June 6th, The 67 Finally Goes to Metropolis International.

Airport Ridge, BR. May 29th, 2016.

New Metropolis Transit Maps Now Show the 67 Trolley Extension Through MPO Airport. 

Metropolis Transit is proud to announce an opening day for it's heavily anticipated 67 Trolley extension to Metropolis International Airport. June 4th, will mark the first Trolley extension since 1984's Broadway Trolley Subway. All extensions between 1984 and now were more aimed at the growing Elevated Subway system in Metropolis, however instead of building an elevated subway route along the busy Corlesen Avenue, Metropolis Transit spent 6 years upgrading the 67 from Streetcar to light rail as will as building a new extension to the Airport. Since 1922 when the 67 Line first open as the Corlesen Ave Trolley, there were plans to expand the trolley line into the Former Butler Air Force Base. World War II almost saw this extension happen until metal productions was redirected to war efforts so for year the trolley line ended just east of the Air Force Base's entrance. In 1965, Metropolis City Consul agreed on turning Butler AFB into Metropolis International Airport and approved $3 Million dollars to run a subway line from Woodland Avenue. This plan was canned in 1971 due to The Heroin Binge of the early 1970s.

Current 67 Schedule. 

The 67 Trolley will finally be extended into Metropolis Int'l Airport at 6AM, June 6th, 2016 via a new elevated viaduct and new station within the airport. Unlike most trolley lines, the viaduct limits the stations that can be put on the line so trolley only stop at 51st-Ridge, Avis-Hertz, Parking Lot P3 & P4, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3 and the Airport Transit Center where it connects to Bridgerissa Commuter Railway's Airport Expressway Line. Unlike most trolley lines, a pocket track is in place after Terminal 3 which will provide Short-Turn serviced during the Peak within the Airport doubling the potential service. Double-ended trolleys help make this move possible unlike the older single ended trolley who need to loop around at stations like Airport Transit Ctr. or 49th-Corlesen. The opening is expected to be heavily attended.

The Oldest Subway Cars In The Country Are In NYC & Metropolis.

Metropolis, BR/Manhattan, NY May 7th 2016.

Metropolis's ME-PCC or "Type-D" cars just turned 52 years old.

Sometimes, age isn't factor. Pushing in their 50s, some of America's oldest subway cars are now facing replacement. In New York City, the "R32" fleet hold such title. Built in 1964 by The Budd Company, It was one of the first stainless steel subway cars in NYC to be mass produced. (There were a few Stainless Trains from the 30s and 40s who were experiments and didn't last long on NYC's rough environment.) Out of 600 cars only 212 are left running on the C, J, and Z Lines of NYC. The reason why 2/3 of the fleet retired was because the R32 were suppose to be retired in 2009 when the newer "R160" subway cars were place in service but new rail cars from 1972 were beginning to rot so instead they were junked but only after 2/3 of the R32 fleet was sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic.

One of the 212 remaining "R32" cars on the Z Train in Brooklyn. Also turned 52 this year. 

Metropolis Transit actually has a similar story about their 52 year old ME-PCC cars. While Metropolis Elevated materialized in 1986, the rail cars were also born in 1964 but by the St. Louis Car Company.  They began life on Maine's only rapid transit system, the Sea Bright City Municipal Metro replace the 1920s built wooden rail cars. They came with third rail abilities as well as trolley poles for their Hopeland Line who used overhead wires similar to Metropolis. They only last til 1982 when Sea Bright City opted for Stainless Steel cars and converting the rest of the system to 3rd Rail. So this left the cars up for grabs because they were too young to scrap (Only 18 years old at the time.) Metropolis Transit purchased all 150 of them for the start up of Metropolis Elevated in 1986. They were rebuilt, fitted with pantograph for better wire to train contact since Metropolis opted for overhead wires. In 2005, 3/4 of the fleet was retired when newer Bombardier cars came in. Today only 42 are left in service running on the 39 and 79 lines. They are being replaced by Kawasaki "ME-III" Trains in 2018.

52-Year-Old Trains are the mainstay of the 39 Train!

Both the R32 and ME-PCC cars will see retirements in the coming future but they will live on with the many rail buffs who cherish them. Bridgerissa Traction Museum in Great Harbor, has actually saved one pair with another pair on hold that still in service. Metropolis Transit is also planning on running a retirement run system wide. It current not know what the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York City plans to do with their last R32 subway cars but they do host annual nostalgia trains on their M Line during the holidays and selectively run other older cars on other fantrips so  their maybe a special for the last R32 subway cars. Many railfans wish to see them restore to their 1964 look which is VERY similar to the ME-PCCs.

R32 Subway cars at Lorimer St in Brooklyn, NY on the J Line.

Trees Avenue Subway & The New Boga Island Bridge Moving Along

Metropolis, BR. May 1th 2016.

A Train tests the Clearance The Trees Ave Subway.

Hard to believe the Trees Avenue Subway construction has reached 3 years old since the first pile was driven into the ground. The tunnel were dug in the controversial cut-and-cover method which lead to reroute of cars, buses and trolleys along Midtown Metropolis's second busiest street. At Central Station, the former Amtrak coach yard was hollowed out and the new subway platforms were constructed. The platforms at Interfair and Blue Beach have been done for a while and now getting their fixtures while the ramps to the 22 Line & future new Bay Bridge for the 26 have been completed. The bridging over the bay waters and south shores of Boga Island are also completed with station shells already being erected. The wire poles are being shipped to the bay bridge construction site while MT tests the electricity inside the main Trees Avenue Subway Tunnel. Clearance trains have already penetrated the tracks of the tunnel 3 times with no issues other than dealing with diesel fumes that can not escape. Metropolis Transit is expected to ban diesel trains from the tunnel after the clearance trains have finished their job.

New Elevated Rails over the South Shore of Boga Island

The Boga Island Bay Bridge Upgrade and the new elevated track over the South Shore of Boga Island will speed up service on the 26 line 2%. A small but noticeable percentage since trains are no longer on the surface at risk of hitting a beach-goer. The current 26 "Elevated" Line runs completely on rebuilt trolley tracks who originally date back from the 1920s. While it was easier to run a trolley along the beach side, a full blown Elevated Train cannot stop on a dime like the trolleys did so many people have been killed or injured by the 26 train since it conversion from trolley in 1986. The section between Lizzy's Shops & Boga Beach Hotels was the most notorious. Train now must run at 20 MPH and blow their horn every 100 feet. While this method did help reduce the amount of train related accidents to almost none, it didn't help the line for it's second threat, hurricane surge. Sandy almost ate the 26 when it hit in October, 2012. The South Shore Elevated will now take tracks away from storm surge and potential ice hazards in the winter from ocean spray. The South Shore Elevated will open BEFORE the new Bay Bridge and Trees Avenue Subway, most likely around December of this year.

Interfair Convention Center Station on the Trees Ave Subway in May 2016.

Construction on the actual Trees Avenue Subway is also building up. The 22 & 26 line will benefit from a new structurally sound cut and cover tunnel under Trees Avenue taking them directly into the heart of Metropolis. With Central Station being in the Central Business District and Interfair Convention Center Station being in heart of Midtown Metropolis, this subway line is going to see high ridership from locals and tourist alike. Aside from the fact the 22 will actually go somewhere now, this now opens the door for more business growth to both the city and Boga Island. The tunnels were inspected as of April 27th, 2016 by the city and deem structurally sound to run train traffic. Since then, 3 clearance trains have used the line and all came back with positive feedback. The testing phase is set to being in October 2016, first with slow-speed signal tests, then with normal passenger service patterns. Metropolis Transit hopes to have the subway tunnel in service by New Year's Day 2018 thus relieving the 65 Line of it's heavy passenger traffic.