67 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

The Washington (DC) Post, via Portland (ME) Press Herald, 7/6/22

 

The battle that will determine the future of American passenger rail

 

On the Gulf Coast, the passenger rail service and freight railroads that control the tracks are in mediation to resolve disputes over Amtrak's proposed service levels.

 

Months after Washington approved billions to significantly expand Amtrak’s footprint across the country, an early attempt at growth has reached an impasse in a test case that could define the American rail network for a generation.

 

The escalating clash is playing out on the Gulf Coast, where Amtrak wants to restore service 17 years after Hurricane Katrina flooded the region’s rail infrastructure. Amid fanfare over federal money as a president nicknamed “Amtrak Joe” watches from the White House, the passenger rail and the freight railroads that control the tracks are in mediation to resolve disputes over Amtrak’s proposed service levels.

 

At the core of the conflict is a mandate that requires freight railroads to give passenger trains access to rail track and preference over other rail traffic. A federal board is weighing the fate of Gulf Coast passenger service in a trial-like process pitting Amtrak against freight railroads. Because Amtrak operates mostly on tracks owned by others, the case could set precedent as the passenger railroad embarks on a $75 billion expansion with bipartisan support.

 

“This is the bellwether case for the expansion of any passenger rail in this country,” said John Robert Smith, chairman of the policy organization Transportation for America. “If the freights manage to kill this proposed service, it will send a chill through the rest of the nation aspiring for passenger rail.”

 

 

Continue here.  

 

Cross-posted:  Return of Amtrak service New Orleans to Mobile

[KevinKorell]

mysa.com   10/11/22:

 

 

   TxDOT requests funds to expand passenger train service across Texas  

 

 

Fans of rail transportation rejoice, or at least enjoy some reserved optimism. The Texas Department of Transportation made an official request last week to the Federal Railroad Administration for funding to expand service for travelers between the state's largest cities and beyond.

 

This is the story.

[KevinKorell]

KSTU-TV, Fox-13 in Salt Lake City, UT, 10/7/22:

 

 

    Train corridors proposed connecting Boise, Las Vegas to Salt Lake City    

 

 

Utah's Department of Transportation has signed on to a letter to the federal government expressing interest in creating passenger rail routes that connect Boise and Las Vegas to Salt Lake City.

 

Details

[KevinKorell]

614 Now,   12/9/22:

 

 

 

   Alleged new Amtrak proposal would turn Columbus into a hub for rail travel    

 

 

 

According to an alleged new Amtrak map that’s making the rounds throughout local social media, Columbus could become a new hub for travel in the Midwest.

 

Story here.

 

With their use of the word "alleged", take this with a grain of salt.       The newer map is quite different from the old one from 2021.  Note that Nashville under the former proposal only was connected to Chattanooga and Atlanta, and on the "alleged" new map, it's only connected to the north towards Louisville, Indianapolis, and Chicago.    And as for Columbus, the old proposal had Columbus simply as a stop along the 3C Corridor, but it becomes a hub when a  Pittsburgh-Columbus-Louisville route is added, plus more routes to Chillicothe and Athens and Toledo.

[KevinKorell]

WBAY-TV, Channel 2 in Green Bay, WI, 1/5/23:

 

 

  Green Bay, Fox Cities seek extension of Amtrak line  

 

Could passenger trains return to Green Bay?

 

Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford’s office says city leaders from Green Bay, Kaukauna, Appleton, Menasha, Neenah, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac submitted a “joint letter of interest” to show their interest in add Amtrak train service in their cities through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

 

Story

[KevinKorell]

Kaukauna, WI Community News, 1/6/23:

 

 

   Kaukauna, six other cities, push for passenger rail expansion to Fox Cities  

 

 

Kaukauna Mayor Tony Penterman has signed on to a letter, along with six other Fox Valley city leaders, to push for an expansion of Amtrak’s passenger rail service up to Green Bay.

 

 

Read

[CNJRoss]

WLKY-TV, Louisville, KY 1/30/23

 

Amtrak routes connecting Louisville to Nashville, Chicago and Cincinnati head to feds

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Michael L. Jones and Chris Wetterich) — New passenger rail routes connecting Louisville to Chicago, Cincinnati and Nashville, Tennessee, have been submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration, another step in Amtrak's plans for Midwest expansion, according to Louisville Business First.

 

Amtrak’s latest map indicates there has been interest expressed by local officials for connections between Chicago and Cincinnati — which was a part of the passenger rail agency’s original Connect US plan released in 2021, and Cincinnati — Louisville and Nashville.

 

Louisville is one of the largest U.S. cities without Amtrak service. Greater Louisville Inc., the regional chamber of commerce, has advocated for expansion of passenger rail since the infrastructure bill passed.

 

 

Continue here. 

[KevinKorell]

KFIZ Radio, Fond du Lac, WI, 2/1/23:

 

 

 

   Amtrak Looking To Extend Passenger Trains North To Green Bay, Including Stop In Fond du Lac  

 

 

 

Travel by train could become a new option for people in Fond du Lac for a trip to Chicago, Green Bay or beyond.

 

Find that story here.

[KevinKorell]

Opinion in Chattanooga, TN Times-Free Press,  2/1/23:

 

 

 Opinion: Let’s get Amtrak service In Chattanooga – soon!    

 

 

Chattanooga, the Choo-Choo City, stands a good chance to get Amtrak passenger train service. Everyone we've talked to over the past few months — and we've talked to a lot of people — wants passenger train service here. So does Amtrak.

 

Opinion

[KevinKorell]

Pocono Record, 3/23/23:

 

 

  Amtrak study reveals proposed schedule, ridership for Scranton-NYC route    

 

 

Nearly half a million people could be traveling by train between Scranton and New York City annually by 2030, according to Amtrak’s newly-released study of the proposed route.

 

Update