Central Illinois Rail

05/19/2019

05/19/2019

Amtrak is a vital and cost-effective tool of economic development. Passenger trains make money for towns they serve by generating jobs, retail, mobility, tourism and real estate development.

All travel modes are subsidized, from airlines enjoying the world’s safest air-traffic control system courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer to buses and trucks battering a highway system only half paid for by gas taxes.

Opinion Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events

05/13/2019

"No passenger transportation system makes money absent subsidies, most of which are buried in transportation policy and thus hard to see on their face. Amtrak should not be held to this false standard."

Opinion Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events

05/10/2019

Provisions include
-A statement from the Congress that that long-distance passenger rail is an essential part of the nation’s transportation system, specifically for rural parts of the country, and should be retained to ensure connectivity throughout the National Network;

-A requirement to invest in the capital improvements for the Southwest Chief, and a prohibition on the use of these funds to “discontinue, reduce the frequency of, suspend, or substantially alter” the route;

-The return of discounted passenger fares for U.S. military veterans;

-Bringing back station agents to any Amtrak station that had a ticket agent position eliminated in fiscal year 2018;

-Congressional direction to Amtrak to improve communication and collaboration with local partners and take into consideration the unique needs of each community, including impacts to local jobs, when making decisions related to the staffing of Amtrak stations.

The Fiscal Year 2019 transportation budget was passed into law five months late by Congress today averting another government shutdown. The bill includes $2.9 billion for rail and $13.4 billion for transit, along with several key policy riders that Rail Passengers and its members fought for over the...

05/09/2019

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019, which contained the line, “Amtrak is directed to provide a station agent in each Amtrak station that had a ticket agent in the fiscal year 2018.”

Amtrak, however, responded via letter that Amtrak is in compliance with the act by placing a “caretaker” at the station.

Topeka city manager Brent Trout recently sent a letter to Amtrak management seeking a restoration of services in the city — specifically, he was

03/12/2019

The initial budget proposal for the 2020 financial year issued by President Donald Trump on March 11 would see federal funding for Amtrak long-distance trains eliminated.

USA: The initial budget proposal for the 2020 financial year issued by President Donald Trump on March 11 would see federal funding for Amtrak...

03/07/2019

Trains magazine offers railroad news, railroad industry insight, commentary on today's freight railroads, passenger service (Amtrak), locomotive technology, railroad preservation and history, railfan opportunities (tourist railroads, fan trips), and great railroad photography.

03/01/2019

"A communication issue between Amtrak’s automated system and the signals and switches at the station halted all train movement about 8:30 a.m., according to Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari.

All Amtrak trains and Metra BNSF trains were stopped because of the issue, according to Magliari and Metra officials. Trains were moving again with extensive delays by 10 a.m.

Magliari said the switches are being operated manually while crews work on repairs."

Commuters were being urged to make alternate plans or expect extensive delays as signal issues continued to affect trains at Union Station for the afternoon and evening rush hour.

01/24/2019

As Peggy Noonan commented on Twitter: “Amtrak’s new management thinks trains are planes. A lot of us are on the train because we don’t want to be on the plane.”

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11/17/2018

The Rail Passengers Association (formerly NARP) acts as a voice for Amtrak, commuter and transit passengers.

11/17/2018