Illinois gets $132 million CREATE federal grant to reduce South Side Chicago railroad delays

By Mary Wisniewski, Chicago Tribune; June 5, 2018 The federal government has awarded a long-awaited $132 million grant to help…

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Glenview, Illinois OKs $400,000 In Fight Against Rail Expansion

By Tom Robb, Journal & Topics; May 3, 2018 Glenview trustees put their money where their mouth is in the…

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Is Trouble Brewing at Chicago’s Union Station?

A press release from Holland & Knight; April 27, 2018: A recent filing at the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB)…

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New train station opens for Metra, Amtrak riders in Joliet, Illinois, ending a 6-year wait

By Alicia Fabbre, Chicago Tribune; April 11, 2018 Rail commuting just got easier in Joliet. A grand opening was held…

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Chicago Metra Board approves contract to upgrade Rock Island rehab shops

A press release from Metra; March 21, 2018: The Metra Board of Directors today approved a $29.4 million contract for…

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Chicago Metra gears up for major tie replacement project

From Progressive Railroading Magazine; March 14, 2018 Metra next month will replace 17,000 ties over a 17-mile single-track span along…

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Illinois: 1,200 Rail Against ‘Train Parking Lot’

By Steve Sadin, Daily North Shore; March 13, 2018 More than 1,200 people heard a select group of neighbors, an…

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Chicago Metra moves to buy newer engines

A press release from Metra; February 21, 2018: The Metra Board of Directors today approved the purchase up to 21…

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Chicago: Over 2 dozen CTA, Metra workers disciplined over speeding trains in past 5 years

By Robert Herguth, Chicago Sun-Times; February 16, 2018 Turns out that lead-foots in the Chicago area aren’t just on the…

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Kids ride free on Chicago Metra December 16-January 1

A press release from Metra: (December 11, 2017) – Metra is extending its popular weekend “Family Fares” program to weekdays during…

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5 things to know about how Chicago Metra prepares for winter

By Marni Pyke, Chicago Daily Herald; December 6, 2017 It’s that magical time of year and Metra elves are testing…

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Chicago Metra kicks off Fox River Bridge replacement project

From Progressive Railroading Magazine; November 20, 2017 Metra, local and federal officials last week broke ground on the Chicago commuter…

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Chicago Metra OKs service cuts, fare hikes — and will more come next year?

By Marni Pyke, Chicago Daily Herald; November 10, 2017 Metra directors approved fare hikes today of up to 12.6 percent,…

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Illinois: Demand Exists for Lake Forest Amtrak Station

LAKE FOREST — Strong demand exists for an Amtrak stop at the west Lake Forest train station, though several obstacles…

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Illinois bids again for feds’ help in easing a national rail headache

By Greg Hinz, Crain’s Chicago Business; November 2, 2017 Hoping that the third time is the charm, state and local…

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34th Chicago area CREATE project under construction

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief, Railway Age Magazine; October 18, 2017 Ground has been broken on Phase III (construction…

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Illinois completes CREATE grade separation project

From Progressive Railroading Magazine; October 10, 2017 A $67 million grade separation project in Bensenville, Illinois, has been completed as…

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Chicago: Amid state budget stalemate, Metra’s labor costs rose 32 percent in effort to maintain aging equipment

By Mary Wisniewski and Kyle Bentle, Chicago Tribune; October 5, 2017 The past few years have been good for Metra…

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