Commuter/Regional

The Northlander returns to Ontario. Also, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) launches systemwide upgrades in 2026; Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s (VPRA) New River Valley project is on track…

Northstar service between Minneapolis and Big Lake, Minn., was shuttered Jan. 4, with buses replacing trains along the route, according to local media reports. The Minnesota Star Tribune and other…

Ridership records are set for New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) commuter railroads and California’s Sonoma-Marin Area Regional Transit District (SMART). Also, the fiscal year 2025 audit for Honolulu Authority…

NJ Transit recently announced, via a social media post, that it has introduced a new patriotic paint scheme on the ALP-45DP 4526 locomotive to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the…

Lili Tran on Jan. 5 will join the Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver, Colo., as Chief People Officer (CPO).

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) system-wide ridership decreases 1% in November. Also, STV’s Quantico Station Improvement Project wins an American Council of Engineering Companies of Virginia (ACEC Virginia) Grand Award;…

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) shortlists three Commuter Rail operator teams. Also, Alto, Canada’s planned Toronto-Québec City HSR (high-speed rail) system, “could see dozens of daily trains”; crime is at…

The Regional Transportation Authority (Chicago, Ill.) on Dec. 18 voted to adopt the 2025 Regional Transit Operating Budget and 2026-2030 Capital Program following the signing of the Northern Illinois Transit…

My report on the Dec. 4 Amtrak Board meeting in New Orleans included a proposal by Scott R. Spencer, Chief Operating Officer of AmeriStarRail, who proposed rebranding the new NextGen…

Alstom will supply 47 DMUs for the government’s passenger revival program.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on Dec. 16 signed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act, SB2111, into law, “marking a landmark action in modernizing Illinois’ transit system.” The law creates…

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) on Dec. 10 reported joining disability advocates and the original plaintiffs of an accessibility lawsuit “to celebrate a historic milestone in the ongoing effort…

From fiscal cliffs to tariffs to excess liability insurance, commuter rail operators have no shortage of challenges at the moment. But at last month’s annual Summit of the Commuter Rail Coalition,…

Last month’s election was a good one for Democrats. Mounting dissatisfaction with POTUS 47 and his Administration’s policies contributed to major victories, as I reported shortly after Election Day. I…

RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2025 ISSUE: Newly electrified, Caltrain is operating 104 trains per day with one million monthly riders. Jan. 16, 1864, marked the first day for passenger rail service…

The Transit Rail Association for Canadian Contractors, Maintainers, Operators and Standards (TRACCS) last month recognized “outstanding contributions and achievements within Canada’s rail sector” through its inaugural Rail Achievement Awards.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) reaches a tentative contract agreement with Transport Workers Union (TWU) 234. Also, Metra’s Operation North Pole (ONP) Christmas train returns to the rails, and…

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) on Dec. 8 approved $1.1 billion in infrastructure funding, including $53 million to purchase 12 clean energy locomotives to replace older diesel engines across Southern…

In a relatively rapid reversal of policy, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Railroad Safety Board on Dec. 5 approved a new “temporary waiver” (Docket No. FRA-2025-0059) allowing U.S. railroads, freight…

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released guidance to help public transportation agencies navigate federal requirements related to moving people “safely and efficiently” to major events—from international sporting events to…