Intercity Rail

A high-speed rail is blurred as it passes a modern skyline in China.

Friday Funny: The Onion Blasts U.S. for Slow Trains

The satirical news site The Onion has imagined a world where China and the United States are competing over which country can operate the slowest, least dependable train systems.

July 15, 2022 - The Onion

A map of the under-construction Tren Maya that passes through several locations on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

Watch: Mexico’s $10 Billion Rail Line Through the Jungle

YouTube channel B1M takes a trip to the Yucatan Peninsula to examine the risks and the opportunities of Tren Maya—a $10 billion railway under construction to connect the south and southeast corners of the country to tourist destinations.

July 11, 2022 - B1M

A conceptual rendering of three high-speed rail trains. The middle train is orange; the other two are black.

The California High-Speed Rail Project Illustrates America’s Transit Issues

Slow progress and a bloated budget have plagued the High-Speed Rail project linking San Francisco to Los Angeles, exposing deeper issues with American transit projects.

May 22, 2022 - Eric Carlson

The Washington St Bridge in Minneapolis is shown with downtown Minneapolis in the background.

Minnesota Republicans Kill Passenger Rail, Freeway Cap Projects

Republicans in the Minnesota State Senate blocked the planning of a proposed passenger rail route between Duluth and the Twin Cities in addition to a plan for a freeway cap in a historically Black neighborhood in St. Paul.

May 19, 2022 - MPR News

Amtrak Connects US

Political Support for Amtrak’s All Aboard Ohio Plans Follows Federal Infrastructure Funding

Gov. Mike DeWine’s sudden interest in working with Amtrak might have something to do with $66 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding recently announced by the Federal Railroad Administration.

May 18, 2022 - Cleveland.com

Intercity Buses

American Airlines Latest to Replace Flights With Bus Service

A trend is emerging in intercity travel in an era of pilot shortages and high fuel prices: intercity buses are replacing flights for shorter regional trips.

April 12, 2022 - Streetsblog USA

Construction fo the California High-Speed Rail project is shown running parallel to Highway 99 in California's Central Valley.

California High-Speed Rail Status Check

The New York Times recently checked in with the California High-Speed Rail project and reported the current details, still in the process of a long evolution.

March 17, 2022 - The New York Times

A picture of two street signs with the Hollywood Burbank and hills int he background.

Airport's Lawsuit Could Stop California High Speed Rail in its Tracks

The Hollywood Burbank Airport has done what no one in the Los Angeles area had dared to do: sue the California High Speed Rail project.

March 9, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Conceptual rendering of the California High-Speed Rail project in Pacheco Pass.

Environmental Review Complete for Key Northern California Section of High-Speed Rail Project

The San Jose to Merced Project Section Final Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement could be approved by April 21.

March 1, 2022 - California High-Speed Rail Authority

Train Rendering

Price Tag Increases Again on High Speed Rail in California

With costs rising from $40 billion to $105 billion, the California High-Speed Rail project is still moving slowly along, though with a heftier price tag.

February 14, 2022 - Roads and Bridges

A high-speed Trenitalia Frecciarossa (red arrow) train, pictured at the Milan Central Station.

Intercity High-Speed Rail Outlasts Italy's National Airline

European countries are committing to making intercity rail the preferable option compared to domestic and intra-continental flights. The shift seems to be working in Italy.

October 15, 2021 - CNN Travel

California Central Valley

California Lawmakers Debate Killing High Speed Rail Funding

The cost increases and delays on the Central Valley project have some state lawmakers wondering whether funds should go toward local transit systems instead.

August 3, 2021 - CALmatters

Amtrak

How Virginia Became a Leader in Passenger Rail

The state's consistent investment in passenger rail has resulted in one of the nation's most effective regional rail networks.

June 24, 2021 - The Washington Post

Texas Central

Contracts Signed, Funding Still TBD: Texas Central High-Speed Rail Moves Forward

Texas Central has its construction contracts and a court decision in its favor, but significant obstacles remain for the high-speed rail project connecting Houston and Dallas to get underway.

June 23, 2021 - Railway Age

Amtrak Connects US

$75 Billion 'Connect US' Plan Would Expand Amtrak Service All Over the Country

New attention for a plan to greatly expand Amtrak service in dozens of cities and regions around the United States.

June 21, 2021 - The Washington Post

Air Travel

France to Ban Flights for Trips That Can Be Made by Train

One form of climate action gained major momentum in Europe over the weekend.

April 12, 2021 - Reuters

Amtrak Connects US

Infrastructure and its Discontents

The significance of the Biden administration's expansive view of infrastructure is reflected in the flood of commentary published in the week since the public's first look at the American Jobs Plan.

April 8, 2021 - James Brasuell

Train Station Conceptual Renderings

New 'Capital Regional Rail Vision' Revealed

An idea to expand regional rail service around D.C. has new substance after the Greater Washington Partnership revealed the first details of a plan to convert the MARC and VRE commuter train systems into high-frequency, all-day regional service.

March 28, 2021 - The Washington Post

Texas Bullet Train

House Bill Would Provide $41 Billion for High-Speed Rail Grants

The "American High-Speed Rail Act" would provide $41 billion in grants and incentives for an additional $38 billion in funding for high-speed rail projects in the United States.

March 18, 2021 - Smart Cities Dive

West Palm Beach, Florida

Deadline for Brightline Plan Comes With Strings Attached

Officials from Brightline recently signed an agreement that dictates terms for the study of an extension of the private rail system between Orlando and Tampa.

March 10, 2021 - Orlando Sentinel

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