Railpace Hot News

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

Pa Shapiro Administration Approves SEPTA’s Request to Use Up to $394 Million in Future Capital Funding to Maintain Mass Transit Service for Two Years

September 8, 2025

Pa Shapiro Administration Approves SEPTA’s Request to Use Up to $394 Million in Future Capital Funding to Maintain Mass Transit Service for Two Years

Today, Governor Josh Shapiro directed Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll to approve the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) request to use up to $394 million in capital assistance funds for daily operations

Patriot Rail’s Gettysburg Excursion Train Rolls into History

September 5, 2025

Patriot Rail’s Gettysburg Excursion Train Rolls into History

Patriot Rail, a premier U.S. operator of short line and regional railroads, today launched passenger service on the Gettysburg Excursion Railway. This event marks the start of scheduled service and introduces the fourth excursion train in the company’s growing Excursion Division.

CapeFLYER Reaches Record Ticket Sales for 2025 Season

September 5, 2025

CapeFLYER Reaches Record Ticket Sales for 2025 Season

The MBTA announced that the popular CapeFLYER train has reached a record number of tickets sold for the Summer 2025 season. Over 10,800 passengers purchased tickets between Boston and Hyannis on summer weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day this year, compared to about 9,700 last year.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces Major Leap Forward in Railroad Bridge Safety Oversight

September 4, 2025

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces Major Leap Forward in Railroad Bridge Safety Oversight

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, announced today that the number of safety inspectors who monitor railroad bridges will dramatically increase from less than 10 to more than 160.

Maryland DOT Awards $1.2 Million in Rail Freight Grants

September 3, 2025

Maryland DOT Awards $1.2 Million in Rail Freight Grants

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced the award of $1.2 million in grant funding as part of the inaugural Freight Rail Grant Program which the Department launched this year. The grant program will support efforts to preserve rail corridors, improve safety and reliability of freight rail operations and foster the growth of businesses that depend on rail service.

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending August 30, 2025

September 3, 2025

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending August 30, 2025

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 30, 2025.  For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 521,502 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.9 percent compared with the same week last year.

SEPTA Provides Update on Service Cuts and Fare Increases

September 2, 2025

SEPTA Provides Update on Service Cuts and Fare Increases

SEPTA would like to advise customers that planned system-wide fare increases and Regional Rail service cuts will not go into effect this week as was scheduled.

U.S. Department of Transportation and Amtrak Unveil Timeline for NewYork Penn Station Transformation Project

August 29, 2025

U.S. Department of Transportation and Amtrak Unveil Timeline for NewYork Penn Station Transformation Project

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Amtrak have revealed next steps for the transformation of New York Penn Station into an iconic, world-class station.

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending August 23, 2025

August 29, 2025

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending August 23, 2025

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 23, 2025. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 512,333 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.8 percent compared with the same week last year.

Amtrak Makes History Launching NextGen Acela Service

August 27, 2025

Amtrak Makes History Launching NextGen Acela Service

Amtrak is welcoming guests onboard America’s high-speed trains – NextGen Acela – as service began earlier this morning at 5:00 a.m. ET in Washington, DC, and at 6:00 a.m. ET in Boston for travel on the Northeast Corridor. For the first time since Acela’s debut in December 2000, new premium high-speed trainsets are now operating on the Northeast Corridor.