MINNEAPOLIS — Metro Transit broke its single-day light rail ridership record on April 8, the day of the NCAA basketball championship game in Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the light rail system recorded more than 130,000 rides on the day Virginia beat Texas Tech for the NCAA title. The 130,896 rides broke the mark […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Enjoy this unique 3-D rendering of the around-the-wall HO scale model railroad David Popp developed in his multi-part “Designing a layout” planning series for MR Video Plus. […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Enjoy this unique 3-D rendering of the around-the-wall HO scale model railroad David Popp developed in his multi-part “Designing a layout” planning series for MR Video Plus. […]
Amtrak’s Ray Lang speaks at Tuesday’s hearing in Chicago on commuter rail issues. To his left is Metra CEO Jim Derwinski. Others are Patricia Caslin of BNSF, John Friedmann of Norfolk Southern, and Mike Matteucci, regional director for Canadian National. Richard Wronski CHICAGO — Amtrak is rejecting a proposal to let Metra take over operations […]
INDIANAPOLIS — Odds of saving Amtrak’s Hoosier State continued to fade Tuesday as the Indiana Senate left funding for the train out of its version of the two-year state budget, the Lafayette (Ind.) Journal & Courier reports. State Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette) had said he would offer an amendment to continue the state’s $3 million […]
CHICAGO — Metra’s board of directors on Wednesday approved contracts totaling $13.6 million to two consultants to assist the commuter rail agency in purchasing locomotives and coaches. One contract, for $10 million, was awarded to STV Inc. of Philadelphia, Pa., to provide quality assurance, engineering, and administrative assistance for Metra’s planned purchase of new commuter […]
An inbound Metra Union Pacific North train passes through the Rogers Park station on April 13, 2019. Metra announced it is receiving funding for two new stations in Chicago, one of them just south of Rogers Park on the UP North line. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Metra announced today that funds from the state […]
A screenshot of the new Metra COPS app. Metra CHICAGO — Metra has introduced a smartphone app to allow customers to quickly report crimes, suspicious activity, and other safety or security concerns. Metra says the Metra COPS app “is meant for the reporting of safety and security issues on Metra trains and facilities, such as […]
INDIANAPOLIS — State Sen. Ron Alting says he will offer an amendment to the proposed state budget that would restore funding for Amtrak’s Hoosier State service, WLFI-TV reports. Alting, a Republican, represents a district including Lafayette, Ind., one of the communities served on the train’s Chicago-Indianapolis route. He told the TV station, “Many people in […]
Rep. Dan Lipinski will hold a hearing Tuesday on the Feb. 28 commuter meltdown at Chicago Union Station as well as “other issues for commuters.” CHICAGO — U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) will hold a hearing Tuesday on Amtrak’s technical meltdown that snarled Metra commuter service in February. The hearing will be held in room […]
Signal problems caused delays for Metra BNSF trains at Chicago Union Station on Thursday morning. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Metra BNSF line trains experienced delays arriving and departing from Union Station on Thursday morning because of Amtrak signal problems, WGN-TV reported. Delays of 30 to 45 minutes were reported during the morning commute. “Trains […]
The Empire Builder crosses the Mississippi River in Hastings, Minn., in September 2018. Planning continues for efforts to launch a second train on the Builder‘s route between Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul. TRAINS: David Lassen PORTAGE, Wis. — A proposal for a second daily Amtrak train between Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul should receive a waiver exempting […]
