20 were 237,404 carloads, up 2.9 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 264,144 containers and trailers, down 2.4 percent compared to 2021.
August 23, 2022
MBTA Green Line E Branch 16-Day Closure Successfully Completed, E Branch Service to Resume Early
The MBTA had announced that Green Line E Branch service resumed August 21, earlier than previously scheduled following the successful completion of track and Green Line Train Protection System (GLTPS) work during a 16-day closure along the line. As part of the MBTA’s Capital Programs, the Capital Transformation team has delivered improved safety and service reliability to Green Line riders with crews having replaced over 2,750 feet of track, two pieces of special track work, and installed wayside equipment across the branch.
August 22, 2022
Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 Inspection Completed
The Virginia Museum of Transportation is pleased to announce that this week, 611 Engine Crew members supported by CMO Scott Lindsay and Strasburg Rail Road have been hard at work completing the engine’s fifth annual FRA inspection.
August 22, 2022
Amtrak Releases FY21 Sustainability Report:
Amtrak released its FY21 Sustainability Report that showcases sustainability projects across Amtrak’s regions and operations. Throughout the report are details of Amtrak’s measured progress against annual and long-term sustainability goals that encompass greenhouse gas emissions, diesel fuel and electricity usage.
August 19, 2022
New SEPTA Regional Rail Schedules
SEPTA is advising customers that some changes are being made to Regional Rail schedules starting this weekend. New timetables will go into effect on Sunday, August 21. This schedule includes the extension of service to Wawa Station on the Media/Wawa Line, with early-morning inbound, late-night outbound, and express trips
August 18, 2022
Biden Administration, USDOT Announce Over $233 Million in Grants to Upgrade Intercity Passenger Rail Service
The U.S. Department of Transportation today awarded over $233 million to 11 projects in 8 states to improve and modernize vital intercity passenger rail service. Funded by the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program (Partnership Program), these investments will help replace bridges and tunnels along the Northeast Corridor in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut, each of which is more than 100 years old. Additional funds will increase the safety, reliability, and sustainability of rail infrastructure in California, Michigan, and Massachusetts and make needed improvements to the busiest train station in the Midwest: Chicago Union Station.
August 18, 2022
MTA Launches New One Stop Rail App Combining LIRR and Metro-North Trip Planning and Ticket Purchasing
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) launched a totally revamped app – named TrainTime – the new one-stop app for commuter rail customers in the region. The app replaces MTA eTix and adds the functionality of previously separate TrainTime apps for Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, merging ticket purchasing, trip planning, real-time train location data
August 18, 2022
Rail Traffic for the Week Ending August 13, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 13, 2022. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 502,775 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.3 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending August 13 were 237,851 carloads, up 1.3 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 264,924 containers and trailers, down 1.8 percent compared to 2021.
August 18, 2022
Chicago’s Metra To Create Battery-Powered Locomotives
The Metra Board of Directors approved a first-of-its-kind plan to convert up to six of Metra’s oldest diesel locomotives to zero-emission battery power.
August 17, 2022
Amtrak Debuts New Cafe’ Menus
Amtrak continues to enhance the travel experience by introducing new Café menus, featuring reduced prices for select items, on Northeast Corridor (NEC) and Long Distance trains beginning August 17. In response to customer feedback, Amtrak is offering more high-quality and fresh items for its breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Customers will now see 30 percent more of these options with items such as new hot meals, snacks, salads, sandwiches, lite bites, a significant increase in vegan offerings, and new non-alcoholic beverages.
