News photo: Preparing for the Borealis

Passenger train next to lake under dramatic dark clouds

LAKE CITY, Minn. — Gearing up for the May 21 launch of the Chicago-St. Paul Borealis, Amtrak ran a special test train between the two cities on Tuesday, May 7, using the planned Horizon and Amfleet equipment and operating on the train’s schedule. The trip included all scheduled stops. The special is shown here in […]

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Transtar’s East Ohio Valley Railway to grow

Map of East Ohio Valley Railway

PITTSBURGH — East Ohio Valley Railway, one of the seven railroads of Transtar LLC, will more than double its operating mileage through a long-term lease of rail lines in the Powhatan Point, Ohio, area, Transtar has announced. The East Ohio Valley, currently 12.2 miles, will add a total of 18 miles through lease from Norfolk […]

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Metra to open new station in Chicago, add UP North trains May 20

Illustration of new commuter station

CHICAGO — Metra will open its newest station, and expand service on its Union Pacific North Line — which includes that station, Peterson/Ridge — on Monday, May 20, the commuter rail operator has announced. Peterson/Ridge is in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. Groundbreaking was held in November 2021, on what at the time was projected to be […]

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News photos: ‘Empress’ in Illinois

CP 4-6-4 No. 2816 and the "Final Spike Steam Tour" train arrives at Bensenville Yard on May 6, 2024. Mark Llanuza

BENSENVILLE, Ill. — Canadian Pacific No. 2816 and the ‘Final Spike Steam Tour’ have reached Chicago. Well, technically, Bensenville, Ill., the home of CPKC’s yard west of the city and adjacent to O’Hare Airport. That’s where the locomotive is laying over after its two-day trip from St. Paul, Minn., prior to Wednesday’s display in Franklin […]

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Concert, 10-day open house to mark Michigan Central Station grand opening

MichiganCentralStation1951

DETROIT — A 90-minute concert to be livestreamed globally and 10 days of open-house tours are on tap for the grand opening of the renovated Michigan Central Station, officials said in plans outlined for the Detroit City Council last week. The concert will be held June 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET in Roosevelt Park in […]

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Rock Island history remembered

Red-and-black diesel locomotive of Rock Island history

Rock Island history is a mighty good history. In 1847 the Rock Island & La Salle Rail Road was chartered to build between Rock Island, Ill., on the Mississippi River, and La Salle, where connections would be made with the Illinois & Michigan Canal to Chicago. Contractor Henry Farnam persuaded the organizers to extend the […]

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National Railroad Museum breaks ground on expansion project

Architect's drawing of a new railroad museum exhibit building.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The National Railroad Museum on Thursday held groundbreaking for its planned $17 million Fox River Expansion, which will add more than 25,000 square feet to the facility. The addition will approximately double the size of the museum’s Lefenstey Center and includes almost 19,000 square feet of climate-controlled space for exhibits, community […]

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Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad resumes operations

Train passing small station

PENINSULA, Ohio — The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will resume operations this Friday, May 3, after a two-month shutdown to address safety and operational procedures. During the hiatus, the heritage railway says it enacted improvements in radio communications and operations management software; installed cameras in locomotives; and implemented new operating rules and procedures scaled to […]

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News photos: Special move on South Shore short line

Locomotive and single passenger car on undulating straight track passing through field

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — Anacostia Holdings short line Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad ran a rare 1-car passenger special train Wednesday, May 1, between its shops in Michigan City and Olive, a location approximately 10 miles from South Bend. The move with GP38-2 No. 2009, complete with white flags, and private car Montana […]

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Missouri River Runner service to return Thursday

Passengers board train with silver and red cars

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — Amtrak’s Missouri River Runners will resume operation on Thursday, May 2, after four days of cancellations, the company announced this afternoon. Union Pacific informed the passenger operator that it would be able to accommodate the two daily St. Louis-Kansas City round trips as cleanup continued following the Sunday derailment of a […]

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Amtrak to launch Chicago-St. Paul train May 21

Passenger train on bridge

CHICAGO — Amtrak will launch a second daily train between Chicago and St. Paul, Minn., the state-sponsored Borealis, on May 21, the passenger operator announced today. The train, using Horizon coaches and a café car, will offer Business Class service. It will substitute for one of the current Hiawatha round trips on the Chicago-Milwaukee portion […]

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