Train Travel

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

Trainplotting

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

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

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 ... More >>

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 pig ... More >>

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 L ... More >>

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 l ... More >>

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 ... More >>

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 Crea ... More >>

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 ... More >>

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 a ... More >>

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 environ ... More >>

'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 cro ... More >>

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:

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

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 ... More >>

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. 

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 ... More >>

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 Maintena ... More >>

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 con ... More >>

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, back ... More >>

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

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 ar ... More >>

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&nbs ... More >>

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 ... More >>

A Trolley Car Named Desire

County residents unwrap new $1 billion Christmas gift

Stop Your Railing!

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

Bullet Train to Vegas

We Put Scissors Where Our Mouths Are
(Nitro Records)

Bullet Train to Moscow CD Release Party

Something for everyone

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

Something for everyone

Traffic Thicket

Will Phoenix voters finally get onboard a transit plan?

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 mont ... More >>

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 peo ... More >>

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 Met ... More >>

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, ... More >>

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. Whi ... More >>

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 ... More >>

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 chos ... More >>

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 becaus ... More >>

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 ... More >>

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, AC ... More >>

Undead and Loving It

Why lurch when you can travel in style?

Reading: PHX Rail Food

​Blog name: www.phxrailfood.com Who writes it: The author is David www.phxrailfood.com​Bickford, a 44-year-old guy who says he's in a "managerial position at a local institution of higher learning." He says he started the blog because he loves to eat and is also interested in mass ... More >>

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday -- Take Off Your Pants and Ride the Light Rail

www.raillife.com A scene from last year's "No Pants AZ Light Rail Ride"​It's back!As part of Improv Everywhere's "Ninth Annual No Pants! Subway Ride," this Sunday will be the second annual "No Pants AZ Light Rail Ride."Not familiar with the event? No problem -- the concept is simple. First, ... More >>

Tempe Officials to Conduct Rail Fare Enforcement Checks at Light Rail Stops

www.about.com​The free ride may be coming to an end for light rail freeloaders in Tempe -- the Tempe Police Department is planning "focused fare enforcement stops" at light rail stops to catch people getting a free ride. Tempe police say they are putting an end to the "education period" for ... More >>

Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers

www.about.com​The free ride may be coming to an end for light rail freeloaders in Tempe -- the Tempe Police Department is planning "focused fare enforcement stops" at light rail stops to catch people getting a free ride. Tempe police say they are putting an end to the "education period" for ... More >>

We Have the Light Rail. Does That Mean Phoenix Is a Metropolis Now?

www.about.com​The free ride may be coming to an end for light rail freeloaders in Tempe -- the Tempe Police Department is planning "focused fare enforcement stops" at light rail stops to catch people getting a free ride. Tempe police say they are putting an end to the "education period" for ... More >>

Phoenix Lawyer, Allegedly Drunk (in Middle of Afternoon), Crashes Brand New BMW into Couple; Woman in Critical Condition

Christopher Perry, alleged day-drinker, crashed his BMW into two people in downtown Phoenix yesterday.​While most of us were at work yesterday afternoon -- presumably not shitfaced -- a drunk Phoenix lawyer was driving his brand new BMW through downtown Phoenix. Sadly, he drove it into a couple wa ... More >>

Peach Cruisers

Christopher Perry, alleged day-drinker, crashed his BMW into two people in downtown Phoenix yesterday.​While most of us were at work yesterday afternoon -- presumably not shitfaced -- a drunk Phoenix lawyer was driving his brand new BMW through downtown Phoenix. Sadly, he drove it into a couple wa ... More >>

Wine's Cooler

Christopher Perry, alleged day-drinker, crashed his BMW into two people in downtown Phoenix yesterday.​While most of us were at work yesterday afternoon -- presumably not shitfaced -- a drunk Phoenix lawyer was driving his brand new BMW through downtown Phoenix. Sadly, he drove it into a couple wa ... More >>