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The expansion proposal, at least as it existed, has been dead by IDOT's hand for about a month: https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-forest/ct-lfr-hiawatha-expansion-update-tl-0523-story.html https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/idot-drops-support-for-hiawatha-project-glenview-lake-forest-...

Comments from someone who works this line five days a week. An extra crossover between KK Bridge and Lake would be nice, but it probably isn't necessary, and would cost a lot more. What might be worth the money is to upgrade KK from a one-way crossover to a universal one, and to upgrade the signalli...

Any time i take charge of one of these things, i rapidly cycle that IBV handle multiple times, while its secured of course, to clear it up and make sure it works right. Interesting idea - I'll try it. The parking brake power knock out is happening most likely because of some kind of noise from cars...

cool, thanks. Sounds like basically the same thing Metra already has, except Metra's doors aren't "long" because they're already downstairs. That situation of remotely deploying low level entrances is exactly what we need here. I was told (second-hand, admittedly; by a friend who just happ...

Two very good posts, guys - thank you for the insight and I'm glad I'm not just crazy for being one of the Siemens critics out here. I don't want to derail this particular thread any further on the subject, but I do respond to a few things here. Mods please feel free to shift this derail over to the...

Passenger trains have run late since time immaterial, for any number of unpreventable reasons. The problem we have now, besides Amtrak causing its own delays via mechanical and crew shortage shenanigans, is that some railroads have drastically reduced their physical plant in order to stay alive. Goo...

didn't read the thread, but unless low level-ish, high capacity boarding is provided a la metra - with quick, built-in ADA lifts - then this entire venture is useless, just cancel it right now automatic doors on every car are absolutely necessary to enhance our service, and I've been made to underst...

I wonder how much of the slow progress in Illinois is the landlord rather than the tenant? It was indeed UP who pulled the plug, though Amtrak shares in the blame. They were looking ahead at the inevitable migration to ETMS. ITCS isn't compatible. They're likely regretting employing it in the first...

For historical context, the first Pullman-Standard Superliners were supposed to have been capable of ECP, but this functionality was apparently never used. Anyone have some background on that?

Food for thought: there was never a problem before the affected host RR's started installing new grade crossing equipment. Everything worked just fine with the old stuff. For folks that don't know, this isn't at all about failure to shunt the track with regards to block signals. It's about alleged f...

People were commenting above in the thread about the different experience of running Chargers vs running older diesels. I just wanted to comment about that. The chargers had (and still have) a LOT of software problems. I don't think they necessarily played into this accident at all, because the auto...

From Harrison Street going south almost as far as Roosevelt Road, Canal Street sits up on a viaduct. It's my understanding that this was constructed in tandem with the building of the current 1920's Union Station. Today, there is absolutely nothing underneath this viaduct - just a crumbling roadway ...

They're doing great things with the building interior. The platforms themselves, however, are still extremely dumpy. The master plan for redevelopment doesn't seem to address much at platform level. They want to tear out some of the mail platforms, where appropriate, to increase the width of the pas...

Quick question about Chicago Union Station. In some photos, I see sort of a "control room" at the end of the tracks. What are these used for? http://subwaynut.com/amtrak/chicago_union/chicago_union6.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Yardmasters' and mechanical f...

Someone had asked earlier on the thread as to why #22 fairly often arrives early into STL, and departs late. One possible reason is the addition of the seasonal cut-off coach. I don't know who handles that nowadays - it used to be mostly done by the inbound (LRK) crew, but now maybe it's the outboun...