Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
May 13, 2020
Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending May 9, 2020
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 9, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 412,549 carloads and intermodal units, down 22.1 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending May 9 were 185,144 carloads, down 28.4 percent compared with the same week in 2019, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 227,405 containers and trailers, down 16 percent compared to 2019.
May 13, 2020
Metro balances budget with federal CARES funding
Federal relief funding of more than $767 million is helping Metro close out the current fiscal year with a balanced budget, following an unprecedented drop in fare revenue due to the pandemic crisis response
May 13, 2020
NJ Transit Awards Initial Construction Contract for Raritan River Bridge Replacement:
The NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors today approved a contract with George Harms Construction of Farmingdale, NJ for the initial construction phase of the Raritan River Bridge replacement project. The approximately $250 million contract is part of NJ TRANSIT’s Resilience Program initiated following Hurricane Sandy to make its transit systems and infrastructure stronger and more reliable for its customers.
May 12, 2020
SEPTA Fare Restructuring to Focus on Free Transfer & Discounted Child Fares
In an effort to help customers during this challenging time and aid in the region’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, SEPTA plans to implement free transfers and discounted $1 child fares on July 1. In addition, all proposed fare increases would be deferred until at least January 2021. If approved by the SEPTA Board in June, these elements of the overall Fare Restructuring Plan would go into effect on July 1.
May 11, 2020
Seven Day Lowell Commuter Rail Line Closure Begins May 18
The MBTA today announced a 7-day full closure of the Lowell Commuter Rail Line between Anderson/Woburn Station and North Station beginning Monday, May 18, to support the construction of the Green Line Extension (GLX) project.
May 11, 2020
Vermont Railway to Acquire New England Southern
The Vermont Railway has entered into an agreement to acquire the New England Southern Railroad, with a base of operations at Canterbury Yard, which is located 10 miles north of Conford, New Hampshire.
May 8, 2020
Summerail 2020 Cancelled
The popular railroad multimedia railroad show, presented each August in Marion, Ohio, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 8, 2020
SEPTA’s Transit Routes to Resume Normal Service Effective May 17
In an effort to improve conditions for essential travelers and employees during the COVID-19 crisis, and prepare for the region’s reopening, SEPTA will return to regular schedules on most Transit services starting the week of May 17.
May 8, 2020
MTA Leads Coalition of 15 U.S. Public Transportation Agencies Requesting Additional Emergency Federal Aid from Congress
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman and CEO Patrick J. Foye and the leaders of 14 public transportation agencies serving communities who generate 35% of the nation’s GDP in the United States requested additional emergency federal aid for transit systems in a joint letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. House of Representatives Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.
May 8, 2020
Amtrak to Return Acela Service on the Northeast Corrridor
Beginning June 1, Amtrak is restoring Acela service on the Northeast Corridor on a modified schedule in response to anticipated increased demand. Modified service will include the restoration of three weekday Acela round trips. Northeast Regional frequencies will also be increased from eight to 10 round trips.
