Subject: Train Travel

• Wanted: A Positive Story About Light Rail in Phoenix

  August 13, 2008

• Downtown Phoenix scenesters want the light rail to run past midnight (and so should you)

  September 17, 2008

• Trainplotting

  Transit-plan backers say they see a bus in your future--so how come they've been working on the railroad?

  July 3, 1997

• Trainspotting

  Nearly three years after Amtrak's Sunset Limited was sabotaged near Buckeye, firefighters who rode to the rescue remain on the FBI's list of suspects

  July 16, 1998

• Loco Motives

  he Combat Railfans celebrate the new year on the fright side of the tracks

  January 14, 1999

• Hot Links: Light Rail Extensions Not Coming Soon Enough for Some; Gag Order Revised in St. Johns Murder Case; First State Flu Patient of Season Reported

  Remember when folks were whining about light rail construction? (Okay, some of us still are.) The Repub reports this morning that a group of local residents and business owners are complaining loudly about project -- specifically, that it's not coming soon enough to their neighborhoods. This could be a case of being careful about what you're wishing for... In other news: the judge in case of St. Johns boy accused of murder wants to put a "cork" in leaks with a revised gag order. Cough due to col

  November 20, 2008

• Night Train: Price-101 Freeway/Apache Boulevard (Stop #27)

  Where: Bill's Market (2422 E Apache Blvd.) is a 30 second walk from the stop, directly north of the station.    Drink: Four MaXed Citrus. We'd never even heard of it before dropping by Bill's, but it's badass: A 16 oz. can of caffeinated malt liquor with a hefty 10% ABV for the bargain rate of $1.89. Scene: Not every stop on the new light rail system has a bar within walking distance, so, from time to time we'll be bringing you to places like Bill's Market. Bill's is an old school

  December 1, 2008

• Local Politicians and Journalists Help Test Out Light Rail Before Tomorrow's Grand Opening

  From left: Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, and light rail CEO Richard Simonetta. Mesa Mayor Scott Smith called Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman a game show host, light rail CEO Richard Simonetta called Spawn's Todd McFarlane "Scott," and Hallman called potential light rail vandals pigs - all before dawn at the METRO media preview held this morning in Tempe.

  December 26, 2008

• A Rundown of Today's Light Rail Celebrations (Both Official and Unofficial)

  Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers are scheduled to perform this afternoon at the "Destination Tempe" celebration at the Tempe Transportation Center."I hear the train a-comin'/It's rolling round the bend" -- Johnny Cash Plenty of partying is planned for today's long-awaited debut of the Valley Metro Light Rail system, with fetes and fiestas happening in both the east and west Valley. More than a dozen different celebrations (both official and unofficial) will occur, so to help make sense of all th

  December 27, 2008

• Twentysomethings Are Out Protesting The Light Rail's Midnight Stop Time

  The mobile protesting pair of Erin Searle (left) and Kevin Sweet at the light rail's Central Avenue and Roosevelt Street station. It's not all sunshine and roses at crowded light rail stations today. Kevin Sweet and Erin Searle, a pair of college-aged sweethearts, are out protesting the fact the light rail ends its service at around midnight. The duo is armed with a couple hand-drawn posterboards and are planning on demonstrating at several stations along the light rail's eastbound route (if

  December 27, 2008

• Roger Clyne Delivers Solid Show At Frustrating Light Rail Debut

  Valley Metro pulled out all the stops for yesterday's debut of the 20-mile light rail system we've been writing about all month. They had parties scheduled at pretty much every stop on the line -- though, honestly, I'm not sure there was anything beyond an unmanned purple tent full of fliers at the ghetto fabulous 24th Street/Washington Stop, where I foolishly disembarked at one point -- the biggest in Tempe, where native son Roger Clyne managed to deliver a satisfying set in broad daylight.So

  December 28, 2008

• Light Rail Cream Ale, Anyone?

  Saturday afternoon. The light rail trains are packed. It's a good time for a pint. So some friends and I wound up at Sonora Brewhouse, just a few blocks' walk from the train. And look at what was there to tempt us before we even got in the door -- a cute handpainted sign advertising Light Rail Cream Ale. Timely! I ended up ordering the Nut Brown Ale (really tasty), but next time I'm craving a cream ale, I'll ditch the Boddington's and see what Sonora's is like. -- Michele Laudig 

  December 29, 2008

• Over the Weekend: Light Rail, Club Candids, Night Train and More

  Welcome back! We hope you had a sufficient amount of ho-ho-hoing and present opening to last another twelve months. Just in case you haven't, here's a package of some of the stories and photos you may have missed during the holiday.  Light Rail Launch Hundreds of thousands turned out to celebrate the long-awaited debut of Valley Metro's light rail system on Saturday, December 27, 2008. The trains were packed and so were the various parties that occurred around the PHX...see more images Read:

  December 29, 2008

• Graffiti on the Light Rail? Hey, I Told You So...

  If these two were around today in P-town, the knuckledraggin' KTAR-types'd shoot 'em on sight: Keith Haring (above) and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Ah, let the provincialism roll like a mighty wave of something brown through our benighted Valley, where every time someone hacks a loogie or lets fly an air biscuit on the new Metro Light Rail, it makes the evening news. And so shall it be, ad nauseam: the first collision with a bluehair, the first time a rail-snoozing inebriate gets decapitated, the f

  December 30, 2008

• District Offers Discount to Light Rail Riders

  Everybody's doing it, man. Riding the light rail, that is. Whether for a daily commute or just a joy ride, people seem to be packing the cars, and it's not even the free ride period anymore. The folks at District, the restaurant at the downtown Sheraton, hope even more people get into it for environmental reasons. So for the whole month of January, they're doing a "Go Green, Save Green" promotion. Just show up for breakfast, lunch, or dinner -- with a light rail receipt from that 

  January 6, 2009

• 'Til 2: Staging a Sit-In To Protest Light Rail's Early Closing Time

  The fervor over the light rail's early closing time continues to get bigger. As we've previously written about here and here, a growing number of Valley urbanites are pissed off over the fact the light rail system stops at midnight instead of running until 2 a.m. and providing the drinking crowd with a way of getting home. (Currently the last trains of the night depart the eastern and western termini at 11 p.m.). And now they're taking a page from the 60s protest playbook to try and get

  January 7, 2009

• Things I Learned Riding the 'Rail

  I rode the light rail for the first time last night, from downtown Phoenix to downtown Tempe and back again. For my money (which is to say, free, because I have a student pass that allows me to ride public transit to my hearts content) it was a most excellent experience. A few things I learned:

  January 8, 2009

• Business Hopes Light Rail Will Provide Customers -- the Hard Way

  January 9, 2009

• Light Rail Sit-in Called Off As Organizer Loses His Nerve

  Is it just us, or have people in this town lost their balls? For instance, we reported on Wednesday about local photographer Morgan Bellinger's plan to stage a light rail sit-in later this month as a way to protest the fact that the trains stop running at midnight. But now he's pulled an complete about face on the matter and cancelled the event following a con-fab with Valley Metro officials.

  January 10, 2009

• To Anyone Thinking the Light Rail is No Fun: Try Taking Off Your Pants

  For seven years now New York improve troop Improv Everywhere has celibrated their own holiday on the New York subway system called No Pants Day. On January 10th Phoenix residents were finaly able to join the Holiday on our new Light Rail. 

  January 13, 2009

• Won Tons at China Chili Make a Cheap, Tasty Lunch

    Sometimes you find an appetizer so good it passes for the main event -- and these days (time-crunched, wallet-crashed) that can be a very good thing. Such are the Boiled Won Tons at China Chili near downtown Phoenix. Served in a big bowl, the soup features ten pork dumplings swimming in a broth of spicy Szechuan peanut sauce, topped with fresh scallions, garlic and ginger. After taking a bite, you may not want to share. This dish stands alone and at $5.95 could be a

  January 21, 2009

• The Top 10 Reasons Light Rail Should Run 'Til 2 A.M.

  The Phoenix Metro Light Rail has been the talk of the town since voters approved the $1.4 billion project in 2000. The public transit system opened on December 27, and Valley denizens have both praised and bemoaned the rail. The most common complaint is that Light Rail service stops at midnight, but should run later.

  January 16, 2009

• Four Light Rail Cars to be Wrapped with NBA Advertising

  Four light rail cars will sport more color and flash after they're wrapped with ads promoting the NBA's upcoming 2009 All-Star game. Look for media coverage of the trains on Monday, when Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon introduces the first ad-covered car at the Metro Operations and Maintenance facility at 2:30 p.m. and rides it into downtown. The trains will remain wrapped till the All-Star Game, which is scheduled for February 15.

  January 23, 2009

• Joe Arpaio's Outrage Du Jour: Transporting His Prisoners Via Light Rail (w/Update)

  For the uninitiated, "Arpayaso" is a play on the word "payaso," which means "clown" in Spanish.Do you need another reminder that you live in a police state controlled by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his brown-shirted goons? If so, just take a trip on the Valley Metro Light Rail, which our clownish top constable says he'll be using to transport inmates downtown, assuming this is not all some sort of pathetic joke on Arpayaso's part.Metro Light Rail doesn't think it's a joke. I phoned Hillary Foose, the

  January 27, 2009

• Joe Arpaio Caves, Backs Off Dumbass Plan to Transport Inmates Via Light Rail

  Sheriff Joe: He puts the CON into "Con Rail."Has Sheriff Joe's well-oiled media machine finally blown up in his aged face? Will Lisa Allen have to revert to grooming dogs full instead of part time, and leave Arpaio's upkeep to another PR handler? Below is the latest press release from the MCSO, backing off the Sheriff's ludicrous "Con Rail" plan. Although our corrupt top cop is not averse to negative publicity, usually there's a little positive pub mixed into the batch. Not on this one. Joe's be

  January 29, 2009

• This is What Happens to Bikes Locked Up Near the Light Rail in Tempe

                                         

  February 9, 2009

• Light Rail Electric Bill for January was 38 Percent of Fare Revenue; System Took in Estimated 69 Cents Per Rider

  The electric bill for the Metro light rail system is slightly different than yours, naturally. For one thing, it's not just one bill -- it's about 125 separate bills. There are bills for each station, bills for the juice in the overhead lines that make the 90-foot-long, 50-ton rail cars move around, bills for the lights in the park-and-ride lots and bills for the system's operations center.Metro officials say they're still sorting through all those bills and still don't know exactly what li

  March 5, 2009

• Light Rail Ridership Up Slightly in February; Metro Still Lagging in Releasing Fare Data

  Light rail ridership went up slightly in February, driven by an apparent increase in the number of commuters using the 20-mile system. The estimated daily average of boardings in February was 32,430, higher than January's estimate of 29,415. Helping the system out was about 5,000 extra riders each weekday, according to a Metro news release (see below for text). The crowds on Saturdays were about the same, but holiday and Sunday ridership saw a few thousand less ride

  March 12, 2009

• Hoping to See Kid Rock and Ride the Light Rail Home? Fear Not

  Fear not, Festival goers! Valley Metro has your back...for two nights.For an unprecedented third time since its December launch, the Metro Light Rail will be extending its hours to accommodate those patrons of the Tempe Music Festival (April 3rd & 4th) hoping to catch either night's later sets. The Tempe Music Fest now joins New Year's Eve and the NBA All-Star Game festivities as worthy of breaking the 'Nix's strict light rail curfew. It's a gracious move passed down by those in charge

  March 25, 2009

• RPM's Light Rail Pub Crawl 09

  February 26, 2009

• A Trolley Car Named Desire

  County residents unwrap new $1 billion Christmas gift

  December 25, 2008

• Stop Your Railing!

  Sure, light-rail construction is painful, but it will be worth it in the long haul

  December 28, 2006

• Shake Up

  We can all just get along

  February 9, 2006

• Bullet Train to Vegas

  We Put Scissors Where Our Mouths Are
  (Nitro Records)

  June 9, 2005

• Bullet Train to Moscow CD Release Party

  Something for everyone

  March 3, 2005

• Metro Light Rail Operators Don't Have a Contract — Just Grueling Schedules and Smelly Passengers

  April 23, 2009

• Traffic Thicket

  Will Phoenix voters finally get onboard a transit plan?

  March 9, 2000

• Light Rail Fare Collections Fall as Ridership Declines

    Fare collection for Metro light rail, like the system's ridership, is trending in the wrong direction. The system brought in an estimated $547,294 in March, says Metro Light Rail. That's slightly higher than the $528,000 it collected in February (more days in the month, remember), but still much lower than in January, its first full month of operation. Since opening, the system has been plagued by technical glitches at the fare boxes that resulted in an estimated

  April 20, 2009

• Light Rail Service to be Tested by Crowds on Wednesday; Obama and D-backs Cause Service Changes

  Light rail trains will not be allowed to run past Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday because of President Obama's commencement speech. Metro Light Rail says shuttle buses will serve as a "bridge" around the service gap.On top of that, thousands of people are expected to use the light rail system on Wednesday to see Obama, slated to begin speaking at 7 p.m., or the Arizona Diamondbacks, which has a game against Cincinatti starting at 6:40 p.m. Metr

  May 11, 2009

• Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, May 14, 2009

  May 14, 2009

• Metro Seeks Input on Plan for Interstate 10 Light Rail Stations

  Image: Metro Light Rail You can help guide the Valley's transportation future at a public forum on Wednesday to discuss how the light-rail system will connect and run alongside Interstate 10 West. The sequel to the successful launch of the 20-mile starter line is still in the planning phase, but Metro expects light rail to be blazing down Interstate 10 by 2019. The agency has identified a "study area" from 7th street to 99th Avenue -- if your house or business is near the freeway you might want

  May 21, 2009

• Light Rail Freeloaders Go Unnoticed by Ticket Inspectors; Numbers Don't Compute

  Chatting the other day with Hillary Foose, spokeswoman for Metro Light Rail, we ran into a dead end of confounding numbers. Goes something like this:The light rail system has two sets of measurements for freeloaders: The average number of people not properly ticketed, according to ticket inspectors, and the amount of fare that pass card holders should have paid. A major disparity in those numbers seems to  As a May 26 article by light rail/global warming reporter Sean Holstege explains, tho

  June 8, 2009

• Metro Light Rail Offers Early-Bird Pass for July 4 Events; Save a Buck and Avoid Hassle

    People who plan on attending July 4 events in Phoenix or Tempe can buy their light rail passes now, allowing them to avoid long lines at fare boxes to validate tickets. Buying before the July 1 fare increase (an all-day pass is going to $3.50) will also let riders save a buck. While the convenience can only be a benefit for Independence Day riders, we're pretty sure the real reason for this promotion has to do tricking passengers into actually paying for their rides.  

  June 16, 2009

• Light Rail Ridership at Lowest Level Yet; Summer Doldrums Take Major Toll on New System

    Light rail ridership dropped to its lowest level yet in June, averaging less than 30,000 boardings a day. [You can be sure unpaid boardings make up a healthy fraction of that number]. Metro Light Rail and its boosters have plenty of excuses for the dwindling ridership, some of which even make sense. For instance, Arizona State University students made up a significant portion of the onboard crowd during the spring, and now school's out.      

  July 14, 2009

• Metro and Valley Metro Honored for Helping People With Disabilities

    The Arizona Disability Advocacy Coalition, which has numerous Valley organizations as members, is giving Metro Light Rail and Valley metro an award for helping the disabled. Valley Metro runs the Valley's buses and oversees the light rail system. The public transportation agencies were chosen for the group's American Disabilities Act Liberty Progress Award because they involved passengers with disabilities "in the design, development and execution of Valley transit services," Metro anno

  July 23, 2009

• Favorite Ethnic Markets: India Plaza

  Sloane BurwellOwner Rameen Arora welcomes you to India Plaza​ This is the time of year when folks in Phoenix head for cooler pastures, and it's time to travel the world if you can. But, if your vacation this summer is a staycation, you can still feed your inner globetrotter by heading to India, Africa, and Russia -- via several of the Valley's interesting ethnic grocers. Today's Favorite Ethnic Market: India Plaza India Plaza 1874 E Apache Blvd Tempe, AZ 85281 480-557-8800 In India, ove

  August 4, 2009

• Valley Metro Sees 15 Percent Increase in Ridership

  wikipedia.com​The piss poor economy is driving people across the Valley to the poorhouse, and apparently, they're taking the light rail to get there.Despite the struggling economy, Valley Metro ridership is up 15 percent from last year, partly due to the addition of the light rail, but also because people just can't afford to drive."Certainly, in the last six months, overall transit ridership has been boosted by the new Metro light rail service," says David Boggs, executive director of Valley

  August 7, 2009

• Light-Rail Rides on Rise, August Stats Show; Boardings Bottomed Out in July

  ​ It was a sluggish summer for Metro light rail, but ridership is ramping up again thanks to a new semester at Arizona State University. Officials estimate the trains were boarded 882,328 times in August, which was far more than in either June or July. Traffic on the rail dropped from a high of more than one million estimated boardings in April to the system's low-water mark of 750,551 in July. Officials had expected the heat and lack of tourists and students would mean fewer riders, nat

  September 15, 2009

• Laid-Off Light Rail Operators Protest Cuts

  Bob Bean (right) is among the union protestors at Central Station this morning.​A dozen or so light rail operators protested at the Central Station in downtown Phoenix this morning, holding hand-made signs that excoriated both Metro Light Rail and the Boston-based company that manages the line, ACI.Carrying colorful poster board with slogans including "Metro Rail, Thanks for the Unemployment" and "ACI-Metro Rail Lured Us with Lies," the workers handed out leaflets to riders using the stop.New

  October 8, 2009

• Undead and Loving It

  October 29, 2009