Railpace Hot News

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

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending January 11, 2025

January 16, 2025

AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending January 11, 2025

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 11, 2025. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 465,390 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.8 percent compared with the same week last year.

CN Launches New Medium Horsepower Hybrid Locomotive Pilot Project

January 16, 2025

CN Launches New Medium Horsepower Hybrid Locomotive Pilot Project

CN is proud to announce the launch of its new medium horsepower hybrid electric locomotive developed in collaboration with Knoxville Locomotive Works (KLW). This innovative hybrid locomotive will undergo testing in various operational conditions across CN’s network as a pilot project, to evaluate its potential to enhance operational efficiency and fuel savings, marking another step towards more modern and sustainable rail operations.

SEPTA Chestnut Hill East Bridge Project

January 15, 2025

SEPTA Chestnut Hill East Bridge Project

SEPTA plans to rehabilitate five bridges on the Chestnut Hill East Line, between Wayne Junction and Creisheim Valley Drive in Northwest Philadelphia, Pa.

Passenger Department Acquires New Equipment, Tickets on Sale for a Busy 2025 Season

January 14, 2025

Passenger Department Acquires New Equipment, Tickets on Sale for a Busy 2025 Season

On the heels of its most successful year to date in 2024, the Reading & Northern Railroad Passenger Department has acquired several new pieces of rolling stock as it prepares for an even bigger year in 2025. This will allow for greater flexibility in passenger operations as well as enhanced experiences for guests.

Rail Teamsters Ratify Contract with CSX

January 14, 2025

Rail Teamsters Ratify Contract with CSX

Nearly 4,200 CSX railroad workers represented by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) of the Teamsters Rail Conference have ratified a new contract.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $1.1 Billion in New Rail Grants to Reduce Train-Vehicle Collisions and Blocked Railroad Crossings

January 10, 2025

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $1.1 Billion in New Rail Grants to Reduce Train-Vehicle Collisions and Blocked Railroad Crossings

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced that it has awarded more than $1.1 billion in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding to 123 rail projects, improving or studying more than 1,000 highway-rail crossings nationwide. This announcement is the largest single investment in grade crossing safety in FRA’s history. Combined with previous rail investments announced under the Biden-Harris Administration, FRA has now invested a historic $48.5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in more than 445 rail projects across the country and Amtrak.

Massachusetts Wins More Than $102 Million for Transportation Infrastructure Projects

January 10, 2025

Massachusetts Wins More Than $102 Million for Transportation Infrastructure Projects

The Healey-Driscoll Administration and Massachusetts Congressional Delegation are celebrating that Massachusetts has won more than $102 million for transportation infrastructure projects under federal funding programs from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Wabtec’s Hybrid Battery-Diesel Work Locomotives Approved for New York Subway System’s Maintenance Operations

January 9, 2025

Wabtec’s Hybrid Battery-Diesel Work Locomotives Approved for New York Subway System’s Maintenance Operations

The Wabtec R255 Hybrid Battery-Diesel Work Locomotives for maintenance operations have been approved by New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for use across its subway network. The new additions to the maintenance fleet will reduce diesel emissions by using battery power while conducting work in the tunnels.

R&N Passenger Department Has Best Year Ever in 2024, Looking Ahead to 2025

January 8, 2025

R&N Passenger Department Has Best Year Ever in 2024, Looking Ahead to 2025

The Reading & Northern Railroad Passenger Department is pleased to once again report an increase in its overall annual ridership for 2024. 2023 saw over 322,000 guests experience rides on our many offerings including the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, regularly scheduled all-day excursions from Reading and Pittston, holiday-themed trains, and of course our famed Iron Horse Rambles to name a few. 2024 eclipsed that mark with nearly 340,000 riders, an increase of 5%.

New York Governor Hochul Proposes Major Investment in Hudson Valley Rail Service as Part of 2025 State of the State

January 8, 2025

New York Governor Hochul Proposes Major Investment in Hudson Valley Rail Service as Part of 2025 State of the State

As part of her 2025 State of the State, Governor Kathy Hochul on January 5th proposed a major investment in Hudson Valley rail service that would increase capacity, reduce delays, improve safety and cut potential travel times by up to 15 minutes each way for certain trips, as well as shorten “super-express” Metro-North Hudson Line trips to less than 90 minutes.