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Nippon Sharyo submitted a bid in the first round for the 7000s where Bombardier was the low bidder. They will probably bid again. As for the look, I found this which refers to the first bid request: http://chi.streetsblog.org/2013/02/08/ctas-846-new-train-cars-provide-opportunity-for-a-major-redesig...

There are still some original St. Louis order Highliners running with mixes of older furnishing. I hope IRM selects those, or at least parts if the hulls aren't in good enough shape, so that they could make a somewhat accurate IC era set some day. A lineup of South Shore and IC suburban cars would m...

Asset seizure without due process is itself a huge problem in need of reform. Basically, its a racket.

As for Amtrak turning over confidential information to law enforcement without warrants, what ever happened to things like fiduciary duty?

Well, most of the important testing is probably stationary. Like checking brake travel and circuit functions.

RTA proposed using DMUs on the STAR line, although between funding and CN's likely objections, it is most likely wishful thinking. I didn't see anyone mention the proposed South East line, but RTA concepts for that also suggested the possibility of using DMUs. However, that line is also of questiona...

The freight traffic on MD-W is CP rather than CN, but Metra owns the tracks all the way to Big Timber Road and runs the trains itself (unlike on the BNSF or UP lines), so wouldn't they set the policy? I thought Metra made some changes to how trains under its control pass each other in boarding areas...

A previous Chicago Tribune article said CTA moved the trip to 61 feet from the end of track, so whatever it was before was probably less than a car length.

I keep forgetting about the Franklin Park thing. I'm usually doing track work or something on Saturdays during the summer.

I think CTA upgraded the Skokie Valley wire to pantograph compatible catenary while the rest was plain trolley wire.

VRE V430 is a Pullman "six window" car built in 1956. It would be the only one Metra has if they use it, and if they repaint it then it will probably be the only one to ever get the silver Metra paint scheme. Hopefully it won't just be cannibalized. The other VRE cars and all the other Pul...

Back in May CTA made the decision to retract their request so that they can create a new one with altered requirements and restart the bidding process. With a price that seemed reasonable (much lower than CTA's expectation) and ending up with a final fleet that would have been very uniform, I though...

Sending artifacts on exhibitions is a common museumy thing to do.

Some highway stuff I like: Congress Street passing through the post office is interesting, also right next to the Chicago and Alton freight station and over the Union Station throat. The Hubbard Street "cave" on 90-94 under a bunch of railroads. Tollway oases (used to be Fred Harvey restau...

Southern Pacific's Pullman and ACF gallery cars were retired long before any of Metra's similar Pullman and St. Louis cars, and the ones that weren't scrapped ended up in all kinds of specialized passenger services with I think not a single one preserved as a commuter car. A long time ago someone on...

The "STAR" line will probably never happen, and it doesn't really need to anyway. First of all is the obvious funding issue. The key "justification" for the idea was to run trains down the median of I-90 to O'Hare, which alone would cost billions. The federal government doesn't &...