Digest: LIRR, with just 5 miles of PTC still to complete, says it will meet deadline

An outbound Long Island Rail Road train meets a New York & Atlantic train on a section of the LIRR Main Line.

Monday morning rail news: Long Island Rail Road, with 5 miles of PTC still to complete, says it will meet deadline The Long Island Rail Road has one 5-mile section of track that does not yet have positive train control in service, but says it will complete the job before the Dec. 31 deadline. Newsday […]

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Digest: Port Authority of NY-NJ considers budget with layoffs, service cuts

The Port Authority Of NY and NJ logo

Friday midday rail news: Port Authority of NY-NJ budget proposal includes layoffs, service cuts The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is considering layoffs, service cuts, and cutbacks to future capital projects as it prepares its 2021 budget reflecting COVID-19-related financial woes. NorthJersey.com reports that Executive Director Rick Cotton told the board the […]

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Digest: ‘Lucky’ woman suffers minor injuries after being shoved under arriving NYC subway train

MTA logo

Still more Friday morning rail news: Woman suffers minor injuries after being shoved in front of subway train; man charged with attempted murder A woman suffered only minor bumps and bruises after being shoved onto the tracks in front of an oncoming New York City Transit subway train, even though the first two cars of […]

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Digest: DC Metro approves budget with buyouts, service cuts

DC Metro logo

Friday morning rail transit and budget news: DC Metro approves budget with service cuts, buyout plan The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board unanimously approved service cuts and a buyout plan intended to reduce layoffs as part of a budget addressing $176 million shortfall as a result of COVID-19. The Washington Post reports the agency […]

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Amtrak report details urgent need for Hudson Tunnel repairs

damage to the walls of the Hudson River tunnel

Amtrak says it needs to make urgent repairs to its existing Hudson River tunnels — a process that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars — to address the potential for catastrophic failure of the century-old passageways between New Jersey and New York’s Penn Station. The Associated Press reports it has reviewed a not-yet-completed Amtrak […]

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Freight trains of the New York, Ontario & Western Railway

Steam locomotive with freight train on deck-truss bridge

Enjoy this freight trains photo gallery of the NYO&W, the November 2020 Railroad of the Month   Freight trains Freight trains are the focus of this week’s Classic Trains’ salute to the New York, Ontario & Western Railway. The NYO&W is Classic Trains’ Railroad of the Month for November 2020. You might also enjoy an article […]

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Digest: New York MTA budget cuts call for 50% reduction in commuter rail, 40% decrease in subway service

A Metro-North train heads north through Westport, Conn

Wednesday midday rail news: MTA budget calls for 50% cut in commuter rail service, 40% cut for subways Massive service cuts, layoffs, and a $1 fare increase are all part of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority budget presented at an MTA board meeting on Wednesday as the agency faces its need to address the revenue loss […]

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Digest: Report says New York MTA will propose budget with drastic cuts

MTA logo

Wednesday morning rail news: Report: MTA will present budget with dramatic service cuts, almost 10,000 layoffs A report says New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority will present a budget to its board of directors Wednesday (today) calling for dramatic subway and bus service cuts, as well as the layoff of almost 10,000 workers. NY1.com reports sources […]

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Digest: Transit agencies, Amtrak create regional ‘mask force’

MTA chairman Patrick J. Foye discusses the creation of a regional 'Mask Force'

Still more Wednesday morning rail news: Transit agencies combine with Amtrak to form regional ‘Mask Force’ A group of transit agencies in New York and Philadelphia areas have joined with Amtrak to create a regional ‘Mask Force’ to encourage mask compliance on public transit. New York’s MTA, NJ Transit, the Port Authority of New York […]

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FRA says NJ Transit is only railroad at risk of missing PTC deadline

NJ Transit trains meet at Elizabeth, N.J., in August 2019

WASHINGTON — NJ Transit is now considered the only railroad at risk of not meeting the Dec. 31, 2020, deadline for positive train control implementation, according to the latest assessment of PTC progress from the Federal Railroad Administration. The FRA’s third-quarter report, based on information received from railroads by Oct. 31, indicates that just 223 […]

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Digest: Pennsylvania plan calls for second daily Pittsburgh-New York train

Pennslyvania State Rail Plan logo

More Monday morning rail news: Pennsylvania rail plan calls for second Pittsburgh-New York train The draft version of a new Pennsylvania state rail plan includes a goal of adding a second daily train between Pittsburgh and New York City, beginning in the 2023-24 fiscal year. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports the feasibility of the plan and […]

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News Photo: Battery-electric locomotive set to leave Erie

Wabtec FLXDrive battery-electric locomotive

Wabtec’s FLXDrive battery-electric locomotive is reportedly set to leave the company’s Erie, Pa., locomotive plant to begin its trip to California, where the unit is scheduled to begin testing on the BNSF Railway. The locomotive was spotted outside the plant today, accompanied by two new BNSF diesels. Since its announcement in September 2019, plans have […]

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