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 […]

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Senate bill seeks to increase funding for transit

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — Legislation re-introduced by two U.S. Senators seeks to increase funding for state and local transit funding to help add new routes, increase service frequency, and prevent service cuts. The “Moving Transit Forward Act” was introduced Dec. 11, and is sponsored by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.). Eight other Democrats […]

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LCCA announces new custom-run train set

orange and black model train set

The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) announces a Lionel custom-run train set for their members. The set includes an FT A unit diesel locomotive, Crocker coach car, Phelps dome car, and a Hopkins observation car, all decorated in Southern Pacific “black widow” paint scheme. The locomotive features Bluetooth, Lionel Voice Control, Voice Streaming and […]

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BLET ratifies contracts with CPKC, SEPTA

Logo of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have ratified new contracts with CPKC’s former Soo Line territory in the U.S. and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, the union has announced. Ballots were counted on Thursday, Dec. 11, in both ratification votes, but details of the voting were not released. The […]

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Wisconsin & Michigan Model Railroad Club Display in HO Scale

Wisconsin & Michigan Model Railroad Club Display | Catch up with Host Gerry Leone, as he chats with Dave Rickaby, President of the Wisconsin & Michigan Model Railroad Club, at Trainfest 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! Dave shares details about their Midwest-based, Iron Range-themed HO scale modular layout. Founded in 1986, the club’s modules are built to […]

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Amtrak’s union workers to receive $900 bonus

Bilevel train at station platform

WASHINGTON — More than 18,000 union workers at Amtrak will receive $900 holiday bonuses to mark the company’s record year of ridership and revenue, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced. The worker bonuses announced today (Dec. 11) come as Amtrak executives have agreed to forgo 50% of the bonuses that would have been paid out […]

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VIA passengers stranded overnight on corridor trains (updated)

VIA Rail Canada logo

BROCKVILLE, Ontario — Cascading delays following a mechanical issue with one train led to VIA Rail Canada passengers being stuck on Ottawa-Toronto trains overnight before finally being transferred to another train, arriving at their destination more than 12 hours late. The problems that began Tuesday night continued into Wedesday, with some trains arriving more than […]

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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 […]

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News photo: 2025 CPKC Holiday Train traversing Wisconsin (with video)

Diesel-powered trains with holiday lights stopped at a station

HARTLAND, Wis. — The former Milwaukee Road main line across Wisconsin has been welcoming the return of CPKC’s Holiday Train for the 2025 season. The tour across the Badger State began on the evening of Dec. 9, with public whistle stops in Sturtevant and Caledonia, Wis., before overnighting in Milwaukee’s Muskego Yard. The train was […]

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Amtrak, LIRR update work on East River Tunnel project

Interior of railroad tunnel

NEW YORK — Amtrak and Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials say the East River tunnel rehabilitation project is on schedule after six months, with repairs on the first of two tunnels to be completed by July. The operators addressed progress on the tunnel project with local media on Wednesday (Dec. 10), with Laura Mason, Amtrak executive […]

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Low visibility left operator no chance to avoid hitting tree, says NTSB report on NJ Transit light rail fatality

Aerial view of site of NJ Transit light rail fatality, with inset photo of train with smashed windshield

WASHINGTON — Predawn low-light conditions made it impossible for the operator to stop in time to avoid hitting a downed tree, the National Transportation Safety Board says in its final report on the Oct. 14, 2024, collision that killed the operator of an NJ Transit River Line light rail train. The train’s operator was later […]

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