Winter weather forecast leads to several days of Amtrak cancellations

Train kicking up snow

CHICAGO — Amtrak has canceled several long-distance trains in and out of Chicago for multiple days because of a forecast of extreme cold weather. The regional Borealis is also affected. The first cancellations begin today (Wednesday, Jan. 21). The eastbound and westbound Empire Builder departures slated for today through Saturday, Jan. 24, have been canceled. […]

Read More…

Weather-related issues lead to cancellations for Coast Starlight, Empire Builder

Starlight_Chatsworth_Lassen

CHICAGO — Amtrak is dealing with several days of operating issues for a number of long-distance services, with the Coast Starlight, Empire Builder, and Sunset Limited all experiencing disruptions, most of them weather-related. Some of California’s Pacific Surfliner service also continues to be canceled because of weather-related issues. In California, the northbound Coast Starlight scheduled […]

Read More…

Oregon’s TriMet unveils proposed service cuts

Map of light rail system in the Portland, Ore., area

PORTLAND, Ore. — Transit agency TriMet would shorten one of its light rail lines and eliminate or alter some 35 bus routes under a proposal unveiled Monday, Jan. 5, to address a projected $300 million funding shortfall. The agency says those cuts, which would be effective in August, would come after it has already identified […]

Read More…

Weather leads to some Amtrak issues during holiday period

passenger train on track just barely above water

CHICAGO — Despite challenging weather conditions on both coasts and in the upper Great Lakes region, Amtrak trains generally reached their destinations unscathed during the holiday travel period. “Mechanical assessments,” however, did continue to impact service throughout the network during the period ending today (Sunday, Jan. 4). Starlight and Builder disruptions Amtrak’s long-distance operations generally […]

Read More…

Transit in 2025: A year of turmoil

Rail transit had quite a year in the U.S. … and not in a particularly good way. Financial, equipment, and labor issues all played a part in making at a stressful year for transit operators. The combination of reduced ridership with the post-pandemic shift to more work-at-home opportunities, along with political divisions over funding, make […]

Read More…

City Council closes Yakima Valley Trolley … for now

Red and cream-colored trolley car running along city street.

YAKIMA, Wash. — At its regular meeting on Dec. 9, the Yakima City Council voted five to two in favor of postponing discussion and action on a new operating agreement with the Yakima Valley Trolleys until its Jan. 20, 2026 meeting. The nonprofit group operates trolleys on what remains of the Yakima Valley Transportation Co. […]

Read More…

Winter woes plague some Amtrak trains in Midwest

Passenger train at station with circular roof on platform

CHICAGO — With temperatures hovering around zero over the weekend of Dec. 12-14, most Amtrak trains were able to leave Chicago on time, but a number were delayed more than two hours at their points of origin, while others had to contend with disabled freight trains. Meanwhile, service resumed through areas flooded earlier in the […]

Read More…

Washington flooding spurs Cascades, Empire Builder cancellations

Passenger train in snow

SEATTLE — Flooding in parts of Washington state have disrupted the Seattle section of Amtrak’s Empire Builder, as well as Amtrak Cascades service. Both Cascades round trips between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, have been canceled today and tomorrow (Dec. 11-12) “due to the anticipated flooding of the Skagit River through Mount Vernon,” Amtrak said […]

Read More…

Sound Transit opens Federal Way Extension

Ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of light rail station

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — Sound Transit celebrated the opening of the 7.8-mile, three-station extension of its Link light rail Line 1 on Saturday, Dec. 6, marking the fifth addition to the Link system in three years. A ribbon-cutting at the new Federal Way Downtown station was followed by the beginning of service about 11 a.m., […]

Read More…

Sound Transit set to open latest addition to Link light rail

Aerial view of light rail trains on tracks next to freeway

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — Sound Transit is set to open the latest addition to its Link light rail system on Saturday, Dec. 6, opening the three-station Federal Way Extension with a series of events. Events begin at 9:30 a.m. with speeches and a ribbon cutting at the Federal Way downtown station, with trains set to […]

Read More…

Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 30 | Adding waves and rapids

Dive back into the Olympia & Sand Creek On30 logging layout project with host David Popp! The resin water David poured in the previous episode has dried, but he hit a snag – a hazy surface on one section! David shares a fix for restoring the crystal-clear view and reveal the details (like those planted […]

Read More…

Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 29 | Mixing and pouring resin

With the waterfall effects installed and cured, host David Popp is now ready to pour the Woodland Scenics Deep Pour Water (murky variety) on the Olympia & Sand Creek On30 logging layout! He shares how to add a splash of detail to scene, using Miniprints fish and fowl, plus a figure of a former Model Railroader […]

Read More…