Posts tagged Trains
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Top posts of 2018: Rail in the region used to be far more robust. Here are all the railroads we had in 1921.
In 1921, you could take the train from downtown DC to Annapolis, from Baltimore to Harrisburg, or Winchester to DC. I built a subway-style map of the rail service our region once had. Keep reading…
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Ask GGWash: Why are the Red Line tracks inside the CSX tracks between Brookland and Silver Spring?
Hi folks: I've got this curiosity that I wanted to run by you and see if anyone could shed light on it. I recently moved to Takoma, from Capitol Hill. In this part of the Red Line, Metro shares a right-of-way with CSX's Metropolitan Subdivision, formerly B&O's Metropolitan Branch. But the curious thing is that the CSX tracks straddle the Metro tracks. Why? Keep reading…
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National links: Can we design cities to make people less lonely?
Loneliness is reaching epidemic levels, but these interventions could help cities foster connection. Minneapolis is set to pass a plan that would upzone the entire city and do away with single-family zoning. The FRA is finally allowing lighter passenger railcars made in Asian and European countries on US rails. Keep reading…
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8 lessons about great transit I learned from riding the Paris Métro
Paris has one of the world’s great subway systems. Beyond its truly impressive coverage and service quality, here are eight wonderful details about how it operates that US systems would do well to mimic. Keep reading…
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Metro Reasons: Amid trackwork, Metro says service has improved—but for fewer riders
After a brief recovery in July, Metrorail ridership dropped to new four-year lows in August and September 2018, according to a new quarterly report Metro published on Friday, November 9. There's some good news too: the report also indicates that the system is becoming more reliable. Keep reading…
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Harassment is a universal problem on transit. Addressing it could boost ridership.
If we want people to use Metro, we first need to make sure the service is useful—that means frequent headways, accessible stations, affordable fares, etc. But beyond that, it's important to demonstrate that riders will be safe, both on the train and in the areas around stations. Keep reading…
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National links: Mexico City has its mobility priorities right
Mexico City is prioritizing frequent Metro service over fancy gadgets. The voices at public meetings tend to represent the angriest and the most affluent. Responses to the trolly problem, a classic ethics question, vary widely by culture. Keep reading…
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Metro Reasons: WMATA’s draft 2020 budget could be good news for riders
A Metro press release issued early Monday morning offers something that Metrorail riders haven’t had very much of recently: potential good news. The agency’s General Manager is proposing to extend rush hour service and reduce weekend fares, among several other rider-friendly proposals. Keep reading…
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National links: This LA-area school used kids to protest a subway project
A school in Beverly Hills has gotten into hot water for using students to protest a subway project. All those bankrupt Sears buildings leave a lot of empty space in malls across the US. While most of the town of Mexico Beach was wiped away, this one house was left standing mostly unscathed. Keep reading…
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Metro is a public service — its leaders need to run it like one
Several members of Metro's Board of Directors appear to have given up on trying to attract its former riders back and are content with relegating it to a 9-to-5 commuter rail system. This goes against everything the board — and local elected officials — should be trying to do. Keep reading…