San Francisco Muni to resume subway light rail operations in May

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San Franciscon Muni to resume some subway light rail service in May San Francisco Muni will resume some subway light rail service in May, the next step in the gradual and long-delayed restoration of service halted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The San Francisco Chronicle reports service on the N Judah and T Third line […]

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Digest: Union City, Ind., launches effort to save interlocking tower

Abandoned brick interlocking tower

Additional Tuesday morning rail news: Fundraising effort begins to save Union City, Ind., tower A fundraising effort has launched to save a former CSX interlocking tower in Union City, Ind., which is scheduled for demolition. The Winchester News Gazette reports the “Save the Rail Tower” effort seeks to raise $50,000 by March 25 for funds to […]

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News Photo: Metra on the South Shore

Metra cars in the South Shore yard

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District recently agreed to lease surplus gallery cars from Metra’s Electric District to meet the South Shore Line’s expanded service plans once its Double Track and West Lake extension projects are complete. [See “Digest: South Shore to lease gallery cars …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 26, 2021]. In the wake of that decision, […]

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Digest: South Shore to replace some service with buses because of expected severe weather

Electric commuter train in snow

Saturday morning rail news: South Shore to replace trains with buses on part of route through at least Monday The South Shore Line will substitute bus service for trains between South Bend, Ind., and the Michigan City Carroll Avenue station beginning this evening, and continuing through at least Sunday and Monday because of forecasts of […]

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Ohio rail group floats new effort for state rail service

Train tracks in urban canyon

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Rail advocacy group All Aboard Ohio has begun a public information campaign calling for a series of multi-frequency passenger rail routes throughout the state, plus additional round-trips over existing Amtrak routes between Cincinnati and Chicago as well as Cleveland to Detroit and New York via both Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Although some Ohio […]

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Biden administration pipeline restrictions may benefit crude by rail

Tank train passing signals on open prairie

The Biden administration’s efforts to kill key oil pipeline projects may boost crude by rail volumes, railroad officials say. President Joe Biden last month revoked a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline that was under construction to carry oil sands crude from Canada to refineries in the U.S. “The pipeline was not going to be […]

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Digest: Canadian short line train derails after reported runaway

Goderich Exiter logo

Tuesday morning rail news:   Ontario short line train derails, demolishing vehicles, shed A reported runaway situation led to the derailment of a Goderich-Exeter Railway train on Monday in Goderich, Ontario, CTV News reports, demolishing a tractor-trailer, pickup truck, and shed before coming to a halt. An officer of the Ontario Provincial Police told the news […]

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Digest: CTA details plans to rebuild four stations as part of Red-Purple project

Rendering of new rail transit station

Still more Friday morning rail news: Chicago Transit Authority unveils plans to rebuild four stations as part of Red-Purple project The Chicago Transit Authority has unveiled designs for four Red Line stations to be rebuilt as part of phase one the CTA’s Red and Purple Modernization project, a $2.1 billion effort to improve the Red […]

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Photo gallery of large-scale layouts at the 36th National Garden Railway Convention

Tennessee & Virginia Railroad Chris Bamburg

  The Nashville Garden Railway Society welcomes you to Nashville to attend the 36th National Garden Railway Convention! Nashville is a one-of-a-kind city that has something for everyone. High-tech meets small town, family values meets big business, country music meets symphony orchestra, micro-brewery meets vineyard. It’s all here! The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center […]

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Remembering New York Central freight trains

Road-switcher diesel locomotives with freight train

All through January 2021, Classic Trains editors are celebrating the New York Central Railroad. This week, feast your eyes on freight trains, in black-and-white, and color, from deep in Appalachia, to Manhattan’s High Line. See what we’ve unearthed from the David P. Morgan Library on this great railroad. Only from Classic Trains!   […]

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New Siemens ‘Venture’ cars test in Michigan

Passenger train in snow

NILES, Mich. – The new Siemens Venture cars for Amtrak Midwest service made their first test run on Monday, operating from Chicago to Pontiac, Mich., on the schedule of Wolverine Service train No. 350, suspended since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The trainset, with four of the new coaches separated by former heritage sleeper […]

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