Proposed Indiana budget threatens future of ‘Hoosier State’ NEWSWIRE

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The Hoosier State, with a consist including equipment being ferried from Amtrak’s Beech Grove Heavy Maintenance Facility, rolls through St. John, Indiana, on July 4, 2014. Bob Johnston Crawfordsville townspeople and Mayor Todd Barton, left, visit with then-Amtrak president Joe Boardman at an inspection train stop in October 2014. Bob Johnston INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. […]

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Washington governor says I-5 bridge project must include light rail NEWSWIRE

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Any replacement for the century-old Interstate 5 bridge connecting Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., must include light rail, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said last week. Inslee, speaking at a preview of the 2019 legislative session that beings today, said light rail will be included because Oregon, which will pay for half of […]

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Amtrak looks to new options for East River tunnel rehabilitation work NEWSWIRE

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NEW YORK — Amtrak is looking for options for its New York tunnels. During the day today, railroad officials will walk to the East River tunnels with officials from Columbia and Cornell universities, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and other members of an expert panel. They’re expected to find out if repair work could […]

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Metra directors: ‘Dire’ funding crisis may prompt service cuts NEWSWIRE

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CHICAGO — Three suburban Chicago members of Metra’s board of directors have taken the unusual move of penning a newspaper opinion-editorial expressing their concern about the commuter railroad’s “dire” capital funding crisis and warning of potential service cuts. “Without a large infusion of funding from the state of Illinois, we likely will have to shrink […]

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Metra Milwaukee heritage unit draws former employees NEWSWIRE

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No. 405 shows off its new Hiawatha nose logo at Grayslake, a detail left out of the first publicity photos shared by Metra. Jimmy Solum GRAYSLAKE, Ill. – When Metra train No. 2119 arrived at Grayslake on Thursday afternoon, it brought a little bit of railroad history with it — in two ways. Most prominent […]

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Transit agencies see little immediate effect from government shutdown NEWSWIRE

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An inbound NJ Transit commuter train approaches Newark Broad Street Station with a Bombardier ALP-46 leading a string of new bilevels. If the federal government shutdown continues, the agency may need to draw on its line of credit to sustain regular operations. Brian Schmidt WASHINGTON – As the partial government shutdown drags on, worries grow […]

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MBTA, FEC presentations part of NRC Conference final day NEWSWIRE

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An outbound MBTA Green Line train is operating over the last street running segment used by revenue trains in Boston, between Brigham Circle and Heath Street, in January 2014. The agency will extend the line north and west from its current terminus at Lechmere into Somerville and Medford, Mass., on two branch lines. Tyler Trahan […]

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Metra’s Milwaukee Road heritage unit to hit the rails Jan. 10 NEWSWIRE

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No. 405 makes it debut on Jan. 4. Metra CHICAGO – Chicago area commuter railroad Metra is expected release newly painted Milwaukee Road heritage unit No. 405 for revenue service on Thursday, a source close to the railroad tells Trains News Wire. The locomotive is tentatively assigned to Metra train No. 2119 departing Chicago at […]

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Metra’s big ‘ask:’ a $5 billion plan for improvements NEWSWIRE

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A Metra Electric train approaches the Matteson station on a coach-yard track as maintenance equipment works on the main line in 2017. Metra’s 2019 capital budget includes $54.6 million for track and structures. David Lassen MARCO ISLAND, Fla. – Metra has been cash-starved for a long time. But if that changes, the Chicago-area commuter rail […]

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Federal shutdown delays TEXRail opening NEWSWIRE

FORT WORTH, Texas— Dallas-Fort Worth area commuters looking forward to the Jan. 5 startup of TEXRail will have to wait until the federal government reopens before riding the area’s newest commuter train. “We have been unable to get clearance to operate the entire 27-mile corridor from the Federal Railroad Administration,” Trinity Metro, the train’s operator, […]

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