Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad CEO announces retirement

Man sitting in passenger car

PENINSULA, Ohio — Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad President and CEO Joe Mazur will retire from the heritage railroad as of Sept. 30, the railroad announced Thursday. Mazur joined the railroad in March 2017 following a career in arena management and as President/CEO of International Soap Box Derby, the Akron, Ohio, organization where he had worked […]

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News photo: Mexico, meet La Empresa

Steam engine on bridge

LAREDO, Texas — The Final Spike Steam Tour has entered the third country on its itinerary. This morning, the train celebrating the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger crossed into Mexico, a historic moment underscoring the three-nation linkage created by the CPKC merger and marking the first trip into that country for CP 4-6-4 No. 2816. […]

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CN expands firefighting fleet with addition of two improved train sets

MONTREAL — Canadian National has beefed up its ability to battle wildfires with the addition of two new firefighting trains. The Trident and Neptune trains, unveiled yesterday, will join CN’s original firefighting train, Poseidon, in combating fires along the railway’s right of way, particularly in isolated areas. “Our priority is to maintain the integrity of […]

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News report: Charlotte, Norfolk Southern have deal for commuter rail line

Map of rail line between Charlotte and Mt. Mourne, N.C.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The city of Charlotte and Norfolk Southern have reached agreement for Charlotte to acquire NS’ O-Line route north of the city for use as a commuter rail line, WSOC-TV reports. An email from City Manager Marcus Jones informed officials in Mecklenburg County of the non-binding agreement on May 15; that email was […]

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Planned Illinois excursion with CP No. 2816 is cancelled (updated)

Steam engine surrounded by people parked under pedestrian bridge

SILVIS, Ill. — CPKC has decided not to run the previously announced excursion on Iowa Interstate with CP 4-6-4 No. 2816, Railroad Heritage of Midwest America President Steve Sandberg has informed Trains News Wire. Instead, the locomotive will be brought to Silvis for static display, Sandberg told Trains correspondent Steve Glischinski in a brief message. […]

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Metrolink brings back $15 Summer Day Pass

Silver, teal, and black locomotive pushes train out of station

LOS ANGELES — Metrolink has revived its $15 Summer Day Pass, a seasonal weekday special fare available through Friday, Aug. 30. The special pass, first offered in 2022, is offered alongside the agency’s $10 weekend day pass, which remains available through the summer. The Summer Day Pass will be available on all weekdays except July […]

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Norfolk Southern short line project leads to carload volume growth

Train with two black locomotives on spur

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern and 40 of its shortline connections have produced outsized growth in carload traffic this year through a program that aims to improve interchange consistency and reliability. The Short Line Performance Project, which began as a pilot with a handful of railroads last July, has seen interchange volume grow 9% since March […]

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Study: Derailment risk rises with the number of cars in a freight train

The risk of derailment increases with freight train length, according to an academic study published today, which found that a 200-car train is 24% more likely to derail than a 50-car train. The study — by researchers from Brigham Young University, Georgetown University, and Virginia Tech — analyzed Federal Railroad Administration rail equipment accident data […]

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North Carolina, Amtrak to run special trains to U.S. Open golf tournament

Blue passenger locomotive next to station platfrom

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s Department of Transportation has announced that the state will run special passenger train to this year’s U.S. Open golf championship at Pinehurst, N.C. The “Open Express” train  will run daily between Raleigh Union Station and the Pinehurst Clubhouse, near Pinehurst No. 2 golf course, during the June 13-16 tournament. The […]

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Heat advisory will change schedules for some Amtrak trains on Northeast Corridor

Train at station platform at night

WASHINGTON — Amtrak has announced schedule changes for some Northeast Corridor trains because of heat orders issued by CSX Transportation. A brief alert posted by Amtrak on its NEC social media feed says “CSX, the owner and maintainer of the tracks, issues heat orders notifying Amtrak that the maximum speed of passenger trains are reduced […]

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Manufacturer halts work on axle redesign for Ottawa light rail equipment

Red and white light rail train rounds curve

OTTAWA, Ontario — Alstom is no longer working on an axle redesign for Ottawa’s light rail vehicles, previously presented as the solution to problems that have plagued the city’s Confederation line for three years. CTV News reports that a report prepared for an upcoming meeting of the city’s Transit Commission and Light Rail Transit Committee […]

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More talk but no action as Mobile city council considers Amtrak service

aerial view of land along railroad tracks near water

MOBILE, Ala. — Members of the Mobile City Council remained focused on its potential funding obligation to support Amtrak Gulf Coast service at a Monday meeting with Amtrak representatives, WKRG-TV reports. Representatives of the passenger operator, as well as CSX, the Southern Rail Commission, and the Federal Railroad Administration were on hand for a meeting […]

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