Railpace Hot News
Keep up to date on the latest railroad news from the northeastern United States and Canada, edited by Carl Perelman.
April 19, 2023
FTA Announces More than $14 Billion in Federal Funding to Support Public Transportation Across the U.S.
As part of its annual support to transit systems nationwide, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) =published details about the formula funding that helps communities maintain and operate the trains, buses, and ferries that provide more than half a million transit trips every month. This year, a total of $14 billion is being invested in states and transit agencies to help improve public transportation, meeting local goals such as upgrading stations and tracks, transitioning to next-generation buses, planning and designing new transit corridors, and providing specialized service for seniors and riders with disabilities.
April 19, 2023
Governor Hochul Announces Long Island Rail Road Surpasses One Million Customers at Grand Central Madison
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the Long Island Rail Road has surpassed one million paying customers traveling in or out of Grand Central Madison Terminal, which opened with full service on February 27. The milestone was surpassed on Friday, April 7. In addition, the LIRR announced several pandemic-era ridership records achieved since Grand Central Madison opened for full service.
April 18, 2023
MBTA Completes Purchase of Widett Circle to Improve Critical Rail Efficiency
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) announced it has completed the purchase of Widett Circle, a key component in a larger strategy to improve Commuter Rail service and to better meet the transportation needs of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Widett Circle consists of 24 acres and is located one mile from South Station and adjacent to existing MBTA Commuter Rail facilities
April 17, 2023
Amtrak Kicks Off Procurement for East River Tunnel Renewal
Amtrak has launched the procurement phase of the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for construction services for the comprehensive renewal of two of the four tubes in the tunnel. The work will modernize the tunnel infrastructure, improving safety, service capacity, reliability, and security and bring the systems to a state of good repair used by Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT and Long Island Rail Road. Preparatory work is already underway in Sunnyside Yard with major construction starting in early 2024 and continuing through 2027.
April 14, 2023
Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Combine to Create CPKC
Canadian Pacific (“CP”) and Kansas City Southern (“KCS”) today combined to create Canadian Pacific Kansas City, as authorized by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board’s (“STB”) March 15, 2023 final decision, creating the first single-line railway connecting Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
April 13, 2023
Greenbrier Express will Commence Service on May 20th
The Cass Scenic Railroad will introduce service on the Durbin Line effective May 20th.
April 13, 2023
Weekly Rail Traffic for the Week Ending April 8, 2023:
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 8, 2023. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 451,336 carloads and intermodal units, down 11.2 percent compared with the same week last year.
April 12, 2023
Reading & Northern RR Wins Prestigious Industry Marketing Award Again!
Last week the American Shortline and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) awarded one of the industry’s highest honors for marketing achievement to the Reading and Northern (R&N). This is the fifth time R&N has won this prestigious award in the last 15 years. Jim Cerulli, Vice President Industrial Development, accepted the award at a ceremony on April 3rd in New Orleans, LA.
April 12, 2023
VIA Rail Canada Implements Changes to Reduce Waste
Since the unveiling of its sustainability plan in April 2022, VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) has made steady progress towards its objective to offer a zero-waste experience on its new Corridor fleet by 2025 by focusing on the reduction of packaging and materials in Business and Economy classes and the improvement of waste collection on board its trains and in its facilities.
April 11, 2023
Farewell to 611 at Strasburg Railroad
N&W J Class 611 will pull excursions on the Strasburg Railroad during two weekends in May, before returning to Virginia.
