Opinion

The level of granularity in evaluating thousands of pages of a merger application prompted William H. Tucker, when a member of Surface Transportation Board (STB) predecessor Interstate Commerce Commission in…

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…

The Amtrak Board of Directors held its year-end 2025 meeting earlier this month in New Orleans, the site of a celebration held three-and-a-half months ago for the inauguration of Mardi…

Dear members, partners, and supporters of the North American rail supply industry: As we close out this year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve undertaken together. Stepping into the role of RSI president at the end…

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,…

FROM THE EDITOR, RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2025 ISSUE: When I started freshman year at Essex Catholic High School, Newark, N.J.,  in September 1973, Latin had been dropped as a requirement. Though…

2026 FREIGHT RAIL OUTLOOK, RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2025 ISSUE WITH WALL STREET CONTRIBUTING EDITOR JASON SEIDL: For most if not all of 2026, the industry will be preoccupied with the…

WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2025 ISSUE: Union Pacific (UP) CEO Jim Vena’s September pilgrimage to the Oval Office—where Republican POTUS 47 picked his corporate pocket for a cash contribution…

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…

ASLRRA PERSPECTIVE, RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2025 ISSUE: As we close out 2025 and look forward to a productive 2026, partnerships will be critical to short line success. We are cultivating…

Ian Choudri left the supply industry a year ago to step into the hot seat as the CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. In an exclusive interview with IRJ’s…

FINANCIAL EDGE, RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2025 ISSUE: The holidays always bring the classic tussle between Ebeneezer Scrooge (pre-ghosts) and Santa. In the holiday spirit, Santa (or the true spirit of…

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…

Since the emergency infusion of federal funds for transit enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic started to run out, Railway Age has been reporting on how major transit providers have been…

A Norfolk Southern-served REDI Site will now be the home to SODECIA AAPICO JV’s new $120 million manufacturing facility in Orangeburg County, South Carolina – a major win for the…

Democrat Robert E. Primus, fired Aug. 27 from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) by Republican POTUS 47, alleges in an amended legal challenge filed in federal district court Dec. 4…

Union Pacific updated investors Dec. 2 that its Surface Transportation Board filing to acquire Norfolk Southern will be pushed out two weeks due to “additional analysis from a contractor.” UP…

On Nov. 14, the Rail Users’ Network (RUN) held its fall online conference. Its theme was “An Update—Keeping You Informed in the World of Passenger Rail & Rail Transit.” The…

Amtrak issued a press release Nov. 18 touting the railroad’s performance in Fiscal Year 2025 entitled “Amtrak: A Year of Records.” With record ridership, record passenger miles, record capital investments…

The Contrarian View: The phrase “Where’s the Beef” originated from a Wendy’s commercial in 1984 and quickly became a “cultural catchphrase” used to express skepticism or doubt about the substance…