Dallas light rail disruptions continue, but service restoration nears

Portion of DART light rail map

DALLAS — Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail service continues to deal with disruptions as of the start of service today (Aug. 4, 2025) following last week’s fire on a light rail train in the tunnel below the downtown area. As of late last week, service was expected to be restored today. Additionally, service on […]

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Coal and efficiency gains power BNSF’s second quarter profit growth

orange locomotive and train comes around curve in Wyoming

OMAHA, Neb. — BNSF Railway’s profits surged in the second quarter thanks to a combination of efficiency gains, lower costs, and higher coal volumes. The railway’s pre-tax earnings increased 11.5%, to $1.8 billion, as revenue increased 0.15%, to $5.7 billion, corporate parent Berkshire Hathaway said on Saturday. Operating expenses declined 4.7% as fuel costs decreased […]

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Four Amtrak Cascades trains cancelled today; systemwide mechanical issues continue

Talgo trainset in shop building

SEATTLE — Evidence that Amtrak is literally running the wheels off of its available equipment became apparent today (Sunday, Aug. 3) when both Oregon-owned Series 8 Talgo trainsets in Amtrak Cascades service were sidelined because of condemned wheels. The setback follows a week in which passengers on many routes across the country encountered significant equipment […]

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Molinaro confirmed as head of Federal Transit Administration

Man in blue suit and tie standing in front of U.S. flag

WASHINGTON — Marcus Molinaro, a former Republican member of the House of Representatives from New York, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. Molinaro was confirmed by a 71-23 vote on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. Results of the roll-call vote are available here. “I applaud the U.S. Senate […]

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Florida East Coast sues Brightline over South Florida commuter plans

Freight train with orange and yellow locomotives passes through passenger station

MIAMI — Florida East Coast Railway is suing Brightline over the proposed commuter service along the FEC route used by Brightline in South Florida, saying the passenger operator does not have the authority to negotiate the use of the line and that the plan is part of a Brightline effort to stave off “financial collapse.” […]

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New York’s Interborough Express project enters design phase

Group of people standing in front of locomotive to make announcement

NEW YORK — The Interborough Express, the planned Metropolitan Transportation Authority light rail line linking Brooklyn and Queens, has entered the engineering and design phase. The MTA board this week selected a joint venture of Jacobs and HDR to oversee the project, which will be built along a currently freight-only, 14-mile Long Island Rail Road […]

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Trains Magazine launches TrainsPRO website (updated)

Locomotives lead freight train under golden sky from setting sun

Trains Magazine, the world’s leading publication on railroading and trains, has launched TrainsPRO as a new website under the Trains.com family of brands.  TrainsPRO features articles on railroad industry news and analysis, covering areas such as freight rail, passenger rail, mechanical, maintenance of way and regulatory updates. These coverage areas are nothing new for Trains […]

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UP-NS merger puts intermodal giants on the wrong side of the map

Intermodal train entering yard with skyscrapers in distance

The proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger leaves three major intermodal customers — J.B. Hunt, Schneider, and STG Logistics — in the awkward position of having their tents pitched in the wrong railroad camps. J.B. Hunt, the largest domestic truckload intermodal operator, uses BNSF Railway in the West and relies primarily on Norfolk Southern in the […]

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Schumer, leader of Senate Democrats, speaks out against UP-NS merger

Man at podium

WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the Senate Democratic leader, has spoken out against the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. In remarks Thursday (July 31, 2025) on the Senate floor, Schumer said approval of the merger “would cut down the industry from four major players to just three, pushing us even further down the road […]

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Downtown Dallas light rail service still facing disruptions after fire

Portion of DART light rail map

DALLAS — Light rail service in downtown Dallas remains disrupted as a result of Wednesday’s fire involving a train near the Pearl/Arts District station. As of today (Aug. 1, 2025), Dallas Area Rapid Transit reports shuttle trains are operating between the Victory and Pearl/Arts District stations, as well as the EBJ/Union and Pearl/Arts District station. […]

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