x

All about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm

COWCATCHER MAGAZINE

Houston METRORAIL goes the extra mile, posts ridership records during Super Bowl LI

February 16, 2017

News

Super Bowl LI in Houston marked the first time that the National Football League champion was determined in overtime. The city’s light-rail line went the extra distance as well.

METRORAIL broke ridership records over the extended Super Bowl LI celebration. More than 700,000 boardings during the nine-day period were tallied on METRORail and METRO special shuttle buses, according to the transit agency.

Four of the five highest single-day ridership totals in METRORail’s history occurred Wednesday, Feb. 1, through Saturday, Feb. 4. Approximately 109,500 Saturday boardings set a new one-day rail record.

“The feedback we have received has been tremendous,” said METRO Board Chair Carrin Patman. “So many have called and messaged about their positive experiences using METRO over these past several days.”

METRO’s new Green and Purple lines saw three straight days of highest single-day ridership.

“This effort was more than two years in the planning and to see the community embrace and rely on our services in such a big way is extremely rewarding,” said METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert. “Our expanded transportation network has grown rapidly in the last three years, and METRO’s dedicated staff proved we can deliver when it’s time for a world-class event and every day.”

Special METRO shuttles also helped people reach the largest Super Bowl events with an estimated 26,700 boardings. That figure combined with 680,100 boardings on METRORail totals 706,800 on METRO’s Super Bowl Connection service.

Current Issue: March/April 2024

$6.95 (U.S. Orders Only)

NEW CHAPTER

On Jan. 1, 2024, BNSF Railway took over operations on the storied Montana Rail Link after a lease agreement between the railroads dating to the late 1980s was cut short. BNSF says operating as one railroad will bring benefits to customers and opportunities for freight growth in the region through enhanced capacity and stronger service. In some respects, the company views MRL's integration as a reunion.

NEW PRODUCTS HIGHLIGHT AMHERST

Model manufacturers debuted new products before record attendance at the Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show in January. Micro-Trains announced new offerings in HO scale, a first for the company that specializes in N and Z trains. 

DEAL RAIL IS ALIVE

Smaller components and Bluetooth technology are making battery operation for HO scale more plausible. See how the Texas-based CLRR has gone from DCC to deal rail.

PLUS

KR Models' long-awaited skeletal logging cars arrive and make a nice impression. Also, a strong fourth-quarter finish lifts spirits for Class I railroad executives, who believe the momentum will carry over into this year. And the Denver & Rio Grande Western's Royal Gorge traversed mountains, traveled along rivers and glided through tunnels from Salt Lake City to Denver.