Features:

Catch a Falling Star • by Otto M. Vondrak — Opened in 2009, Minneapolis Northstar commuter rail has yet to recover from a dramatic pandemic drop-off in ridership.

 2025 Center Spread Contest  • Special — Of the hundreds of creative trackside photos submitted for our contest, only one winner can grace the coveted center spread.

Boston’s Red Line  • by Tim Doherty — Dating back to 1912, and growing to meet the suburbs, the Red Line is the backbone of Boston’s rapid transit system.

 A Morning at Highlands • by Justin Franz — What began as a flagstop in the 1870s has grown into a quiet suburban station along Metra’s former Burlington Racetrack.

Route of The Dashing Commuter • by Joe Stroppel — From concrete canyons, to pastoral suburbs, to the vineyards of the East End, Long Island Rail Road has many facets.

Queen of Diamonds • by Dale W. Woodland — Of the eight EMD passenger FP7s purchased by Reading between 1950 and 1952, three survive in preservation to this day.

Departments:

Departures — commentary: Alexander Benjamin Craghead 
Passengers Matter

Railnews — top news stories and photos from our readers

Transit Currents — transit news: Bob Gallegos

Railroadiana — new product, book, and video reviews

Timetable — railroad event listings submitted by our readers

Through My Lens — trackside memories: Kevin EuDaly
Growing Up with Amtrak

Business & Technology —  Historic railway preservation: David C. Lester
Time for the Final Round of Railroad Mergers?

Destinations — Detours and distractions/Bryan Bechtold
Van Life: Or, Living in a Van Down by the Railroad

Markers — Additional thoughts from your editors

Parting Shot — Matt Csenge