Your daily source of fresh takes on news affecting America's passengers. See also the weekly NARP Hotline.
December 16, 2013
Written By Colin Leach Since the passage of the High Speed Ground Transportation Act in 1965, the federal government has consistently committed to investment in high speed rail services. So far, however, these attempts have been limited to trains that run on the same track as conventional trains in the Northeast Corridor. Whether the Metroliner in 1969 or the Acela Express in 2000, these trains...
December 13, 2013
Written By Logan McLeod In this week’s The Economist, An article was written on the topic of another foreseeable financial bubble. This time not in the form of bundled low rated mortgage-backed securities, rather this bubble is one of “secular stagnation.” The Economistexplains the term as a time when “appetite to invest is persistently below people’s desire to save.” This suggests a...
December 13, 2013
Written By Ross Capon The House has passed the new, two-year bipartisan budget agreement. Senate passage is considered likely. It appears that appropriations committees will soon be deciding how much Amtrak and other programs will get for the current fiscal year. The best guess is that Amtrak will end up in the vicinity of $1.4 billion. A slight increase over the $1.3 billion from fiscal 2013 is...
December 13, 2013
Written By Sean Jeans Gail With a crucial decision looming for the Cincinnati streetcar project, local advocacy groups are uniting to demonstrate public support for the transformational project. Believe in Cincinnati, in conjunction with the Cincinnati Streetcar, is organizing a city-wide petition campaign to harness the wave of public support for the line: We've been truly inspired this wee...
December 12, 2013
Written By Abe Zumwalt In normal times, The Empire Builder is perhaps the premier long-distance train operating on the Amtrak network, offering scenery that unfolds like a novella of the American West, a lifeline to the northern plains, and quality onboard amenities. However, as of late the train has become beleaguered with delays to an epic extent. The crude oil boom in North Dakota, almost in...