FIRST QUARTER 2026: In this issue John Levai examines NJ Transit’s Arrow III EMUs as they near the end of nearly 50 years of service, with new Multilevel III cars on the way. Russell T. Sharp rides VIA Rail Canada’s Chicago–Churchill service, traveling from the Midwest to the shores of Hudson Bay — dome car included. Looking back, Jonathan J. Boyle Sr. traces the story of The Reveler, a Chicago-based private observation car that began life on Pennsylvania Railroad’s Blue Ribbon Fleet. Thornton Waite adds more nostalgia with a history of Bangor & Aroostook’s Potatoland Special and other once-vital northern Maine passenger runs. All this and more in the First Quarer 2026 issue of Passenger Train Journal.
Amtrak posts record ridership in 2025
Amtrak provided 34.5 million customer trips in 2025, setting all-time records for both ridership and revenue for the second consecutive year.
Metra: Chicagoland’s Commuter Service
Inherited from a variety of legacy railroads, Metra operates eleven vital routes that keep Chicago commuters moving.
My Most Memorable Christmas Eve
How Burlington Northern and Amtrak crews came together to get stranded passengers home in time for Christmas.
Chicago’s Big Six: Recalling the Windy City’s major passenger terminals
The life and times of Chicago’s six major intercity passenger terminals that once connected the Windy City with the nation.
Amtrak NextGen Acela: Full Speed Ahead
It’s been a long wait, but Amtrak’s new high-speed NextGen Acela trains are poised to enter Northeast Corridor service.




















