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There are two possible answers to this question: 1-Use the existing South Shore (including the extensive double-track that SS is about to break ground on, all the way to Kensington and take either the CN tracks or the Metra/ex-IC Electric to about McCormick Place where trains would switch to the...

Responses to a couple of points mentioned above. NCDOT got a FRA grant earlier this year to replace their rebuilt, but old, cars. Keolis and Bombardier are foreign (European) owned.

Interestingly, the INVEST Act (the Transportation Act reauthorization that the House passed last June) had a couple of interesting provisions: a clear preference for interstate projects and 90% federal share for capital projects (as well as a lot of money)! Thus, a high speed rail project like...

The FRA SE Regional Rail Plan (Phase 1 completed in 2017, but not currently available online) Identified a direct Atlanta-Macon-Jacksonville-Orlando as a Core Express corridor with very high potential (hourly service). It also identified New Orleans-Mobile-Montgomery-Columbus (GA)-Atlanta as a...

I was very disappointed by the presentations in the RPA session discussing the FRA Planning process (which calls for fast, frequent service) and Amtrak plans. Jim Matthews (RPA) presented the FRA planning process as the "40 year plan", calling the Amtrak plans for 2-3 trips/day at conventional...

There were 2 presentations. Both Ray Lang, head of state relations for Amtrak, snd Jim Matthews of RPA discussed the 5 year reauthorization of the Transportation program passed by the House in June but, so far, ignored by the Senate. This would greatly increase Amtrak funding but, more...

The New Haven RR was the only buyer of this variant of the RDC.

Responding to West Point's August 2 post one place that I am aware of that can accommodate Superliners but not auto racks is at the famous 3 level crossing on the former Seaboard route just south of Main Street Station in Richmond. Virginia's plan is to re-route all passenger trains to the south...

I assume that a big chunk of the National Network money is to replace the Superliners. An interesting question is whether it would make sense from an ADA compliance point-of-view, and for fleet uniformity, to buy more View liners. We could have domes in the West, again! (with lifts!). A full...

The Maine Central timetable brings back a memory of my Dad taking me with him on a business trip from Worcester to DC by sleeping car. Apparently, it would have been on a Sunday night/Monday morning in the late 1950s when the State of Maine went thru to DC. I knew that the train ran via...

I participated in a web meeting where the senior committee staff members who assembled the bill explained it. A lot of thought went into its development. I would not expect this bill to pass this year but, depending on the the election, it probably will early next year. It will be a game changer,

Trains Newswire today reports that HSR Authority has come to terms for providing a large amount of financing for the planned thru track layout at Union Station. It is stated that the deal will, of course, provide space for HSR tracks. Does anyone know how many station tracks/platforms they will...

It's become pretty clear that we can never rely on freight rail owned tracks to support fast, frequent and reliable corridor service. The Chicago entry from the east is the classic example. Interestingly, there are two publicly-owned passenger railroads between Michigan City and Chicago that...

For rail service to Springfield to be competitive with auto a new alignment must be constructed from the west side of Worcester to just short of Palmer to shorten the route avoiding the long route through the Brookfields built in the 1830s to minimize the grades. These don't affect modern...

Anderson - I appreciate your analysis but it seems to ignore the key point that the current service is just practice for the real service to Orlando. When that starts I assume that they will want to serve the short distance riders with separate trains either that they operate or TriRail does...

I work in downtown Chicago and occasionally need to rent a car. My experience with Enterprise is that rates are much lower if you call one of the downtown offices than calling the national call center.

The Builder was canceled both in and out of Chicago today due to "inclement weather" I.e. snow in Washington state! Hard to justify.

Enterprise is only coming from 2 blocks away. All of the major companies have offices nearby.

Brightline frequencies and distances are much more analogous to Surfliner and Capitol Corridor than San Joaquin service.

Amtrak does use bridgeplates at high level platforms at various stations. Certainly a lot less crazy than building your own, poorly-located stations for 2 daily trains. Miami Central would be a great terminal.