bridge rebuilds on the North line

[Jeff Wingstrom]

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/07/bridge-project-to-affect-metra-up-north-commuters.html

I guess we\'ll see some interesting equipment and operations. I\'ve been wondering how long they\'d let some of these bridges go - Irving Park is so rusty you can see through it in several spots.  I assume they will build for 2 tracks, not 2 + 1..

So these bridges are original back to the grade separation project of the 1920s(?) ?

[TBurke]

If it is anything like the Northwest Line rebuild of a few years ago you will see what traces of former spurs are left removed on the North Line.

[Jeff Wingstrom]

Among all the drama generated by Metra\'s schedule modifications, I noticed for the first time some mention of the defunct 3rd track on the North Line in the article below .. kinda interesting.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/metra-project-pitting-city-riders-vs-suburbanites.html

\"Not rebuilding the bridges with three tracks is shortsighted, some railroad analysts believe.

Metra is limiting future service expansion, said F.K. \"Fritz\" Plous, director of communications for Corridor Capital LLC, a firm that finances passenger rail equipment.

Replacing the third track would boost capacity for express service, as is done on other Metra lines, Plous said. \"

[cnwnorthline]

In case you hadn\'t heard...

http://metrarail.com/content/dam/metra/documents/Bi_Level/OTBLApril2011UP.pdf

-Matt