RAIL Magazine

"Pilot locomotives are expected less than three years after notice to proceed. The MBTA’s project chart places that notice around the end of 2026 and design review in 2027, followed by diesel deliveries around 2029 and 2030 and battery/catenary deliveries around 2030 and 2031."

I know plenty of others shared this news last week, but wanted to also do so on this handle. All public funding is now in place to move forward with the 13.5-mile service. But Brightline-Florida East Coast legal issues are the next roadblock to overcome. www.wlrn.org/transportati...

ODOT's wishlist for Cascades service improvements in Oregon: *layover track in Eugene *second track south of Portland *improvements near Salem *increased Eugene-Portland service from 2 RTs to 6

While this is no surprise to anyone following California HSR, the upcoming contract formality brings some new details on the order for the initial operating segment and full fleet build-out. www.railwaygazette.com/high-speed/2...

I know this is a trains account but I fly a lot for my job. And I don’t get how so many people could care less what’s happening out the window. Yesterday, I saw a rainbow over the Rincon Mountains leaving Tucson and looked down on my neighborhood landing at BTR. This is the best part of flying.🛫🛬

Hello from Union Pacific’s Nogales Subdivision on the south side of Tucson. As the name implies, the line connects Nogales, MEX with the former Southern Pacific main line (Lordsburg Subdivision) in Tucson. Ferromex has operating rights for cross-border traffic.🛤️

Nice to see this dispute over the purchase of this rail line in the Lackawanna Valley, connecting Pittston & Wilkes-Barre, has been resolved fairly quickly so Reading & Northern can acquire the trackage.🛤️

What city’s streetcar am I riding tonight? 🚊

More FRA funding news… So, my read here is more capacity at Springfield Union Station for East-West Rail to Boston (and possibly to Albany) is unquestionably good. But traffic to the North to northwestern Mass, Vermont & Quebec still requires reverse moves (easier with Airos).

While this obligation of $550 million for the S Line project is positive, it is not any additional funding to the $1 billion grant announced by Sec. Pete in the waning days of the Biden Admin. It is only for the Raleigh-Wake Forest segment of the project. No new developments north of Wake Forest.

After much delay, FRA is finally releasing some intercity passenger rail grants under the Corridor ID program of several years of inaction. Inclusion of this Hiawatha extension to Madison is not surprising but certainly needed… www.jsonline.com/story/money/...

I rode this line a few years ago, and there were certainly a few stretches that needed some rail grinding to reduce wheel noise.

"In FY25, Windsor Locks Train Station served 35,576 riders. The new station features a relocated passenger rail and bus service from the south of the town’s downtown area to a central location near Main St. and track & signal enhancements to improve operational flexibility, reliability & capacity"

A belated Happy Birthday to the Montreal Metro, which opened 60 years ago yesterday, October 14, 1966. The system is Canada’s most extensive heavy rail network. It moves about 290 million annual riders, or 800,000 people daily. Here's photos from my visit it 2003, which included a facility tour.🚇

“Federal Railroad Administration Administrator David Fink told Trains the agency has “a $40 million grant available to fix this. I want to make sure the shunt enhancers are put in as needed as quickly as possible.” But, he added, “they need to be manufactured.””

I was in a city last night for a concert. Can you identify this rail line near the arena? Or if you know this lyric, you can look up the band and see where they were playing last night: “It’s time I got back, and I don’t even know how I got off the track”🛤️

Having one of those Class 1 freight is a real thing kind of mornings⚡️ (Image from video by Steam Giants on Facebook) |The Long Bridge Corridor’s dedicated passenger tracks from Washington Union Station to Alexandria could be electrified had Virginia not bent the knee to CSX|

"More than $3.2 billion in development was permitted or constructed along the corridor between 2011 and 2024, according to information provided by Metro Transit. The agency says another estimated $500 million in development is in the planning stages." www.kare11.com/article/news...

"The Authority has now constructed 66 structures along the first 119 miles of construction in the Central Valley. The four completed structures are as follows: State Route 43 Curved Bridge, Cross Creek Viaduct, Tule River Viaduct, Avenue 136 Underpass" hsr.ca.gov/2026/10/07/n...

"CapMetro said the changes will go until January 9, 2027. Previously approved schedule changes will take effect the next day. The agency says it’s to be more consistent. So instead of trains coming every 25 to 60-plus minutes, trains will operate every 37 minutes."

Part of this additional state transit investment will support expanded A Line service between Denver International Airport and Union Station every 15 minutes all day, every day, from 6 am - 12:30 am, rather than inconsistent 30-minute headway periods in off-peak hours.

Check out Lucid Stew's latest Stew's News in North American HSR for October, including CAHSR, Brightline, Brightline West, NEC & Acela, Chicago/Midwest, ALTO, Austin-San Antonio & CDMX-Quaretaro

RETVRN

Trolleybuses: all those ugly overhead wires interfering with the aesthetics of neighborhoods, am I right? 🚎🍁🏡 (Photo source: TransLink BC, Vancouver’s regional transit provider)

"The Authority is scheduled to meet Oct. 9 to address the report and issue corrective actions. As chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) said she believes the Authority will work to prevent similar problems from happening again."

A bit of news on the NJ Transit Andover extension / Lackawanna Cutoff restoration via a $500k federal security grant...

Want a first-hand view of the debut trip of MARC's new Brunswick-Camden Line? Thom of Trains Are Awesome was aboard and shares plenty of insights & background on the route bypassing WAS-Union Station. He's also coining the line the Camswick Line 👏👏👏 www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkPo...

Commentary by Amit Bose and John Putnam: "CoCo demonstrates that the United States can take a strong corridor, assemble the right partners, put trains on tracks in a way that benefits passengers, and makes the system better over time."

To be clear: an authority no less than Metallica envisions electrified, modern high-speed rail in California, as seen in their debut at the Sphere last night. Take note you puppets (especially Gavin Newsom and state Democrats) and obey your master!

Same location, nearly 50 years apart. Siegen Lane is now a 4-lane overpass above the now CPKC New Orleans Subdivision (Kansas City Southern back in 1977). This railroad would be the route of extended Amtrak Mardi Gras service to Baton Rouge.

You may not be familiar about the exact location of the Fort Collins station, and the reasons why - at least initially - trains to/from Denver will serve the Drake MAX BRT station and not the heart of the city, which is operationally difficult. More here: coloradoconnector.com/wp-content/u...

The bottom of this article notes another study on Austin-San Antonio passenger rail, this time by Travis County, on the corridors potential economic benefit...

"The "interactive" open house will be at the station's proposed location, the CSU Shops at College shopping center, 2439 S. College Ave. The shopping center is directly north of the new King Soopers and directly south of the old King Soopers. The format is drop-in, from 5 to 7 p.m."

Why would the Airo seats be any better than those on the venture cars operated in the Midwest & California? After all, both are Siemens railcars and operate on Amtrak trains…💺 Ventures: procured by Midwest/CA, assigned to Amtrak Airos: procured by Amtrak directly