A Milwaukee streetcar makes its way through downtown on the system’s opening weekend in November 2018. The system, “The Hop,” expects to have two extensions open by the time of the Democratic National Convention in July 2020, and is considering a third. TRAINS: David Lassen MILWAUKEE — The first extension of Milwaukee’s streetcar, The Hop, […]
HOLLAND, Mich. – See five million blooming tulips, not brake lights and toll booths, this May 4 and 11 when Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation offer additional service between Chicago and Holland for the annual Tulip Time Festival. These trains on the daily Pere Marquette route, sponsored by MDOT, will run on two […]
This view from Metra’s 11th Street/Museum Campus station looks toward Soldier Field. The area over the Metra tracks by the stadium is the site for a proposed multibillion-dollar development, which also would include a new transit center. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — A multibillion-dollar development proposed for the air rights over Metra tracks next to […]
Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) is requesting detailed answers from Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson about February’s signal failure at Chicago Union Station. More than 100,000 Amtrak and Metra passengers had trips disrupted by the Feb. 28 signal problems at Chicago Union Station. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — The chairman of the House subcommittee on railroads is […]
A Metra Rock Island train arrives at the Midlothian station in December 2018. The Rock Island line will have additional service on Saturday and Sunday for St. Patrick’s Day events, while a number of other Metra routes will see additional trains Saturday for Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — Metra will […]
DULUTH, Minn. — After a day of meetings with local officials, an Amtrak executive promised Monday that the passenger railroad is “going to deliver” on proposed service between Duluth and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Joe McHugh, Amtrak’s vice president, state-supported business development, told the Duluth News-Tribune that the proposed 152-mile, 2 ½-hour Northern Lights Express is “in the […]
DULUTH, Minn. — Amtrak officials are scheduled to be in Duluth today and tomorrow for meetings about proposed passenger service between Duluth and the Twin Cities. The Duluth News Tribune reports that Joe McHugh, Amtrak’s vice president, state-supported business development, will meet with Duluth-area officials today and elected officials at the State Capitol in St. […]
Amtrak Hiawatha trains meet at Rondout, Ill., in January 2018. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has included $45 million for expanded Hiawatha service in his proposed budget. TRAINS: David Lassen MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has included $45 million for expanded Amtrak Hiawatha service between Milwaukee and Chicago in his proposed budget, Wisconsin Public Radio […]
Two NJ Transit Morris and Essex Line trains meet at the Maplewood, N.J., station. The train on the left is headed to Dover; the one on the right is bound for New York’s Penn Station. The proposed state budget for fiscal 2020 would provide an additional $100 million in funding for the transit agency. Ralph […]
LOGANSPORT, Ind. — The displaced Indiana Transportation Museum may soon have a new home. According to a notice published in the Federal Register, the Logansport & Eel River Railroad is seeking a waivers for a requirement to put a section of out-of-service track back into service. The Federal Railroad Administration filing says the railroad, which […]
Thursday’s signal outage at Chicago Union Station was reportedly caused by a worker falling on a circuit board during an equipment upgrade, according to a U.S. Senator. TRAINS: David Lassen CHICAGO — That “human error” that snarled Metra’s Thursday evening commute? It wasn’t just someone flicking the wrong switch or a programming mistake. U.S. Sen […]
ELLENDALE, Minn. – Two Union Pacific trains stuck in deep snow near Ellendale are free this week following the efforts of railroad and contractor crews to free them. Ellendale is located on the so-called “Spine Line” between Minneapolis and Des Moines, Iowa, about 30 miles north of the Minnesota-Iowa state line. The work took place […]
