CHICAGO — Not one but three Metra trains passed through a grade crossing in Mokena, Ill., where the gates and signals had failed to operate properly, narrowly missing several vehicles, Metra officials acknowledged Wednesday. The incidents took place Nov. 9 on Metra’s Rock Island line at the 191st Street crossing. A near hit involving one […]
Zone & Region: Midwest
Illinois mayor who tangled with Hunter Harrison at CN dies at 69 NEWSWIRE
Then CSX Transportation CEO E. Hunter Harrison, right, speaks before the Surface Transportation Board in 2017. R.G. Edmonson AURORA, Ill. — Tom Weisner, the former mayor of Aurora, Ill., who passed away recently at the age of 69, was honored at a service Monday for his leadership of Illinois’ second-largest city. But beyond the city’s […]
CN derailment cancels Metra Heritage service, affects Amtrak (additional updates) NEWSWIRE
A Metra Heritage Corridor train arrives at the Willow Springs, Ill., station in February 2016. Heritage Corridor service was cancelled Monday morning because of a freight train derailment between Willow Springs and Lockport, Ill. TRAINS: David Lassen A tank car shows the aftereffects of Monday’s early morning derailment of a CN train in Willow Springs, […]
New Metra schedule for PTC operation on Rock Island to debut Jan. 28 NEWSWIRE
A Metra train led by the Rock Island-painted unit honoring former CEO Don Orseno arrives at Blue Island, Ill., on Jan. 2, 2018. Metra will introduce a new schedule on the Rock Island District on Jan. 28, reflecting rider input and changes to allow positive train control operation. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Metra will […]
Proposed Indiana budget threatens future of ‘Hoosier State’ NEWSWIRE
The Hoosier State, with a consist including equipment being ferried from Amtrak’s Beech Grove Heavy Maintenance Facility, rolls through St. John, Indiana, on July 4, 2014. Bob Johnston Crawfordsville townspeople and Mayor Todd Barton, left, visit with then-Amtrak president Joe Boardman at an inspection train stop in October 2014. Bob Johnston INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. […]
Metra directors: ‘Dire’ funding crisis may prompt service cuts NEWSWIRE
CHICAGO — Three suburban Chicago members of Metra’s board of directors have taken the unusual move of penning a newspaper opinion-editorial expressing their concern about the commuter railroad’s “dire” capital funding crisis and warning of potential service cuts. “Without a large infusion of funding from the state of Illinois, we likely will have to shrink […]
Metra Milwaukee heritage unit draws former employees NEWSWIRE
No. 405 shows off its new Hiawatha nose logo at Grayslake, a detail left out of the first publicity photos shared by Metra. Jimmy Solum GRAYSLAKE, Ill. – When Metra train No. 2119 arrived at Grayslake on Thursday afternoon, it brought a little bit of railroad history with it — in two ways. Most prominent […]
Service restored to Illinois short line after tow boat strikes bridge NEWSWIRE
PEORIA, Ill. — Traffic is moving over a shortline’s bridge after a river tow boat struck it Sunday evening. The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Illinois River lift bridge, which links Peoria and East Peoria Illinois with its Illinois River crossing was struck by a towboat and closed to rail traffic Monday. The towboat was shoving […]
Metra’s Milwaukee Road heritage unit to hit the rails Jan. 10 NEWSWIRE
No. 405 makes it debut on Jan. 4. Metra CHICAGO – Chicago area commuter railroad Metra is expected release newly painted Milwaukee Road heritage unit No. 405 for revenue service on Thursday, a source close to the railroad tells Trains News Wire. The locomotive is tentatively assigned to Metra train No. 2119 departing Chicago at […]
Trains Presents: CSX Nashville Radnor Yard tour
Drive through CSX Transportation’s former Louisville & Nashville Radnor Yard in Nashville, Tenn., with Trains Magazine. You’ll ride along on a tour offered during the 2018 Railway Supply Institute convention in Nashville. Interested in more from the Music City? Trains Presents has also visited Nashville Union Station! […]
Trains Presents: CSX Nashville Radnor Yard tour
Drive through CSX Transportation’s former Louisville & Nashville Radnor Yard in Nashville, Tenn., with Trains Magazine. You’ll ride along on a tour offered during the 2018 Railway Supply Institute convention in Nashville. Interested in more from the Music City? Trains Presents has also visited Nashville Union Station! […]
Metra’s big ‘ask:’ a $5 billion plan for improvements NEWSWIRE
A Metra Electric train approaches the Matteson station on a coach-yard track as maintenance equipment works on the main line in 2017. Metra’s 2019 capital budget includes $54.6 million for track and structures. David Lassen MARCO ISLAND, Fla. – Metra has been cash-starved for a long time. But if that changes, the Chicago-area commuter rail […]
