Forest Hill Flyover: A Game-Changer for Chicago Rail

Chicago’s South Side recently scored a major win for rail efficiency. The Forest Hill Flyover—a $380 million project and the largest in the Chicago Region Environmental & Transportation Efficiency’s (CREATE’s)— history is now complete.

The new three-mile elevated corridor eliminates one of the nation’s worst rail bottlenecks, where 30 Metra trains and up to 90 freight trains once crossed paths every day.

By separating freight and commuter routes, the Forest Hill Flyover cuts delays, boosts reliability, and reduces emissions from idling trains and vehicles. Backed by the largest public–private partnership in U.S. history, this project is more than infrastructure—it’s a major step toward safer travel, stronger supply chains, and new jobs for the region.

Learn more about CREATE.

Railroads Prepare First Responders Nationwide

A recent InvestigateTV segment shows how railroads equip first responders to handle hazardous materials incidents through tools like the AskRail app, which gives instant access to railcar contents and critical safety details during emergencies.

 Check out the video above to get the full details.

Webinar: Navigating FRA’s National Railroad Partnership Program

TODAY at 2:00-2:45pm EST

The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA’s) National Railroad Partnership (NRP) program offers communities a chance to improve rail safety and infrastructure—now with a focus on grade crossing projects.

Join GoRail’s webinar for an overview of eligibility, project types, and tips for strong applications, plus insights on partnering with railroads.

The turkey industry supports more than 387,000 jobs and delivers $22 billion in wages—many in rural communities. For nearly two centuries, freight rail has been a key driver of this impact: first carrying live turkeys in the 1800s, then frozen birds in the early 20th century, and today transporting nearly every ingredient needed to bring your holiday feast to life.

BTW, freight trains also move the items needed for vegan and vegetarian Thanksgivings as well!

Expert Input: The State of Competition in the US Rail Sector

A new issue brief from the International Center for Law & Economics examines how modern rail competition—and the legal framework governing it—is evolving in the post-Loper Bright environment.

The analysis underscores three key points:

1. Competition in today’s rail markets is broader than outdated assumptions suggest, with intermodal, product, and geographic substitutes constraining rates across many sectors.
2. Revenue adequacy is a statutory floor designed to attract capital and long-term investment, not a ceiling for ratemaking.
3. Robust ICCTA preemption remains essential infrastructure for competition, ensuring that uniform federal rules preserve network fluidity and prevent a patchwork of state and local mandates.

Together, the paper argues that courts’ renewed focus on statutory text—as seen in the Grand Trunk ruling—supports a regulatory approach anchored in evidence of real-world competition, targeted oversight, and the national uniformity required for efficient freight rail operations.

INDUSTRY READS

Wall Street Journal
The Fed Is Increasingly Torn Over a December Rate Cut

Trains
Chicago, railroads celebrate completion of Forest Hill Flyover

Rail Journal
All eyes on Colorado for Rail Research Week

New York Times
Does the Subway Still Need Train Conductors?

DC Journal
FRA Can Unlock Improvement in Rail Safety (Opinion)