A Metra Electric train departs the 47th Street/Kenwood Station in May 2019. Chicago’s mayor has come out against a plan that would lower fares and increase service on the Electric and Rock Island lines, saying it would hurt Chicago Transit Authority ridership. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot has come out against a […]
The interior of one of the new heated waiting areas at Metra’s Healy station. The station was completed earlier this year but formal opening ceremonies were held Tuesday. TRAINS: David Lassen A conductor announces information for passengers as a Metra Electric train stops at the Homewood Station in 2016. Homewood has received funds for a […]
An aerial view of the new transload site, at left, adjacent to U.S. Silica’s Rochelle operation. City of Rochelle ROCHELLE, Ill. – The City of Rochelle has opened a new transload center and rail bridge for the city’s railroad and industrial park. The Rochelle Transload Center the new bridge were part of a celebration the […]
CLINTON, Ill. — Central Illinois will gain a new short line if the Surface Transportation Board OKs a filing dated Sept. 11, 2019, to lease a 10.7-mile section of the Illinois Central Railroad Charter Line. Motive Rail Inc., dba Illinois Terminal Belt, will serve two grain elevators, both Tate & Lyle Grain Inc. operations at […]
Metra CEO Jim Derwinski CHICAGO — Metra is promising no fare increases in 2020 while outlining plans to spend $2.6 billion over the next five years to address capital needs. The spending plan includes purchasing and refurbishing locomotives and coaches and upgrading bridges and stations. The announcement by the commuter rail agency Wednesday came as […]
Burlington Northern GP9 No. 1868, formerly Northern Pacific No. 245, is at Staples, Minn., on Sept. 4, 1989. Steve Glischinski DULUTH, Minn. – The Lake Superior Railroad Museum is acquiring a high-hood former Northern Pacific GP9 in trade for a former Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range diesel. Independent Locomotive Service GP9 No. 1382, at the […]
The scene at Dupo on Tuesday afternoon after crews knocked down the flames. Steve Smedley DUPO, Ill. – A Union Pacific freight train has derailed in Dupo on Tuesday, resulting in a fire. The incident happened in the southeast suburb of St. Louis, Mo., south of East St. Louis. According to the railroad, around 12:45 […]
An inbound Metra Milwaukee West train departs National Street station in Elgin. Metra will run a bus bridge from the National Street and Elgin stations on Saturday as it places a new bridge in service. TRAINS: David Lassen ELGIN, Ill. — Metra will move service on its Milwaukee District West line onto a new bridge […]
PRR sleeper Philadelphia County is up for auction. Ozark Mountain Railcar Painted in Monon colors, this Milwaukee Road F7 is up for auction. Ozark Mountain Railcar NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — The auction for several pieces of rolling stock left behind by the Indiana Transportation Museum at its former home is underway, but no bids have been […]
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — More than a dozen pieces of historical railroad equipment formerly owned by the Indiana Railroad Museum will be scrapped if they are not successfully sold during an auction beginning Monday. According to a listing on the website for railroad equipment broker Ozark Mountain Railcar, 17 pieces of equipment, including two locomotives, a […]
More than two-thirds of the premium parking spaces at Barrington’s Metra station have been sold in advance of the new premium lot’s opening. TRAINS: David Lassen BARRINGTON, Ill. — More than two-thirds of the spaces in a new premium parking lot for the Barrington Metra station have been sold in advance of the lot’s opening […]
Q: I recently visited the Foster Townsend facility by the river in St. Louis and was informed that it is now part of Metro East Industries. Can you confirm? — John Foster, Gloucester, England A: Upon checking with railfans familiar with St. Louis, they confirmed that the shops you visited are leased out to Metro […]
