Follow the history of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor in this video by Brad Peniston

It’s hard to imagine last night’s Amtrak tragedy being any worse when at least seven people are confirmed dead. But the derailed Train 188 stopped just shy of a parked oil train. Brad Maule ponders the disinvestment of both Amtrak and infrastructure—and the increase in both Amtrak ridership and oil train frequency

The city is full of incidental boundaries that can often shape an area’s socioeconomic character and influence housing prices and future development. More often than not, rail lines break neighborhoods into highly divided sections, creating an urban rift between prosperity and blight. David Hilbert examines the economics behind the “right” and “wrong” side of the train tracks in West Philly and Port Richmond

The partners of the 30th Street District have compelling plans for the area surrounding the busy transportation hub. Still in the infant stages of planning, transforming the area into a lively, active space is rife with challenges. Steve Stofka lends the situation an urbanist’s eye and maps out the complicated road ahead

In August, the President’s signature enacted a law that renamed 30th Street Station for former Congressman Bill Gray. So does that mean we should expect a blitz of Amtrak marketing announcing the change like SEPTA did with “Jefferson Station?” Not exactly, if the new sign facing Center City is any indication. Brad Maule rides the rails to find out

As the Bartram’s Mile phase of the Schuylkill Banks development inches closer, the fate of the Newkirk Viaduct Monument remains unclear. Brad Peniston revisits the 176-year-old obelisk to learn more about the people inscribed on its base—and why they’re important to remember

With two weeks of work on Katharina Grosse’s psychylustro set to begin today (weather permitting), the Mural Arts Program will brighten up five miles of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor with striking color. But what about the colors already there—the decades old graffiti? Brad Maule discusses conflicts and philosophies with the artist and Mural Arts’ Jane Golden

Little fanfare accompanies the short trek between Fairmount Park’s East Park and Lemon Hill sections, but under your feet (or tires), the 33rd Street superstructure, including an unusual brick skew arch tunnel, is still doing the job it was created to do at the turn of the 20th Century