Work on Portal Bridge cutover ‘on schedule,’ officials say

KEARNY, N.J. — Work is about 25% complete on the cutover of the first track of the new Portal North Bridge, Amtrak and NJ Transit officials said at a Thursday news conference at the construction site. “We’re on track and on schedule,” Jason Hoover, Amtrak assistant vice president, major programs-bridges, said, according to a NorthJersey.com […]

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Reading & Northern announces 2026 excursions to Jim Thorpe, Pa.

Passenger train with green and yellow diesel rounding curve

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern has announced its 2026 schedule of mainline excursions to Jim Thorpe, Pa., featuring operations from Pittston and Reading, Pa. Trains will run Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 20, as well as St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. The railroad will also offer its […]

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Hudson Tunnel work to resume as federal government completes payment of withheld funds

NEW YORK — The Gateway Development Commission has received the full $205 million in Hudson Tunnel funding that had been withheld by the federal government, the commission said today (Feb. 18). As a result, tunnel construction, which halted on Feb. 6, should resume next week. “We are working with our contractors to deploy these funds […]

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BLET official blasts MTA CEO’s statement that competitive concerns blocked Metro-North service to Albany

Blue and red converted locomotive on end of passenger train.

HAMDEN, Conn. — The union official who represents Amtrak engineers has taken exception to a claim by Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Janno Lieber that Amtrak “feared the competition” when it withdrew support for proposed Metro-North service between New York City and Albany, N.Y. “The issue is not about competition,” wrote Patrick W. Darcy Jr., general […]

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Connecticut commuter operation could revert from electric to diesel

HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut’s Shore Line East commuter rail operation could revert to diesel-powered trains under a budget-saving move, the state’s transportation commissioner told a budget hearing last week. The move would reverse a 2022 switch from diesel-powered trains to the current Kawasaki M8 electric multiple-unit trainsets [see “Connecticut replaces diesel Shore Line East trains […]

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News photo: Norfolk Southern introduces third Landmark Series locomotive

Tuscan red and black locomotive on turntable

ALTOONA, Pa. — Norfolk Southern has introduced the third locomotive in its Landmark Series, ES44AC No. 8184, the Altoona. Unveiled last week in Altoona, Pa., it joins earlier locomotives Birmingham and Atlanta in wearing the special Tuscan Red and black paint scheme [see “Norfolk Southern announces locomotive ‘Landmark Series,’” Trains.com, Nov. 13, 2025]. The locomotives […]

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Reading & Northern No. 2102 winter ramble

Black steam locomotive on a curve in a snowy landscape. Reading & Northern No. 2102 winter rambles.

READING, Pa. — A clear, crisp Pennsylvania winter day greeted passengers and enthusiasts for the Reading & Northern’s winter Iron Horse Ramble. The excursion traveled the Reading Division main line between Reading Outer Station and Jim Thorpe, Pa., on Saturday, Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day. This was the second time the former Reading T-1 4-8-4 No. 2102 […]

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East Broad Top restoration cost to date: $10 million

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. – More than $10 million has been invested to date in rescuing and restoring the narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad in central Pennsylvania. EBT Foundation General Manager Brad Esposito didn’t hesitate to name that figure in response to a question during his state-of-the-railroad review, part of the Foundation’s Winter Spectacular event […]

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New York village seeks to bar Norfolk Southern from future state grants

Logo of the village of Voorheesville, N.Y.

VOORHEESVILLE, N.Y. — The village of Voorheesville, thwarted in court in its effort to prevent a new Norfolk Southern crew-change facility, is now seeking to prevent the railroad from receiving future grants from the State of New York — as well as saying that the state should recover money already given to NS. The Albany […]

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Federal government begins releasing money for Hudson Tunnel project

Tunnel portals in construction area

NEW YORK — Federal money is once again flowing to the Hudson Tunnel project, as the Department of Transportation released the first $30 million in overdue funds today (Friday, Feb. 13). The money is the first portion of more than $200 million which has been withheld by the Trump administration since last October. It was […]

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News photos: With steam sidelined, EBT diesel takes spotlight

Diesel powered train passing under bridge

ROCKHILL FURNACE, Pa. — Former Durango & Silverton diesel No. 19, an Alco-powered H.K. Porter locomotive, stepped into the spotlight at the East Broad Top Railroad today (Feb. 12), pulling a freight train and photo charter for the first time since coming to Pennsylvania. The C-C locomotive was pinch-hitting for Baldwin 2-8-2 No. 16, sidelined […]

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