Stadler hydrogen trainset makes debut in Florida

Front view of blue and white passenger train equipment

ORLANDO, Fla. — Stadler’s FLIRT H2 trainset, the hydrogen-powered commuter-rail equipment set to debut next year in Southern California, has made its first U.S. debut this week at the APTA Expo in Orlando, the American Public Transportation Association’s annual conference. The train will eventually join three Stadler FLIRT diesel multiple-unit trainsets on the San Bernardino […]

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Florida officials approve development district to support ‘Sunshine Corridor’ rail project

Locomotive with two bilevel passenger cars rounding curve

ORLANDO, Fla. — Officials in Orange County, Fla., have approved creation of a new special taxation district to help fund development of the “Sunshine Corridor” rail connection to allow Brightline and commuter rail service SunRail reach the Orange County Convention Center and nearby attractions. WKMG-TV reports county commissioners unanimously approved creation of the Shingle Creek […]

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Norfolk Southern lifts day-of-week restrictions on Midwest-West Coast international intermodal service

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern this week ended restrictions on international intermodal service linking five of its Midwestern terminals with West Coast ports. “We are instituting this customer-centric, operations-driven solution for shipments originating at Appliance Park [Louisville, Ky.], Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and Detroit, and we look forward to the positive impact these adjustments will have on […]

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New company to launch perishables service from UP’s former Cold Connect warehouse in Washington State

Logo of Tri-Cities Intermodal, featuring state of Washington in two shades of green

A new company is reviving the plans that temperature-controlled intermodal provider Tiger Cool Express had to acquire and develop the former Union Pacific Cold Connect warehouse in Wallula, Wash. Last October Tiger Cool Express signed an agreement with UP to acquire the Cold Connect property and to develop an intermodal terminal on the site. But […]

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Simplifying body-mounted couplers

MRRNS0720_01

Simplifying body-mounted couplers: Former editor Neil Besougloff used to accuse me of trying to convert all N scale modelers to using body-mounted couplers. He was joking – I think – but I’m not mounting such a campaign. For 90 percent of you, using truck-mounted, body-mounted, or a mix of both would make little difference. Your […]

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CPKC and CSX detail their plans to connect their networks via Meridian & Bigbee short line

WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific Kansas City and CSX Transportation have detailed their plans to acquire Genesee & Wyoming short line Meridian & Bigbee in order to create a shortcut interchange route linking the Southeast and Mexico via Myrtlewood, Ala. The deal, announced in June but outlined in a series of regulatory documents that appeared on […]

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News photo: South Shore testing for resumption of service

Electrified commuter train operating on double track near sunset

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — An eastbound South Shore Line test train approaches the 11th Street station in Michigan City on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Rail service west from Michigan City has been replaced by buses for more than a year — and the 11th Street station has been closed since May 2021 — as part of […]

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Canadian government to help fund new Port of Montreal container terminal

Aerial-view illustration of container terminal at port

CONTRECOEUR, Quebec — The Canadian government will spend up to C$150 million toward construction ofa new rail-served container terminal at the Port of Montreal, Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced on Tuesday. The project will include a 675-meter-long dock; a rail connection to existing Canadian National tracks, including a rail transfer point and freight transfer hub; […]

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Plasser American opens new manufacturing facility

Eight people posed for ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of factory door.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin was among the dignitaries taking part in the recent ribbon-cutting ceremonies marking completion of Plasser American’s new 82,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Also on hand for opening of the facility, allowing Plasser to more efficiently manufacture its maintenance and other railway machinery at the site that has been its home […]

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Eight projects seek federal funding for South Dakota rail infrastructure improvements

Overgrown rail line with tank car visible in distance

PIERRE, S.D. — Eight railroads and government agencies have made their pitches to the South Dakota Railroad Board for more than $58 million available in infrastructure project funding from the Federal Railroad Administration. KELO-TV reports that the board is administering $58.9 million in Special Transportation Circumstances grants, part of $139 million in funding announced earlier […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 15 | All in the details

In this session, Host David Popp promises to finish the work on the passenger car project! That includes paying careful attention to those tiny details on the passenger car and the layout itself…you know, all of the little things he’d notice if he did not take the time to complete them now, including the addition […]

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