News photos: Pop-Up Metro lends a hand with Army-Navy Game

Passengers use portable platform to exit commuter train

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — When the Army-Navy football game was held in Massachusetts for the first time on Saturday, Dec. 9, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority helped transport the sellout crowd of 65,878 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, thanks to a branch line that serves the stadium. Rail Development Corp.’s Pop-Up Metro concept played a supporting […]

Read More…

DC Metrorail faces major cuts under proposed WMATA budget

Rapid-transit train arrives in station as people wait on platform

WASHINGTON — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has released a budget for the fiscal year beginning in July 2024 that calls for drastic cuts to rail and bus service unless money can be found to address an operating deficit of $750 million — roughly 25% of the current budget. The proposed budget will include […]

Read More…

Gallery: Metra’s holiday trains

Holiday decorated F40PH-3

CHICAGO — Metra announced earlier this year that it would use trains decorated for special holiday excursions — which have been running to downtown Chicago on various routes on Saturdays since Dec. 2 — in regular commuter service, as well [see “Metra, CTA set plans …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 19, 2023]. This is a […]

Read More…

Caltrain finalizes electrification operating plan

Caltrain electric trainset passes through station

SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Four trains per hour during peak periods, trip times for locals cut from 100 minutes to 75 minutes, and increased weekend service highlight Caltrain’s plan for service when electrification begins in fall 2024. The plan announced last week refines the initial proposal introduced in October [see “Caltrain offers details on initial […]

Read More…

City of Cheyenne creates group to pursue passenger rail service

Map of northern Colorado with proposed rail line

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne’s mayor has launched a new group to aid in efforts to bring passenger rail service back to Wyoming’s largest city. Mayor Patrick Collins announced creation of the 10-member Cheyenne Passenger Rail Commission on Monday, saying the group’s first meeting is set for this Friday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. It will […]

Read More…

10 historic rail stations to visit

Inside the big waiting room at a train station

At the turn of the 20th century, stunning, cathedral-like structures were commonly served by passenger-rail carriers. These stations were hubs of activity in major cities, from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles and in between. The hustle and bustle within the walls reflected the height of passenger-rail service in the United States at the […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of December 11th 2023

A set of five model boxcars in various paint schemes

News & Products for the week of December 11th 2023   Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of December 11th […]

Read More…

News photos: Metra operates congressional special

Blue and white locomotives lead commuter train

CHICAGO — In a rarity on a number of fronts, Metra operated a special train today (Sunday, Dec. 10) for members of Congress between Chicago Union Station and the O’Hare Airport station on the North Central Service line. The train, using one of Metra’s decorated holiday train sets generally led by F40PH-3 No. 104, the […]

Read More…