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I assume that's been a major factor, perhaps the major factor, in many transit systems shutting down or drastically scaling back service.

The Ohio Hub planning back in the 2000s (I think?) did suggest a Detroit-Toledo-Columbus-Pittsburgh route, in addition to a host of other routes, providing a network of relatively fast (not HSR), relatively frequent (not hourly) trains in and around Ohio. I'm not sure if you can still find those...

I have zero experience parking there, unfortunately. However I would note that there are a number of hotels attached to Union Station via a (rather long) enclosed skywalk linking Union Station and the Crown Center complex. Those hotel garages might be a reasonable backup option if you find the...

Stadler is definitely a fan of cute acronyms for its products. In addition to the KISS, there is also the FLIRT and WINK.

I could be completely mistaken but I seem to recall that the stated reason that plans did not use Cincinnati Union Terminal was a desire to avoid rail congestion in and around Queensgate Yard.

I've often been intrigued by the idea of a network of night trains radiating from Chicago. Definitely something I've daydreamed about from time to time.

Appears to be total ridership at those stations, rather than just ridership on Lincoln trains. So St. Louis would include Missouri River Runner, Chicago would include everything operating there, etc.

It's also been reported that, as Mayor, he was supportive of the (thus far unsuccessful but ongoing) effort to re-extend South Shore service back to downtown South Bend, perhaps in conjunction with an intermodal station near the old Union Station serving Amtrak as well as local and intercity buses.

I'd also add that intercity rail had enjoyed bipartisan support at the gubernatorial level in Wisconsin in the decades leading up to the 2010-2011 debacle. (I don't know enough about the situation in Ohio to suggest whether that was the case there as well.)

D2A2 bus service, I believe. I think it may have briefly started operating before shutting down. Terrible timing, I agree. And yes, hopefully service starts up (or resumes) in 2021-2022.

Agree that Omaha - Sioux Falls is not completely far-fetched. Also, MnDOT has had Twin Cities - Sioux Falls service on their radar (as Phase 3 or 7 or 28 or something like that) after additional Twin Cities - Chicago trains, Twin Cities - Duluth service, and some other proposals.

Did the Asheville bus ever actually start up? There is a Thruway bus service that links Wilmington with Amtrak service in Wilson.

IIRC Michigan DOT still has some (perhaps vague) plans of upgrading/replacing the existing Amtrak station with a larger multimodal facility in the same basic location serving intercity trains and buses, local streetcar and buses, as well as potentially regional rail (if, for instance, Detroit -...

Both Illinois and Wisconsin contribute to operating Hiawatha, IIRC on a 25% IL/75% ratio. As for the other examples, I think the point is that the costs need to be covered by a non-Amtrak entity (or group of entities), not necessarily each individual state.

We'll see how the Pan Am sell-off proceeds, particularly now that CSX has expressed interest. But there are certainly some lines of interest there. Also, I think of missed opportunities in the past, when there was a chance to pick up portions of the CHI-STL and CHI-MKE lines in the 1990s.

Perhaps it means something more like "farebox recovery" in this case? Operating costs covered by fares?

Siemens currently has orders for coaches from Brightline, Amtrak California/Midwest, and VIA Rail, right? Any others?

I believe, maybe in the late 1990s, that it was proposed that the Capitol Limited and Southwest Chief be run as a through train with an extended layover in Chicago. It may have happened for a relatively brief period of time. I seem to recall some discussion about whether through passengers had...

Any idea how often Amtrak equipment has been used for campaign train/whistle stop tours? I recall quite a few campaigns using trains in the Amtrak era but I don't recall Amtrak equipment being used. Of course, I could just be remembering a private car and forgetting that it was on the back of a...

Agree. Isn't it estimated that the damage done to the road is proportional to the fourth power of the axle load of the vehicle? So that if the axle load is doubled (2x), the damage done is 16 times greater (2x2x2x2). Can't imagine many trucking-related taxes and fees come anywhere close to...