Posts Tagged ‘passenger rail’



President Pushes Bold Plan for Passenger Rail

Posted Tuesday April 16 2013 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

http://www.midwesthsr.org/president-pushes-bold-plan-for-passenger-rail

The Obama Administration released its budget request for Fiscal Year 2014 today, and the President has once again put forth a bold plan for transforming and expanding train service in the United States, with $40 billion in passenger rail investment over the next five years.

The Administration’s budget allocates $6.6 billion to the Federal Rail Administration for fiscal 2014, with increasing amounts each subsequent year through 2019, then decreasing amounts to 2023. The request will be a boost for Amtrak, coming a day before the House Committee on Transportation holds a hearing on the railroad’s FY 2014 budget. The hearing, Amtrak’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget: The Starting Point for Reauthorization [which will be streamed live], will address Amtrak’s funding needs, as well as the coming rail reauthorization (the current law will expire at the end of this September). Amtrak announced yesterday it had set a new ridership record during the first half of this fiscal year, and will be looking to translate its steady increase in popularity into an increase its funding for badly needed equipment purchases and infrastructure upgrades.

Amtrak Ridership Growth Continues in FY 2013

March sets record as single best month in history of railroad
Posted Tuesday April 9 2013 by in Press Releases, Slider

WASHINGTON – Amtrak ridership increased in the first half of FY 2013 (Oct. 2012 – March 2013) and March set a record as the single best month ever in the history of America’s Railroad®. In addition, October, December, and January each set individual monthly records.

Rebounding strongly from service disruptions caused by Superstorm Sandy and other severe weather, Amtrak ridership grew 0.9 percent in the first six months of FY 2013 as compared to the same period the prior year. In all, 26 of 45 routes posted ridership increases and Amtrak expects to end the fiscal year at or above last year’s record of 31.2 million passengers.

“The continued ridership growth on routes across the country reinforces the need for dedicated, multi-year federal operating and capital funding to support existing intercity passenger rail services and the development of new ones,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman.

Northeast Corridor ridership took a significant hit from Superstorm Sandy, is seeing a solid recovery and is predicted to show gains for the full fiscal year despite being down 1.2 percent for this six-month period. Ridership on state-supported and other short distance routes is up 2.7 percent and long-distance ridership grew 0.5 percent.

Routes with notable ridership growth in the first six months of FY 2013 include:

Palmetto (+10.5 percent), Coast Starlight (+10 percent), Illini/Saluki (+9.8 percent), San Joaquin (+8.9 percent), Piedmont (+8.6 percent), Wolverine (+8.2 percent), Vermonter (+6.7 percent), Carolinian (+6.3 percent), Keystone Service (+5.2 percent), Springfield Shuttles (+5.2 percent),
Downeaster(+4.8 percent), Pacific Surfliner (+4.3 percent), and Pennsylvanian (+4.3 percent).

(more)

http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/178/1001/Amtrak-Ridership-Growth-First-Six-Months-%20FY2013-ATK-13-031.pdf

What makes passenger trains work? Frequencies and funding

Posted Thursday March 14 2013 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

U.S. passenger-train ridership and revenues have been growing for a long time, but not until this month have the media really started taking notice.

How come the change? Why did dozens of newspapers from USA Today to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram suddenly start running pro-passenger-train stories during the first week of March 2013?

“Lancaster County train ridership triples in 16 years,” headlined the Intelligencer Journal in Lancaster, Pa.

“Amtrak carried record passenger traffic in 2012,” announced the Washington Post.

“Amtrak traffic jumped 68 percent in Birmingham in 15 years,” trumpeted Birmingham Business Journal columnist Brent Godwin.

The sudden rush of stories was no coincidence. All followed the March 1 release of a 30-page Brookings Institution report titled A New Alignment: Strengthening America’s Commitment to Passenger Rail.

(more)

http://ccrail.com/what-makes-passenger-trains-work-frequencies-and-funding/

Major Amtrak improvements scheduled for Spring

Posted Tuesday February 19 2013 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

The Department of Transportation and Amtrak are planning some big maintenance projects for the three major Michigan routes in the coming months.

Janet Foren is with the M-DOT. She says the partnership between the department and Amtrak to improve the routes is vital for the future of efficient rail travel in Michigan.

“We will see all new cars on Amtrak routes in the next few years that work is obviously going to keep people working. And also as the maintenance along the tracks is taking place that’s going to keep people working as well.”

http://www.michiganradio.org/post/major-amtrak-improvements-scheduled-spring

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/02/14/mich-gearing-up-for-high-speed-trains-expansion/

http://www.rtands.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-michigan-dot-gear-up-for-track-improvements.html?channel=279

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20130214/NEWS01/130219913/mdot-amtrak-gear-up-for-high-speed-trains-expansion#

Report: Midwest Firms Coupled to High-Speed Rail

Posted Monday February 11 2013 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

Hundreds of Midwest manufacturers stand to benefit from a web of high-speed passenger rail routes emerging from Chicago’s rail hub, according to a report released by an environmental policy group that has fought to defend the use of billions in taxpayer money on such projects.

The report released Friday by the Chicago-based Environmental Law & Policy Center found that 460 manufacturers in seven Midwest states are poised to reap new business, along with a dozen more highly visible companies that make rail cars and locomotives. Those additional supply-chain manufacturers make everything from seats, couplers and bolts to ceiling panels, interior lighting and air horns. They also cut sheet metal, provide electronics and communications equipment, and supply track maintenance machinery.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/report-midwest-firms-coupled-high-speed-rail-18450977

Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service sets ridership record

Posted Tuesday February 5 2013 by in News Articles - Miscellaneous

For the ninth time in the last decade, Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service between Milwaukee and Chicago set a calendar year ridership record.

Last year’s ridership of the passenger rail line totaled 832,500 compared to 823,163 the year before, which was the first time the Hiawatha Service surpassed 800,000.

(more)

Post Link: http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/amtraks-hiawatha-service-sets-ridership-record-508l8dk-189736441.html

Travel Illinois for 20% Off with the Midwest Winter Warm Up Sale

Posted Monday February 4 2013 by in Press Releases

Melt away the winter blahs with The Midwest Winter Warm Up Sale and save 20% on select routes in Illinois. Save when you travel the following routes; the Carl Sandburg, the Illini, the Illinois Zephyr, the Lincoln Service and the Saluki. Just book your travel now through March 30, 2013 for travel January 3 – March 31, 2013 to save. Your trip could take you from Chicago to Quincy and Carbondale, and all the way to St. Louis. See, and hear live blues music at famous venues, visit the home of Abraham Lincoln and explore everything else the Prairie State has to offer.

Don’t go stir-crazy with cabin fever. Make the most of The Midwest Winter Warm Up Sale and enjoy traveling in comfort with less stress and great amenities. Your winter getaway begins the minute you come onboard. And when you book now through March 30, 2013 for travel January 3 – March 31, 2013 you’ll have even more to enjoy — a savings of 20%.

Booking your trip, changing your reservation and boarding the train are easier than ever thanks to eTicketing. Say goodbye to waiting in ticket lines at the station and say hello to even more convenience. eTicketing is now available on all routes and you can print your eTicket anytime, anyplace.

Post Link: http://www.amtrak.com/illinois-travel-deal-to-chicago-quincy-carbondale-st-louis

The big-picture argument for passenger rail

Posted Tuesday January 22 2013 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

The advocates who are pushing for passenger rail in Wichita aren’t just interested in accessing a fun new mode of transportation in downtown Wichita.

As I worked on a story for this week’s Wichita Business Journal about the effort to extend Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer route through Wichita, I kept hearing these broad discussions about our city’s economic future.

(more)

Post Link: http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/blog/2013/01/the-big-picture-argument-for-passenger.html?page=all

Rail to link Moline, Chicago by end of 2015

Posted Friday November 30 2012 by in News Articles - Miscellaneous

Engineering and environmental study work is under way on the passenger rail line that will link Moline with Chicago, and the rail service is expected to be in operation by the end of 2015, project officials said during a public informational meeting Thursday in Moline.

(more)

Post Link: http://qctimes.com/news/local/rail-to-link-moline-chicago-by-end-of/article_734e04d6-2a0a-11e2-bb3e-0019bb2963f4.html

Chicago to Omaha Passenger Rail Planning Study Meetings Announced

Posted Tuesday November 27 2012 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

The Iowa Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration and Illinois Department of Transportation, has scheduled in-person public hearings and online, self-directed meetings for the Chicago to Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study.

(more)

Post Link: http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/Chicago-to-Omaha-Passenger-Rail-Planning-Study-Meetings-Announced-181031781.html?ref=781

 
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