Digest: CTA train derails, interrupting service to O’Hare Airport

Train operating in the median of Interstate 90

More Tuesday morning rail news: CTA train derails after striking tire, disrupting Blue Line service A Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train has derailed this morning near the Harlem Station in the city’s Norwood Park neighborhood, disrupting through service between downtown and O’Hare Airport. WBBM-TV reports service was halted about 5:15 a.m. between the Rosemont […]

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Digest: NS coal train derails in Illinois

aerial photograph of train cars derailed

More Monday morning rail news: NS coal train derails in Illinois
 Twenty-four cars of a Norfolk Southern coal train derailed in Panama, Ill., Sunday morning, according to a Facebook post by the Chris-Mont Emergency Management Agency. A press release from the agency says the Shoal Creek Fire Protection District was dispatched to the derailment at […]

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Metra debuts new bike car, will allow bicycles on all trains

CHICAGO — Metra will introduce its first bike car — a coach with room for 16 bicycles, instead of the usual five — on Saturday on the Milwaukee District North Line, and will relax its bicycle policy to allow bikes on all trains across its 11 lines as of Monday, Nov. 9. There will still […]

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Digest: Metra, Amtrak ask to continue mediation of Chicago Union Station dispute

Thursday morning rail news: Metra, Amtrak ask Surface Transportation Board for more mediation time Saying they have made progress in their dispute over Metra’s lease at Chicago Union Station, Metra and Amtrak have requested more time from the Surface Transportation Board for mediation. In a letter filed Nov. 2, Metra’s attorney, filing on behalf of […]

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The Hills Line with James McNab: Scenery Secrets, Episode 7

Host James McNab shares secrets to making scenic showcases on his HO scale Hills Line model railroad. You’ll see that repetition is a helpful thing when it comes to making realistic scenery layers. From applying a single coat of paint, to adding static grass, to making stone ballast, James demonstrates that rinse and repeat techniques […]

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Digest: MARS Winter Meeting moves online, will feature two Class I CEOs

Mars logo

Thursday afternoon rail news: MARS to hold winter meeting online, will feature CP, BNSF CEOs The annual winter meeting of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers — which traditionally draws an exceptional lineup of speakers — will move online this January and be condensed to a half-day, but still will feature notable guests. “Our highest […]

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Digest: Minnesota fails to provide funding for second Chicago-Twin Cities train

Wednesday morning rail news: Minnesota Legislator fails to fund second Chicago-Twin Cities train Efforts to launch a second daily Amtrak train between Chicago and the Twin Cities suffered a setback when the Minnesota Legislature adjourned without providing $10 million in matching funds for a federal grant to advance the plan. The Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports that […]

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Digest: Groundbreaking hails significance of South Shore extension

Wednesday afternoon rail news: Groundbreaking for South Shore project features first ‘commuter train’ to Dyer, Ind. Arriving on a South Shore Line train using parallel CSX tracks, officials at a groundbreaking Wednesday in Munster, Ind., for the commuter railroad’s West Lake Corridor project touted the significance of the 8-mile, $945 million branch line that will […]

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FRA grants announced for rail projects in Connecticut, New Jersey, Michigan

FRA logo

WASHINGTON — Connecticut has received $144.9 million in grants for bridge replacement, NJ Transit has received $18.3 million for upgrades to a Trenton passenger station, Michigan has received $15.57 million for improvements to state-owned rail right of way, and San Diego’s North County Transit District will receive $9.8 million for signal and crossing upgrades as […]

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