Former Keolis official sentenced in $8.5 million fraud case

U.S. Department of Justice seal

BOSTON — A former official at Keolis Commuter Services, contract operator of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter trains, has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for defrauding Keolis of more than $8.5 million and the Internal Revenue Service of more than $2.6 million. John P. Pigsley, 59, was sentenced on Thursday, April […]

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FRA, Amtrak to take over Penn Station remodeling, transportation secretary says

Rendering of open interior area of passenger station

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration and Amtrak will take over the long-discussed remodeling of New York’s Penn Station, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced today (April 17, 2025), saying the move came at the direction of President Donald Trump. The action removes the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from its lead role in the project. It was […]

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Florida man indicted for possession of ‘small arsenal’ of weapons on Amtrak train

Aerial view of railroad station

TRENTON, N.J. — A Florida man has been indicted in New Jersey after transporting a “small arsenal” of illegal weapons — including an allegedly “booby-trapped” rifle that fired during his arrest — through stations and onto an Amtrak train. Jeffrey O. Kennerk, 34, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was arrested at the Trenton Transit Center. He […]

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Amtrak, NJ Transit update maintenance efforts on Northeast Corridor

Passenger train led by cab car passes stopped commuter train with locomotive in push mode.

NEWARK, N.J. — Amtrak and NJ Transit on Tuesday presented a new progress report on their work to improve reliability on the Northeast Corridor, an outgrowth of the significant operating issues experienced by both entities in summer 2024. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy hosted representatives of both operators in a “working summit” on Tuesday, April […]

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Passenger power

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Passenger cab units, like this twin-engine New York Central EMD E8, rode on six-wheel trucks with the center axle unpowered, denoted as A1A-A1A. EMD built 421 E8A units and 39 E8B units making it the second most popular model in the line behind the E7. Pictured is a late production E8, with stamped-metal grill along […]

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NJ Transit engineers reject contract

An NJ Transit Bergen County Line train

NEWARK, N.J. — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have rejected a tentative agreement with NJ Transit by a resounding margin, setting the stage for a possible strike or lockout as soon as May 15. The union said today that 372 of the 427 BLET members casting ballots, or 87%, voted against […]

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News photo: Amtrak “Hippos” near return as cab cars

Red and blue former electric locomotive operating as cab car on test train

Amtrak’s retired HHP8 electric locomotives — nicknamed “Hippos” during their relatively short operating life — are nearing their return to service as cab cars. The company operated crew-familiarization specials between New York and Wilmington, Del., on April 7-8, and will reportedly operate more this week. On April 8, cab cars Nos. 9751 and 9750 sandwiched […]

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NJ Transit looks to address growing overtime figure

Electric locomotive with bilevel commuter cars

NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit spent more than $237 million on overtime in 2024, a figure CEO Kris Kolluri wants to cut to help meet savings called for by the agency’s fiscal 2026 budget. NJ.com reports that the $237.4 million in overtime last year was a 9% increase from the $216.3 million the year before. […]

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Turmoil continues at Wilmington & Western

Logo of Wilmington & Western Railroad

WILMINGTON, Del. — The Wilmington & Western Railroad, which announced an indefinite halt to operations earlier this year, has experienced more turmoil, with unhappy volunteers picketing the railroad, potential legal action, and the operation briefly posting then removing an announcement that excursions would return this fall. On Thursday, about 20 volunteers mounted a protest outside […]

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SEPTA prepares for major service cuts

Map of SEPTA rail network showing lines to be cut

PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has become the latest transit agency to unveil plans for draconian service cuts because of a funding shortage. Five Regional Rail lines and 50 bus lines would be eliminated, rail service would end at 9 p.m., and 66 stations would be closed under the budget for fiscal 2026, […]

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