Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
November 7, 2023
$6.76 Billion for New York Passenger Rail Projects from Biden Administration’s Infrasture Grants
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the Biden Administration has awarded of $6.76 billion for downstate passenger rail projects that are critical to ensuring the region’s economy continues to thrive and expand. Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants announced today by the Federal Railroad Administration, four key New York projects that renew and expand the region’s rail network will receive the following Federal investments.
November 6, 2023
World’s Largest Steam Locomotive ‘Big Boy No. 4014’ Preparing for ‘Four Corners’ 2024 Tour
Union Pacific’s famed Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest steam locomotive, will return to the rails in 2024 for a tour celebrating the railroad’s deep history and connection to communities, and its employees. The tour is expected to reach all four corners of Union Pacific’s 23-state system.
November 6, 2023
Amtrak Awarded Federal Funds for 12 Projects of National Significance Totaling Nearly $10B Across America’s Busiest Rail Corridor
Amtrak has been awarded nearly $10 billion in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding from the Biden-Harris Administration to modernize critical infrastructure, improve stations and support future ridership growth on the Northeast Corridor (NEC). This historic funding comes at a critical time as NEC ridership continues to rise, consistently exceeding pre-pandemic levels since early summer as Amtrak delivers a new era of passenger rail.
November 6, 2023
Federal Grant for Second Avenue Subway
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator Chuck Schumer, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, and MTA CEO Janno Lieber to announce the investment of more than $3 billion in an extension of the New York City subway system that will provide convenient and improved transit service to Harlem.
November 6, 2023
Officials Mark Start of New York Construction on Hudson Tunnel Project
On Friday, November 3rd, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senior Advisor to the President and White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu, and other officials joined Amtrak and Hudson Tunnel Project Sponsor the Gateway Development Commission (GDC) in celebrating the start of construction in New York on the Hudson Tunnel Project and the final phase of the Concrete Casing project.
November 2, 2023
CN Announces Nova Scotia Partnership with Genesee & Wyoming
CN announced that it acquired from Genesee & Wyoming Inc., a stake in the Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Railway that includes 145 miles of active track.
November 2, 2023
Weekly Rail Traffic for October and the Week Ending October 28, 2023
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending October 28, 2023, as well as volumes for October 2023. U.S. railroads originated 921,591 carloads in October 2023, down 0.3 percent, or 2,921 carloads, from October 2022. U.S. railroads also originated 1,075,731 containers and trailers in October 2023, up 2.2 percent, or 23,201 units, from the same month last year. Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in October 2023 were 1,997,322, up 1.0 percent, or 20,280 carloads and intermodal units from October 2022.
November 1, 2023
Wabtec and Roy Hill Unveil the First FLXdrive Battery Locomotive
Wabtec and its launch customer, Roy Hill, a leading iron ore miner majority owned by Australia’s most successful private company, Hancock Prospecting, have celebrated the debut of the FLXdrive battery locomotive, the world’s first 100% battery-powered, heavy-haul locomotive for mainline service.
November 1, 2023
U. S. Steel Pioneers Battery-Powered Locomotives
United States Steel Corporation announced a significant step in its ongoing commitment to sustainability, environmental excellence and the communities it serves. The company converted two of its diesel switcher locomotives at the Mon Valley Works’ Edgar Thomson and Clairton Plants to state-of-the-art battery-operated locomotives.
November 1, 2023
SEPTA to Stop Accepting Tokens Effective Jan. 1, 2024
SEPTA would like to inform customers that the Authority will no longer accept tokens for fare payment effective January 1, 2024. The sale of tokens ended in 2018; however, SEPTA has continued to accept tokens on buses and trolleys, and via fare kiosks located at stations and bus loops.
