HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation will provide nearly $53 million for 30 rail freight infrastructure projects under a pair of grant programs, PennDOT announced on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Funding will come from the state’s Rail Transportation Assistance Program and Rail Freight Investment Program, which have invested more than $150 million in the state […]
RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation will provide $16.3 million in funding for 15 rail infrastructure projects through its Rail Division’s Freight Rail & Rail Crossing Safety Improvement program. With matching grants from participating railroads and the N.C. Ports Authority, the projects will have a total value of $41.5 million. “These projects […]
Wm K. Walthers Inc., the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based hobby manufacturer and distributor, has announced it will not publish its annual reference book in 2026, marking a shift for the nearly century-old company. In a statement to customers, Walthers acknowledged the importance the printed reference book has held for hobbyists over the years. “For many years, the […]
NEW YORK — Amtrak has released a shortlist of three consortia to be considered for the renovation of New York’s Penn Station. A post on Amtrak’s procurement portal as of Tuesday, Jan. 20, provides a list of three groups and their lead developers: Grand Penn Partners [Macquarie] Penn Forward Now [Fengate] Penn Transformation Partners [Halmar] […]
CHICAGO — Amtrak has added the Floridian and Heartland Flyer to its list of trains canceled because of forecasts of extreme winter weather. Subsequent additions to the list include the Lake Shore Limited, Cardinal, and one round trip of the Wolverine. The Chicago-Miami Floridian is canceled in both directions both today and Friday (Jan. 22-23); […]
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has ordered 40 Wabtec ES44AC locomotives, its first purchase of new locomotives since 2022. Delivery from Wabtec’s plant in Fort Worth, Texas, is expected in the second half of the year, NS said today. They will be sent to the NS locomotive shop in Chattanooga, Tenn., for final preparation for service. […]
Although frigid winter weather has played a major role in disrupting service recently on VIA Rail Canada and Amtrak long distance routes, both operators’ lack of readily available reserve passenger cars and locomotives has clearly exacerbated the situation. VIA stretched thin A significant setback occurred last week when VIA’s venerable Vancouver, B.C.-bound Canadian was delayed […]
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota’s State Railroad Board has approved the sale of two segments of state-owned trackage to Genesee & Wyoming’s Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad for $3.125 million. The purchase was approved by a 4-0 vote at the board’s meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 21. It include 19.5 miles of track — the […]
BOYERTOWN, Pa. — The Valhalla, a 1924 Canadian National coach, has become another first for the Colebrookdale Railroad. The car is now a one-of-a-kind, barrier-free, sensory-friendly classroom on rails. “For 15 years, our nonprofit has established a record of doing things differently in service to our community and economic development mission,” says Nathaniel Guest, executive […]
WASHINGTON — U.S. carload traffic was up while intermodal was down during the week ending Jan. 17, 2026, adding up to a small overall volume gain. According to statistics from the Association of American Railroads, weekly rail traffic was 505,385 carloads and intermodal units, a gain of 1.1% over the same week in 2025. The […]
CHICAGO — Metra will reduce operations on all routes on Friday, Jan.23, because of the severe cold forecast for the Chicago region, the commuter operator has announced. Severe-weather schedules are posted here on Metra’s website; passengers are advised to review the schedules before traveling. In general, service on most lines will be similar to that […]
WASHINGTON — The Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger application omits $2.69 billion in additional costs that intermodal marketers will incur if the railroads’ deal diverts the promised 2 million loads off the highway, according to an analysis submitted to federal regulators. The railroads’ traffic diversion projection is a key part of their case that the merger […]
