Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
March 4, 2026
CPKC Debuts 1776 Locomotive to Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary
Yesterday the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) unveiled a commemorative locomotive livery honoring the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and celebrating the founding of the United States of America.
March 4, 2026
FRA Data Confirm Freight Rail Achieved Record Safety Performance in 2025
Newly released 2025 data from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) show that freight rail safety continued to improve across nearly every major category, marking the safest year on record for the industry. The data reinforce that sustained private investment, advanced technology deployment, and a highly trained and committed workforce are delivering real, measurable safety outcomes across the national freight rail network—strengthening supply chain reliability and supporting affordability across the economy.
March 3, 2026
CSX Task Force Cuts Cargo Theft by More Than 80% in Memphis
CSX has reduced cargo theft incidents by more than 80% year over year through a targeted task force and operational changes focused on the Memphis rail corridor.
March 2, 2026
New York Central Railroad” Heritage Locomotive Enters Passenger Service Monday, March 2
In recognition of the passenger railroads that laid the foundation for today’s Commuter Rail network, the MBTA is pleased to present the third of three recently overhauled locomotives that pay tribute to the Boston and Maine Railroad, the New Haven Railroad, and the New York Central Railroad.
March 2, 2026
Progress Rail and Wabtec Reach a Settlement in Antitrust Case
Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, and Wabtec Corporation have announced that the two parties have reached a settlement in Progress Rail v. Wabtec.
February 27, 2026
Amtrak Announces New and Improved Long Distance Fleet Replacement Strategy
Following a comprehensive evaluation, Amtrak is announcing a revised long-distance fleet replacement strategy that prioritizes fleet standardization, broadens competition among potential carbuilders, reduces program risk, and accelerates the replacement of its aging passenger cars. Under this plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.
February 26, 2026
Construction Resumes on the Hudson Tunnel Project
The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) announced yesterday that construction of the Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP) is resuming this week. Nearly 1,000 jobs that were impacted by a construction pause that began on February 6 will be restored.
February 26, 2026
MBTA Hits Major Milestone for Transforming Regional Rail Service
The MBTA announced a major milestone in transforming Regional Rail service with the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for new battery electric and low-emissions locomotives. The procurement advances the agency’s broader efforts to modernize its rail fleet and position Regional Rail for long-term improvement. The RFP, issued in partnership with the Maryland Transit Administration, was released February 25, 2026, with an awarded contract planned for summer 2026.
February 25, 2026
AAR Reports Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending February 21, 2026
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 21, 2026. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 507,712 carloads and intermodal units, up 10.7 percent compared with the same week last year.
February 20, 2026
2026 Regular Season Main Line Excursions to Jim Thorpe
Immediately upon the conclusion of another record-breaking year of ridership in 2025, the Reading & Northern Passenger Department has already begun its 2026 schedule of all-day rail excursions to historic Jim Thorpe from Reading Outer Station and Wilkes Barre/Scranton Regional Railroad Station at Pittston. For the first time, excursion trains operated in January and will continue to do so throughout February and March.
