Commentary

Fini to saga of Amtrak’s common stock

American Financial Group’s 18-year quest to turn hopelessly unprofitable Amtrak into a gold-coin spewing piñata appears to have met its Waterloo in an emphatic all caps “CASE CLOSED” order of a federal court Feb. 23.

Sacramento streetcar clears first TOD vote

By a roughly 2-to-1 majority, Sacramento, Calif., property owners along a proposed streetcar route have approved plans to fund $30 million toward the cost of the 3.3-mile, $150 million project.

Second attempt at PRRIA launched

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has introduced H.R. 749, the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 (PRRIA). The bill, identical to legislation introduced in 2014 by T&I, is described as “bipartisan legislation that improves the infrastructure, reduces costs, creates greater accountability and transparency, leverages private sector resources, and accelerates project delivery for Amtrak and the nation’s passenger rail transportation system.”

Executive order hits Chicago-Rockford rail plan

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed an executive order Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, putting major state construction projects on hold, apparently including improved passenger rail service between Chicago and St. Louis.

Contract extension for Amtrak Hoosier State

The Indiana Department of Transportation has granted Amtrak a contract extension until April 15, 2015 to continue operating the Indianapolis-Chicago Hoosier State train.

Rail service resuming after blizzard

Most of the Northeast’s passenger rail systems intentionally shut down late on Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, in anticipation of what was expected to be a severe winter storm. But by the following afternoon, service was being gradually restored as the storm subsided and its effects proved not as severe as was feared.

Indiana confronts Hoosier State crisis

Thwarted in its effort last year to employ a private contractor to handle large operation of Amtrak’s Hoosier State, Indiana officials now are scrambling to secure state funding to ensure continued operation of the service, linking Chicago and Indianapolis four days a week.

Plans for NJT Elizabeth station upgrade touted

With a public relations flourish, but no money yet identified to commit to the deed, New Jersey Transit on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015 announced “preliminary design plans” for an upgraded and restored station in Elizabeth, N.J., located on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC).

Passenger trains: Between Barack and a hard place

Only a damned fool would beg Congress for passenger rail funding, trapping in amber the status quo. With tax-and-spend hostile Republicans in control of the House and Senate until at least 2017, America’s passenger trains and their advocates are between Barack and a hard place.

NJT readies Raritan Valley Line upgrade

Rail riders on New Jersey Transit’s Raritan Valley Line will gain direct access to and from New York’s Penn Station, a much coveted “one-seat ride,” beginning Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, NJ Transit has announced.

LOAD MORE