RAIL Magazine

MBTA, Keolis complete rail replacement on Fairmount Line - Trains BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has completed over 28 miles of rail on its Fairmount Line, part of work in preparation for the eventual launch of battery-electric train service...

MBTA, Keolis complete rail replacement on Fairmount Line in advance of battery-electric multiple unit (BEMU) operations, although the procurement process just began last January | Trains Magazine - www.trains.com/pro/maintena...

On the Airo options process, there's been exactly one unit released from Siemens so far (the Cascades trainset now testing on the NEC). Selecting the options now wouldn't really get the trains produced any faster until Siemens gets further through the order. More Charges could be optioned soon, tho.

Revisiting Long-Distance Fleet Plans | Rail Passengers Association

The Superliner replacement ROI bid process was bungled by Amtrak, after no OEMs responded, with the specs really unworkable as stipulated. Hopefully the next round of the process will produce some usable bids:
www.railpassengers.org/happening-no...

In my book, it’s hard to beat NMRRX…

As Train Travel Surges, Amtrak Needs to Buy More Trains! Amtrak has a problem: There’s more demand than it can handle. Trains regularly sell out, year round. There’s a relatively simple fix for this problem: Buy more trainsets.

www.hsrail.org/blog/as-trai...

It’s probably the most significant mileage for a trans-Mississippi route of any railroad in either direction not going to Chicago/IL. When RRs crossed, it was to reach a city or yard just on the other side (ie. NYC or Pennsy to St Louis, MoPac to Memphis, etc).

Which of these historic railroads’ outpost locations was/is the most unfathomable?
A) Burlington Northern: Birmingham, AL
B) Chesapeake & Ohio: Petoskey, MI
C) Milwaukee Road: Disque, WA
D) Rock Island, Tucumcari, N.M.

Check out the documents here:
assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload...

Lots of specific details on GO Train improvements across the Greater Toronto-Hamilton region in these documents shared by @glista.bsky.social on the other platform. Continued enhancement of service frequency continues but electrification scenarios are still a ways down the line…

Train Beer Friday: Commuter Rail Pale Ale by @skyrocbrewery in Attleboro, Mass., located about .4 miles from the Attleboro station on the MBTA’s Providence/Stoughton Line.🍻🛤️

A truncated version. I do like the fins connecting the locomotive stripes to the first coach. But then it disappears. They could have replicated the classic AA livery, but didn’t…
The thing I like best about chest lines is connecting front to the back.

a purple background with a yellow and black tiger head on it ALT: a purple background with a yellow and black tiger head on it

I’d be careful repeating that down here in Louisiana…😁
(For the record, the SSL’s maroon & orange is always connected to Virginia Tech in my mind)

Just a word of caution: this is a very small fragment of the project. The grand tamale - reactivating the Cutoff between Andover & Slateford Jct - is currently unfunded.

Id recommend re-reading all the words at the top of the post. Not simple best commuter rail livery but best “cheat line” which is to linearly connect the front of the vehicle(s) to the back at or below the windows to convey speed. This Alitalia livery is the classic example.

Over on the Lackawanna Cutoff FB discussion pages, Chuck Walsh shared this post from former Congressman Matt Cartwright that the 2024 CRISI grant to upgrade the PNRRA trackage in Pennsylvania (freight operated by Delaware-Lackawanna) are now out for disbursement by FRA.🛤️💵

Even more noticeable on aircraft. Alitalia’s was stunning.
I learned the term from Patrick Smith of Ask The Pilot.

They have both the sacred and the profane…

Top Commuter Rail Cheat Line liveries:
1) MARC
2) ACE
3) MBTA (Bilevels only)
4) SEPTA (locomotive-hauled consists only)

Maybe they did, maybe they didn’t. I don’t think we can can say no one sought it. DC allowed CSX overnight windows for the Virginia Ave Tunnel project. Maybe the experience with that was bad. Or maybe CSX wanted overnight access and they’re blaming it on the noise restrictions.

CSX needs to run their traffic in the middle of all this.

Sorry, Zack, but I’m not sure what you’re missing here. The part that’s in L’Enfant Plaza is the problem. Fully on DC land.

Ok, but even if it’s granted, it doesn’t change the railroad shutdown dynamic.

Maybe they could but it wouldn’t change the dynamics of the railroad shutdown.

Not sure Virginia would have jurisdiction over the portion that’s really related to the noise ordnances:
bsky.app/profile/rail...

It’s been more than 20 years since Metro did any hard construction in the DC limits (NY Ave Station, which opened in 2004)

The project isn't only the span over the river, but the railroad in D.C. in the L'Enfant Plaza area, from East Potomac Park to east of Maine Ave. This portion is adding 2 dedicated passenger rail tracks parallel to the 2 existing ones owned by CSX.

YouTube video by Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Changing the Future of Rail, Today

Video by Virginia Passenger Rail Authority:
youtu.be/gf6iaC7Of_g?...

Additional info on this fact sheet:
www.vre.org/assets/1/18/...

How to Prepare for Schedule Changes — VRE | Very Important Passenger What VRE Riders Need to Know

To allow work on the new Long Bridge project, beginning in January, VRE will significantly alter its schedule through 2030. No trips are being eliminated but mid-day trips (8:15 am–1:00 pm, MON-SAT) will terminate or originate in Alexandria, not DC.
Details: vrevip.squarespace.com/blog/how-to-...

YouTube video by WFTV Channel 9 EXCLUSIVE LOOK: Universal’s proposed tunnel/transit system to parks and Epic Universe!

Universal’s proposed tunnel/transit system to parks and Epic Universe | @WFTV - youtu.be/GXHsW7PH9tM?... #Orlando #Florida #FL