Here is the latest from Progressive Railroading.
For the first time, freight- and passenger-rail stakeholders are teaming up to push rail as a key component in any federal infrastructure investment initiative. Ten rail associations, interest groups and other constituents — including two non-rail organizations — recently formed the OneRail Coalition, which aims to promote public policies that recognize rail as a critical element of the nation’s transportation system.
Coalition members include the American Public Transportation Association, Amtrak, American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association, Association of American Railroads (AAR), Building America’s Future, National Association of Railroad Passengers, Natural Resources Defense Council, Railway Supply Institute, States for Passenger Rail Coalition, and Surface Transportation Policy Partnership.
Filed under: Amtrak, Passenger Rail Politics, Passenger Rail Transportatio Policy, Regional USA Passenger Rail
Trains For America 
The freight companies have been trying to congress to pay for new tracks either directly or thru massive tax breaks for some time.
It should only happen if they guarantee quality tracks and availability for Amtrak.
In New Mexico, the state bought existing tracks from the local trains to devote them to passenger service. That company used the money to build new freight rail. Separating passenger from freight has increased both average speed and on time performance for both freight and rail and has led to a doubling of the amount of freight transported by rail within the state of New Mexico.