Metra board approves new five-year strategic plan

Commuter train passes interlocking tower in golden afternoon light

CHICAGO — The Metra board of directors has approved a new five-year strategic plan that aims to address the commuter rail system’s post-COVID challenges and set goals for its evolution to meet those challenges The 2023-27 plan, “My Metra, Our Future,” approved at Wednesday’s meeting, notes the need to adapt with ridership that currently is […]

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Bay Area’s SMART reports no issues with DMU brake discs

Silver and green DMU trainset

PETALUMA, Calif. — Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, which operates Nippon Sharyo diesel multiple-unit passenger trains similar to those that led to a weekend shutdown of Toronto’s Union Pierson Express, has inspected its equipment and found no problems, a SMART spokesman tells Trains News Wire. The brakes on the two fleets are slightly different, Matt Stephens, […]

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Reading & Northern to launch Pittston-Jim Thorpe excursions

Green and yellow diesel next to tower in mountains

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — Reading & Northern will expand its passenger excursion operations in May, launching regular weekend operations between the new Wilkes Barre-Scranton Regional Station in Pittston, Pa., and Jim Thorpe, Pa. The all-day, round-trip excursions will depart Pittston at 9 a.m., making intermediate stops at Penobscot (Mountain Top) and White Haven en route […]

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NTSB updates preliminary information on East Palestine derailment

Workers and equipment around burned out tank cars

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board has updated its preliminary information on the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment and fire in East Palestine, Ohio, revising the count of cars that derailed to 38 and providing a link to an Environmental Protection Agency list of what those cars were carrying. In all, the train included […]

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Canadian government begins process to acquire land for Lac-Mégantic bypass

Map of Lac-Megantic Bypass

LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — The Canadian government has begun the process of expropriating land for the planned Lac-Mégantic rail bypass after being unable to negotiate land purchases, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced Monday. “I understand that some of the landowners are angry, saddened or anxious about this decision,” Alghabra said in a statement. “Believe me, it […]

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