Design, construction approved for western Massachusetts rail – BostonHerald.com

Design, construction approved for western Massachusetts rail – BostonHerald.com.

HOLYOKE — State officials say final design and construction plans have been approved for high-speed rail in western Massachusetts.

U.S. Reps. John Olver and Richard Neal and Sen. John Kerry and federal and state transportation officials said Friday that the U.S. Department of Transportation signed a nearly $73 million grant agreement. Funding is available from federal stimulus money.

This may or may not be a good project, but high speed rail????

Filed under: Passenger Rail Transportatio Policy, Regional USA Passenger Rail, United States High Speed Rail

The Washington Monthly – The Magazine – The Case for Not-Quite-So-High-Speed Rail

The Washington Monthly – The Magazine – The Case for Not-Quite-So-High-Speed Rail.

The bad news: Republicans have torpedoed plans for American bullet trains. The good news: The Obama administration is quietly building a slower, but potentially much better, rail system.

Filed under: Amtrak, Passenger Rail Politics, Passenger Rail Transportatio Policy, Regional USA Passenger Rail, United States High Speed Rail

GOP bill taking aim at Amtrak – NorthJersey.com

GOP bill taking aim at Amtrak – NorthJersey.com.

This proposal is such a joke.

Northjersey.com : News

      

GOP bill taking aim at Amtrak

Monday, July 4, 2011    Last updated: Monday July 4, 2011, 2:57 PM

BY HERB JACKSON

WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT

The Record

Pages: 12>display on one page | Print | E-mail

Amtrak, the perennial target of Washington conservatives, is in the crosshairs again. And this time the ammunition is the promise of high-speed rail.

The House transportation committee will likely vote this month for a bill to separate the Northeast Corridor from Amtrak so private companies can bid to build and run high-speed service between Boston and Washington within 10 years.

A successful bidder would have to double the number of trains and get from Washington to New York in two hours or less.

And how many years will it take to replace the Baltimore tunnels? Or rebuild bridges? Or acquire right-of-way? Of course, in the childlike world of Tea Party fantasy, you just say something and it is so.

Filed under: Amtrak, Passenger Rail Politics, Regional USA Passenger Rail, United States High Speed Rail

Train Travel: Adventure on the Rails – WSJ.com

Train Travel: Adventure on the Rails – WSJ.com.

This is a type of travelogue and (believe it or not) quite positive.

Filed under: Amtrak

SunRail a go

SunRail a go.

I just about fell over dead when I read about Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s approval of the commuter line. Perhaps some of my friends in the Sunshine State can explain.

Filed under: Passenger Rail Politics, Passenger Rail Transportatio Policy