Missouri DOT seeks $50 million to address grade crossing improvements

Aerial view of accident site with debris of truck hit by train

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The fatal collision and derailment of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief appears to have spurred action by officials in Missouri to address grade-crossing safety. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Missouri Department of Transportation is seeking $50 million from the state’s general budget to address grade-crossing improvements. Currently, the state budgets about $1.5 […]

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For Mike Schafer, there’s always a shot

Woman on horse passes in front of freight train

  Although I’ve never been great with a camera, I’ve enjoyed a life immersed in railroad photography, thanks to my good fortune at being able to edit railroad magazines for most of the past 40 years. I’ve had my favorites, of course, but I’ve tried to be as neutral as possible when it came to […]

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Metra awards contract for Homewood station renovation

Rendering of glass and concrete station structure

CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors has awarded a $14.5 million contract to renovate its portion of the Metra Electric District station at Homewood, Ill., which has already seen significant improvements by Amtrak for its portion of the shared structure. The contract includes construction of a new headhouse, including an ADA-accessible ramp, platform renovation, improvements […]

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Iowa town passes resolution against CP-KCS merger

Red locomotive with gondola cars

PRINCETON, Iowa — The town of Princeton has become the latest in Iowa to formally oppose the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, citing concerns over blocked grade crossings, noise, and risks from derailments, among other concerns. The Quad Cities Times reports Mayor Kevin Kernan wrote in an emailed statement that “City officials understand that the […]

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Metra releases draft budget, new strategic plan

Commuter train arrives at station on curve

CHICAGO — Commuter rail operator Metra has released a proposed 2023 operating budget of $980 million that includes several options for continuing to discount monthly passes and simplifying other aspects of its fare structure, as well as plans for more than $500 million in capital spending. The agency is also soliciting comment on a newly […]

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BNSF ordered to pay $228 million in suit over fingerprint data

BNSF Railway logo

CHICAGO — BNSF Railway has been ordered to pay $228 million in a federal class-action lawsuit after a jury found that the railroad violated Illinois state law by collecting employee fingerprints without prior consent. The decision is the first in a case involving the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act, the first law passed by a […]

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News photos: Metra unveils first SD70MACH (updated)

Three-quarter view of locomotive in shop building

CHICAGO — Metra has provided a sneak peek at the first of its new SD70MACH locomotives, providing photos Tuesday on its social media channels of locomotive No. 500 being unwrapped by shop personnel. The locomotive will also wear the newest Metra heritage paint scheme, honoring the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Regional Transportation […]

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