Hotline
Your weekly source of fresh takes on news affecting America's passengers. See also the RPA Blog.
Hotline #1,144
Coverage of Rail News from the Past Week!
November 22, 2019
Senator Durbin Takes On Train Delays With New Bill In response to the serious problem of increased freight train-induced delays across the National Network, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) unveiled the Rail Passenger Fairness Act yesterday, which will help improve Amtrak on-time performance (OTP) by providing Amtrak with the ability to challenge freight railroads in court. “This bill provides Amtrak with the power to improve its passenger rail service and efficiency,” said Senator Durbin.
Hotline #1,143
This week learn about Jim Mathew’s testimony before the House Rail Subcommittee, in addition to the House Democratic efforts to push forward on Surface Transportation Reauthorization. We cover USDOT’s 2019 BUILD Grant Program awards, which overwhelmingly favored highway projects. Despite opposition, a controversial Amtrak Board nominee moves towards Senate confirmation. Officials in the Pacific Northwest remain hopeful for high speed rail proposal in spite of voter disagreement on transit funding. And on the equipment front, Amtrak releases new pictures of the upcoming Acela II trainsets, while Stadler wins a contract for new MARTA cars. All of this and much more in this week’s Hotline!
November 15, 2019
House Rail Subcommittee Hearing The House Rail & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Rail held a hearing the Amtrak reauthorization on November 13, examining current-day challenges and future opportunities for passenger rail in the U.S. Rail Passengers Association President Jim Mathews testified as part of the panel, which also included representatives from Amtrak, railroad labor, and state transportation officials—arguing that Amtrak is an essential engine for economic growth in town across t
Hotline #1,142
Rail Passengers President Jim Mathews To Testify Before House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Rail; Amtrak Announces Record Ridership In FY2019; NJ Senators Call Out DOT Secretary Elaine Chao On Gateway; Pennsylvania Service Expansion Study Underway; Rally In Support Of Pioneer Restoration; Texas Voters Approve Houston Bond Initiative; State Of Washington Voters Slash Transit Funding; Flexible Dining Experience Report; WV Scrambles For MARC Funding; California High Speed Rail Approves Fresno To Bakersfield Segment; Chicago To Quad Cities Project Receives Funding Extension; MBTA Endorses Transformative Vision; All Aboard Minnesota Advocates For Fargo Service; LA Metro To Benefit From Signal Prioritization; NJT Looking At Transit Options
November 8, 2019
Tell Us What’s Happening Where You Live! When you see rail-related news stories, op-eds, editorials, or letters to the editor in your communities, send them along to us! We will include them in our social media efforts, along with the weekly Hotline. Send your news items to Joe Aiello at jaiello[at]narprail.org, and we will share it with members. Are you holding a rally, a community meeting, or another kind of rail-advocacy event? We can help spread the word if you send them to us. We can put
Hotline #1,141
Top Ten Route Poll Voting Extended; Senate Approves FY2020 Transportation Funding Bill; Virgin Trains Get OK For Las Vegas Route Bonds; Hudson River Tunnel Test Boring Begin; Severe Weather Affects Amtrak In NE; MBTA Commuter Rail May Be In For Transnational Overhaul; Amtrak Roanoke Service Exceeding Expectations; Advance Assigned Seats Coming To NE Regional Business Class; Austin Expands Service; Colorado’s Revamped Transportation Plan; Denver Disability Community Opposes Service Cuts; New Station For North Brunswick, NJ; Seattle Leaders Scrap Rail Expansion Projects; Virgin Trains USA To Serve Port Of Miami; Now Is The Season of Giving
November 1, 2019
Tell Us What’s Happening Where You Live! When you see rail-related news stories, op-eds, editorials, or letters to the editor in your communities, send them along to us! We will include them in our social media efforts, along with the weekly Hotline. Send your news items to Joe Aiello at jaiello[at]narprail.org, and we will share it with members. Are you holding a rally, a community meeting, or another kind of rail-advocacy event? We can help spread the word if you send them to us. We can put
Hotline #1,140
Still Time To Vote In Our Top 10 Routes Poll; Sen. Durbin Sends Letters To Amtrak And FRA on OTP; Amtrak: Host Railroads Responsible For OTP Issues; House Transportation Committee Democrats Aren't Involving Their Republican Counterparts In Work On A Surface Transportation Bill; Budget Briefing; Gateway Sought In Surface Bill; City of Martinsburg Unanimously Approves MARC Funding Contribution; CalSTA Seeks Grant Applicants For Transit, Intercity Rail Projects; Vegas Train On Track To Break Ground In 2020; Atlanta To Charlotte In 2 Hours 6 Minutes?; Plan To Award Honolulu Rail’s Final Contract Reaches Point Of No Return; L.A.'s Blue Line Reopening Soon, With A New Name; Winter Park Express Ski Train Expanding Service To Include All Fridays
October 25, 2019
Tell Us What’s Happening Where You Live! When you see rail-related news stories, op-eds, editorials, or letters to the editor in your communities, send them along to us! We will include them in our social media efforts, along with the weekly Hotline. Send your news items to Joe Aiello at jaiello[at]narprail.org, and we will share it with members. Are you holding a rally, a community meeting, or another kind of rail-advocacy event? We can help spread the word if you send them to us. We can put
Hotline #1,139
Have You Voted In Our Top 10 Routes Poll?; Miami-Dade Approve New Brightline Station; Hope For West Virginia MARC Service; New Jersey Station Improvements; Bikes On Amtrak
October 17, 2019
October 17, 2019 NOTE: Due to this weekend’s RailNation:California event, this is an abbreviated Hotline issue. Full Hotline coverage returns on Friday, October 25! Tell Us What’s Happening Where You Live! When you see rail-related news stories, op-eds, editorials, or letters to the editor in your communities, send them along to us! We will include them in our social media efforts, along with the weekly Hotline. Send your news items to Joe Aiello at jaiello[at]narprail.org, and we will sha
Hotline #1,138
Top Ten Route Poll Open; VOTE TODAY; Portal Bridge To Remain Closed During Rush Hours; Miami-Dade MPO Chair Supports Public Transit; Ceremony Kicks-Off Valley Flyer Service; New Stations Open; Additional Pacific Surfliner Trip Added; Public Transit Continues Ridership Growth; Norfolk, VA Exploring Expanded Light Rail; Chicago’s METRA Announces Capital Plans; MBTA Receives First New Red Line Cars
October 11, 2019
October 11, 2019 Tell Us What’s Happening Where You Live! When you see rail-related news stories, op-eds, editorials, or letters to the editor in your communities, send them along to us! We will include them in our social media efforts, along with the weekly Hotline. Send your news items to Joe Aiello at jaiello[at]narprail.org, and we will share it with members. Are you holding a rally, a community meeting, or another kind of rail-advocacy event? We can help spread the word if you send them
Hotline #1,137
Have You Voted On Our Top 10 Routes Poll?; Advocates For Atlanta Beltline March This Sunday; Impeachment Demanding Congressional Attention – Will Transportation Suffer?; Bexar (TX) County Commissioners Support Daily Sunset; Denver’s RTD Cancels Service Due To Operator Shortages; Montana Coalition Forming To Restore North Coast Hiawatha; Maryland Governor Proposes To Cut Public Transportation Funding ; Miami-Dade County May Build New Brightline Station; BART’s Wish List'; Winter Park Express Tickets Go On Sale
October 4, 2019
October 4, 2019 Tell Us What’s Happening Where You Live! When you see rail-related news stories, op-eds, editorials, or letters to the editor in your communities, send them along to us! We will include them in our social media efforts, along with the weekly Hotline. Send your news items to Joe Aiello at jaiello[at]narprail.org, and we will share it with members. Are you holding a rally, a community meeting, or another kind of rail-advocacy event? We can help spread the word if you send them t
Hotline #1,136
Senate Leaders Hint FY 2020 Transportation Budget Could Move Forward; House Subcommittee on Railroads Holds Hearing On Commuter Railroads; Rail Safety Week; Clarifying Amtrak Dining Changes; Atlanta Regional Transit Plan Proposed; Massachusetts Poll Supports Rail; Austin Approves Transit Funding; Chicago’s CTA Receives $100m; South Shore Line Improvements Advance; MBTA Orders Cars
September 27, 2019
Tell Us What’s Happening Where You Live! When you see rail-related news stories, op-eds, editorials, or letters to the editor in your communities, send them along to us! We will include them in our social media efforts, along with the weekly Hotline. Send your news items to Joe Aiello at jaiello[at]narprail.org, and we will share it with members. Are you holding a rally, a community meeting, or another kind of rail-advocacy event? We can help spread the word if you send them to us. We can put
Hotline #1,135
Senate Appropriations Committee Passes Fiscal Year 2020 Transportation Funding Bill – Amtrak Support Up $58 Million; Congress Works To Advert Government Shut-Down; California High-Speed Rail Authority Selects Preferred Alternatives For Rail Alignment; Funding For Los Angeles Union Station Run Through Project Announced; Progress For Las Vegas – Los Angeles High Speed Rail Project; Creation of the Southwest Chief Mayors Coalition Announced; Virginia Celebrates 10 Years Of State-Supported Services; Updated Plan For New Portal Bridge Project Released; Texas Central Signs Construction Agreement; Denver Rail Yard Poised For Transportation Development; Cleveland RTA Eyes New Cars; Alstom Expands New York State Plant; New York’s MTA Releases Historic Capital Improvement Plan
September 20, 2019
September 20, 2019 Tell Us What’s Happening Where You Live! When you see rail-related news stories, op-eds, editorials, or letters to the editor in your communities, send them along to us! We will include them in our social media efforts, along with the weekly Hotline. Send your news items to Joe Aiello at jaiello[at]narprail.org, and we will share it with members. Are you holding a rally, a community meeting, or another kind of rail-advocacy event? We can help spread the word if you send the