FEC suit against Brightline stayed by judge

Freight train with orange and yellow locomotives passes through passenger station

MIAMI — Florida East Coast Railway’s lawsuit against Brightline — over Brightline’s efforts to develop commuter rail service in South Florida — has been stayed until the two parties can meet to discuss arbitration. Public broadcaster WLRN reports Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge Robert Watson granted the stay on Thursday, Nov. 13. Brightline is seeking […]

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Anatomy of a long delay on the City of New Orleans

Passenger train at platform at night

CHICAGO — Getting stranded on a long-distance train can be a maddening experience. Passengers have little recourse but to endure the delay, uncertain of its duration and knowing that appointments and connections will be missed. As Trains.com has frequently reported, there have been many instances where highway crossing collisions, debris strikes, and especially “mechanical assessments” […]

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U.S. Sugar steam photo charter set for Jan. 17-18

CLEWISTON, Fla. — U.S. Sugar’s Sugar Express will host a two-day photo charter in January featuring steam locomotive No. 148 in a recreation of 1950s-era railroading. The event on Jan. 17-18, 2026, will feature No. 148 — the Alco 4-6-2 built for Florida East Coast in 1920 and sold to U.S. Sugar in 1952 — […]

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Charlotte-area voters back sales tax increase for transportation plan

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

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Voters in Mecklenburg County, N.C., on Tuesday (Nov. 4) approved a 1% sales-tax increase to fund a transportation plan, including a commuter rail line. The Charlotte Observer reports that the referendum approved by a 52%-48% margin is expected to raise more than $19 billion over 30 years. The measure requires 40% of […]

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NTSB final report addresses July 2024 incident at NS Lambert’s Point Yard

Aerial view of yard with notations on accident that injured employee

WASHINGTON — A conductor’s attempt to apply a hand brake while standing in the track gauge, while using a retracted brake stick, was the probable cause of an accident that led to serious injuries to the conductor,  the National Transportation Safety Board said in its final investigation report on the July 2024 incident at Norfolk […]

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Amtrak service to Newport News, Va., remains suspended after CSX derailment (updated)

Overturned coal hopper next to bridge

RICHMOND, Va. — Amtrak service between Richmond and Newport News, Va., will now remain suspended until Monday, Nov. 3, as the result of last weekend’s CSX derailment, the passenger operator has announced in an update on Thursday, Oct. 30. Amtrak had previously announced that service would be suspended until Nov. 1. The 70-mile Richmond-Newport News […]

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CSX coal train derails in Virginia (updated)

Man walking on railroad bridge with derailed coal hoppers visible in distance

PROVIDENCE FORGE, Va. — No injuries were reported as two locomotives and 53 cars of a CSX coal train derailed today (Saturday, Oct. 25) in New Kent County, Va., near the unincorporated community of Providence Forge. The New Kent County Sheriff’s Office first reported the incident on social media about 3:10 p.m., reporting that coal […]

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Pinsly begins operating its ninth short line, the Georgiana & Andalusia Railroad

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Pinsly Railroad Co. has begun operating its newest short line, the 36-mile Georgiana & Andalusia Railroad in southern Alabama. The former Three Notch Railway interchanges with CSX at Georgiana, Ala. The Georgiana & Andalusia Railroad is set to make infrastructure investments to support the growth of both current and future rail-served customers […]

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Virginia’s ‘Long Bridge’ project to require five-hour midday work window (updated)

Passenger train arrives at station

WASHINGTON — Starting early next January, no freight or passenger trains will be scheduled to cross the Potomac River between Washington, D.C., and Alexandria, Va., during an 8:15 a.m.-to-1 p.m. window seven days a week for up to five years. This will accommodate construction on a $2.3 billion, four-track bridge being built to replace the […]

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Brightline revamps schedules, pricing, and train length

View from bridge of white and yellow locomotive and passenger train

MIAMI — Beginning Oct. 6, Brightline is making sweeping changes that adjust schedules, capacity, and pricing to capture ridership and revenue for both its Miami-West Palm Beach and South Florida-Orlando clientele. Hourly round trips between Miami and Orlando will be reduced from the current 15 to 10, departing about every two hours, while short-distance frequencies […]

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