Minneapolis & St. Louis Mikado No. 627, a 1921 Alco (Brooks) locomotive, charges toward Peoria with a hot freight in a publicity photo. Photo by Minneapolis & St. Louis […]
Midwest Mikado
Zone & Region: Midwest
Group asks STB for OK to build new rail line in Kentucky, Tennessee
WASHINGTON — A group representing development agencies in Kentucky and Tennessee has filed a request with the Surface Transportation Board that would allow it to build a new 12-mile rail line connecting two existing short lines to better serve a Kentucky river port. Ken Tenn Regional Rail Partners, a non-profit corporation created by the Fulton […]
Digest: First cars in IDOT order for regional Amtrak trains arrive in Illinois
Monday midday rail news: First IDOT cars arrive; testing to begin in September The first four cars of the Illinois Department of Transportation order for equipment for state-supported regional Amtrak trains arrived in Chicago earlier this month, with four more en route from Siemens’ Sacramento, Calif., factory. Testing is likely to begin in September for […]
Judge denies Metra’s motion to dismiss UP suit over commuter operations
Metra’s request to dismiss Union Pacific’s federal lawsuit over continued operation of three Chicago-area commuter lines was denied Thursday, with a hearing on the case set for Sept. 8. The order by Judge Jorge L. Alonso of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois said the primary issue in the case — […]
Digest: Metra says it is losing $1 million a month because UP won’t collect fares
Wednesday morning rail news: Metra says it is losing $1 million a month as UP won’t collect fares Union Pacific is not collecting fares from riders on the three Metra lines it operates, costing the commuter railroad $1 million a month in fares, Metra says. The Chicago Tribune reports UP, citing coronavirus safety concerns, is […]
Unions, passenger groups offer support to Metra in dispute with UP
WASHINGTON — A coalition of unions and passenger groups has filed a statement with the Surface Transportation Board supporting Metra’s request for a preliminary injunction to require Union Pacific to continue operating commuter service on three Chicago-area routes. The statement filed Tuesday notes that the STB has said it will hold ruling on Metra’s quest […]
Metra unveils C&NW heritage locomotive
Locomotive news in brief: Metra C&NW heritage unit debuts Chicago commuter railroad Metra has unveiled its latest heritage locomotive. Metra F59PHI No. 90 was released Monday from the company’s paint booth in a Chicago & North Western-inspired scheme. The design incorporates elements of C&NW’s paint scheme worn on early passenger diesel locomotives such as EMD’s […]
Digest: New study offers options, cost for Northstar extension to St. Cloud
Tuesday morning rail news: Study says extension of Twin Cities’ commuter rail service to St. Cloud could cost $36 million to $257 million A new feasibility study says it could cost anywhere from $36 million to $257 million to extend the Twin Cities’ Northstar commuter rail service from its current northern terminus in Big Lake […]
STB defers decision in Metra-Union Pacific dispute
CHICAGO – The Surface Transportation Board is declining to intervene in an ongoing dispute between Metra and Union Pacific – for now. In a decision published Wednesday, the STB is holding a decision on its jurisdiction in abeyance and has directed both parties to inform the agency of any rulings issued by the federal district […]
A ‘Zephyr’ in the Wisconsin Northwoods
TREGO, Wis. – With the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad’s purchase of the Mark Twain Zephyr completed, the first and certainly the most complex part of the restoration process has been moved to Trego from Gateway Rail Service in Madison, Ill. The Injun Joe locomotive arrived Saturday evening after being moved by Over the Top Construction […]
Digest: Michigan city calls for link between ‘Pere Marquette,’ other Michigan trains
More Wednesday morning rail news: City wants ‘Pere Marquette’ route linked with other Michigan trains The St. Joseph (Mich.) City Commission has called for building a connection that would link the routes used by Amtrak’s Pere Marquette, Blue Water, and Wolverine service in New Buffalo, Mich. WJSM radio reports this would allow all the routes […]
Digest: Metra to add trains on Rock Island, BNSF lines
Monday midday rail news: Metra to add trains on Rock Island, BNSF lines Reflecting increasing ridership as the Chicago area reopens after COVID-19 shutdowns, Metra will add express trains to service on its BNSF and Rock Island lines next week, while schedules will be adjusted on two Electric District train. The new services will include […]
