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. […]
MIAMI — The new Florida budget signed Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis eliminates some $200 million in state funding for the proposed Miami-Aventura commuter rail project, the Miami Herald reports. The state money, along with Miami-Dade County funding, was intended to match $389.5 million in federal funds for the 14-mile, seven-station service planned on the […]
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]. […]
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, […]
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, […]
Parallel Systems is only in the early innings of testing its self-propelled, autonomous flatcars on Genesee & Wyoming short lines in Georgia and already CEO Matt Soule says he’s likely to have a problem on his hands. “Parallel is going to have a manufacturing backlog problem,” the Parallel Systems founder predicted on a webcast last […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Four people were taken to the hospital for treatment of “heat-related issues” after Amtrak’s southbound Floridian was halted by mechanical problems today (Sunday, June 29, 2025), WJXT-TV reports. Train No. 41 was en route from Chicago to Miami when it was delayed in Nassau County, Fla., north of Jacksonville, about 10:30 a.m. […]
POWERSVILLE, Ga. — Twenty-three cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed near the community of Powersville in Peach County early Saturday (June 28, 2025), WMAZ-TV reports. The derailment occurred about 3 a.m., a railroad representative told the station.No injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were involved. Byron Police Chief Wesley Cannon said flash flooding […]
WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Virginia Railway Express CEO Rich Dalton, who has led the commuter operation since 2019, has announced plans to retire effective Oct. 3, 2025. Dalton announced his retirement plans at the VRE Operations Board meeting on June 20. Dalton joined VRE in 2009 as Chief Operating Officer, although he had been involved with […]
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board has approved a six-year transportation improvement plan including more than $7 billion for public transi. Some $1.7 billion of that is slated for the Transforming Rail in Virginia project acquiring and developing rail lines for passenger service. Other key rail-related elements of the plan for fiscal years 2026 […]
Amtrak has experienced a series of train cancellations because of “equipment unavailability,” as well as due to heat issues, in the Midwest and East on Tuesday and today (June 25, 2025), according to the company’s social media feeds. In the Midwest, Wolverine Train No. 355, a 5:28 pm. departure from Pontiac, Mich., to Chicago, has […]
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — A coalition of nonprofit groups has officially completed its purchase of Norfolk Southern’s Saluda Grade line for conversion into a hiking and biking trail. The Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy announced today (June 24, 2025) that it had finalized purchase on June 17 of the 31.5-mile trail between Zirconia, N.C., and Inman, S.C. […]
