First runs of Mardi Gras Service sell out quickly

Train of two locomotives and one passenger car stopped on siding

MOBILE, Ala. — It has been a long wait for the launch of Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service. Clearly, some people can’t wait to take a trip. A day after the start date for service was announced and tickets went on sale, the first regular run of Amtrak Mardi Gras Service in each direction on Aug. […]

Read More…

CPKC says local service continues to improve on former KCS

Two red locomotives and one blue locomotive on freight train with grain silo in background

WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific Kansas City says its service continues to improve in former Kansas City Southern territory, where a May 3 computer system cutover led to congestion, delays, and missed switches. Local service performance on the former KCS rose to 88% in the week ending June 27, CPKC said in an update to the […]

Read More…

Reading & Northern promotes passenger department’s Knadler

Man in cab of black F unit with gray and red trim

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Jeff Knadler has been promoted to assistant vice president-passenger at the Reading & Northern, the railroad has announced. Knadler, who started with the R&N as a freight conductor in 2007 and advanced to designated supervisor of locomotive engineers, has most recently served as senior director of the passenger department. In that […]

Read More…

NTSB releases report on Union Pacific conductor fatality

Aerial view of scene of fatal accident at Chicago-area rail yard

WASHINGTON — The probable cause of a July 2024 fatal collision at Union Pacific’s Proviso Yard was an inexperienced conductor’s failure to alert the engineer to stop the train at a designated point during a shove move in unfamiliar territory, the National Transportation Safety Board said today (July 2, 2025). The conductor — who was […]

Read More…

STB turns down Metra request for injunction in dispute with UP (updated)

Commuter train on curve with multistory buildings in background

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has denied Metra’s request for a temporary injunction or emergency service order protecting commuter operations on three Union Pacific lines in the Chicago area, saying Metra has not shown the situation meets “the standard required for either avenue of relief.” The five-page ruling was made Tuesday, July 1, but […]

Read More…

Fare, schedule, and equipment plans detailed for Amtrak Mardi Gras

Woman speaking outside wooden passenger station

NEW ORLEANS — Press events held today from Mobile, Ala., to New Orleans have filled in more details on the launch of two daily round trips of Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service, beginning Aug. 18. The start date and other details were announced this morning [see “Amtrak to launch …,” Trains News Wire, July 1, 2025]. […]

Read More…

Amtrak to launch ‘Mardi Gras Service’ on Aug. 18

Crowd of people greeting passenger train in view from onboard train

MOBILE, Ala. — Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service between Mobile and New Orleans will launch on Aug. 18, ending the lengthy effort to restore passenger operations on a route that last saw an Amtrak train in 2005. Tickets were placed on sale this morning; adult coach fares will be as low as $15 for full-route service, […]

Read More…

Caltrain fares rise by 25 cents

Front view of two red-and-white EMU trainsets

SAN CARLOS, Calif. – Bay area commuter rail operator Caltrain is increasing its base fare by 25 cents as of today (July 1, 2025). The move reflects actions taken after the operator delayed a 50-cent increase in its base fares, scheduled for July 1, 2023, to avoid discouraging riders from returning to public transportation following […]

Read More…

BNSF fails to convince regulators it should be able to serve two UP locations

WASHINGTON — BNSF Railway’s efforts to serve two shippers located on Union Pacific trackage were dealt a setback today when federal regulators said they were not persuaded that BNSF had the right to reach the customers as part of conditions granted during the UP-Southern Pacific merger. The separate decisions from the Surface Transportation Board, however, […]

Read More…

Naugatuck Railroad FL9 sustains ‘significant damage’ in derailment

FL9NH2019

THOMASTON, Conn. — No injuries resulted when the Naugatuck Railroad’s restored New Haven FL9 locomotive, No. 2019, derailed during a Sunday, June 29, excursion — an incident captured on video and circulating on social media. The locomotive sustained “significant damage,” the Railroad Museum of New England said in a statement. Thirty-five passengers were on board […]

Read More…

Three suffer minor injuries in Wisconsin & Southern derailment (updated)

Aerial view of train derailment

HARTFORD, Wis. — Three crew members were injured when a Wisconsin & Southern Railroad train derailed today (June 30, 2025) in the town of Hartford, near Independence Ave. The derailment occurred about 9:30 a.m. Hartford Fire Chief Tony Burgard told a press conference that the three people had walked to a nearby road and were […]

Read More…

Port of LA agreement seeks to generate more export traffic from California’s Central Valley

Aerial view of collection of large warehouses

LOS ANGELES — The Port of Los Angeles has signed a Memorandum of Agreement to generate more export traffic for the port from California’s Central Valley through an agreement with the city of Shafter and the developer of a logistics hub there. Central to the agreement is the Wonderful Logistics Center, a 3,400-acre development in […]

Read More…