The FTA posted a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) yesterday for nearly $700M in the All Stations Accessibility Program - which helps fund ADA upgrades to aging rail and commuter stations (built pre-ADA) around the country. Check out the posting here: grants.gov/search-re...

Blaize Levitan, Secretary of the CT Public Transit Council, pens this op-ed calling for the return of full pre-2020 commuter service between New Haven & New London - helping ease traffic on I-95, one of the most congested and polluted corridors in the US

ICYMI: Online communities were buzzing about Amtrak’s shift to an all single-level long-distance fleet. Before the takes get too hot, Rail Passengers President + CEO Jim Mathews has a reminder: no car designs actually exist yet. www.railpassengers.o...

Another #HotlineFriday in the books. We cover Amtrak's new long distance fleet strategy, passenger's reactions to the USDOT's proposed Amtrak reorganization, and news stories from around the country. Let's get to it. See you onboard: www.railpassengers.o...

PennDOT recently held its first town hall webinar to answer public feedback and questions on the long discussed passenger service between Scranton and NYC. The ongoing service development plan process should be wrapped up by 2028.

In with the new procurement, out with the old procurement. Amtrak has officially announced their plans to move forward with a single-level long distance fleet after an industry review with the FRA and recommendations from the USDOT media.amtrak.com/202...

The historic 187-year-old station (rebuilt six times) is going through a new transportation to get ready to expand upon the over a dozen trains it sees each day.

Amtrak has released a video showing the extensive work being done to their new maintenance facilities in Seattle, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and upstate New York to handle the brand new Airo fleet.

Transit funding will be on the ballot this June in Sonoma and Marin counties in Northern California in the form of an extension of the current $.25 sales tax that supports the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit system. The current funding plan expires in 2029

The "Passenger Rail Planning Act," led by IL Rep. Rita Mayfield, seeks to establish hourly train service across the Land of Lincoln and improve interstate connections. It also directs IDOT to prioritize these goals in FRA Corridor ID submissions Source:

The new fare gates at Boston's South Station are only two months old but are already seeing weather related issues causing them to shut down.

Front Range Passenger Rail could hit the 2026 ballot with a question for a half‑cent sales tax to support train service from Fort Collins to Pueblo - giving residents more options than sitting in traffic on I-25

More mechanical related issues for passengers onboard a Michigan services train. www.mlive.com/news/k...

After a series of starts, stops, and the outright cancellation of planning - expanded morning rush hour commuter service in SoCal between Ventura County to Santa Barbara County is set to roll this spring.

Stay safe out there!

Amtrak's original forecast for Mardi Gras ridership was 60k in its first year of service. Six months in and it has already flown past that number.

While not an official Amtrak offering (this is being done by Amtrak Vacations, which licenses the railroad's name), this is still a great way to see some of the iconic Route 66 without the hassle of traffic.

It's just another #HotlineFriday (Ooh-oh)... The Association's statement on the potential organizational restructuring of Amtrak, the clock restarts on the UPNS merger, and we take a look at the world of air-rail alliances. See you onboard! www.railpassengers.o...

Jim Mathews, President & CEO of Rail Passengers, issued the following statement in light of early reports on the potential restructuring: "When done correctly, there are potential benefits to a structural reorganization. 1/7

Included in Rep Mike Thompson (CA-04)'s funding request is $1M for a pedestrian and bike connection for improved access to the Davis Amtrak Depot

Pending approval by the MTA, one of NYC Mayor Mamdani's signature campaign pledges could see its beginning stages - during the world's biggest sporting event.

It looks like Brightline West will miss their LA28 target and open after the Olympics have long wrapped up - and for nearly double the cost.

A partnership between firms with local and national experience has been chosen to plan and build Austin's fully electric, 10-mile, 15 station light rail system.

Reps. Mast (FL-21) & Frost (FL-10) have introduced the Safer Rail Crossing Act to expand access to funding for crossing upgrades like better detection systems, improved gates, and clearer warnings - after a year with 20+ rail‑related accidents in Florida.

And now for something completely different...

A New Orleans couple hopped on Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service for their first‑ever celebration in the Port City - a very different vibe from what they are used to in the Big Easy

With enough funding on hand to keep them going through next summer, officials at Florida's Tri-Rail are hopeful that conversations in Tallahassee will lead to long term DOT funding. www.wptv.com/wptv-in...

Happy Hotline the 13th! It's been a busy week here at HQ - Amtrak unveils the new Airo fleet in DC, the Trump Administration ordered to unfreeze Gateway funding, a review of a recent California Zephyr doc, and all the rest from around the country. www.railpassengers.o...

Starting Sunday, passengers who normally take the Midtown Direct service between NJ and NYC will be seeing a lot of Frank Sinatra's hometown of Hoboken for the next month - but will have a number of options from there to continue their trips.

While overall successful, Wednesday's victory parade did point out a number of issues that will need to be addressed before Seattle hosts six matches during this summer's World Cup.

Honoring their roots of when the MBTA purchased the equipment & infrastructure of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in the early 70s - the now modern locomotive will operate out of South Station in Boston.

Phase 1 of the Colorado Mountain Rail service is set to launch this November. This first step secures daily service between Denver and Granby, with expansion to Steamboat Springs and Craig to follow.

While Amtrak is investing and expanding passenger comforts in the Buckeye State, Greyhound is leaving their historic downtown Cleveland station that they have operated since 1948. neo-trans.blog/2026/...

While still down from the pre-pandemic days, NY/NJ Post Authority's PATH commuter service saw over 60M riders in 2025 (a first since 2019)

Amtrak held a media event yesterday to unveil the new Airo fleet.

A freight derailment this morning in Chicago's southwest suburbs has forced Metra to suspend service.

Better late than never, right? Six years later than planned and 15 years after construction started, Metrolinx's (Toronto) 25-station, 19-kilometer (11.8-mile) Eglinton Crosstown finally opened up this weekend. www.cbc.ca/news/cana...

President & CEO Jim Mathews explains why "the Federal government has made one of the biggest-ever blunders in the long and checkered history of Federal infrastructure blunders" on the funding freeze for the Gateway Project in NYC. For more: www.railpassengers.o...

Making new friends and rooting on your team - all thanks to the train. www.sacbee.com/sport...

Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of NY on Friday ordered the Trump Administration to restart funding of the Hudson Tunnel Project (Gateway) while everything plays out behind the scenes in court - but will the White House comply?

Capitol news round-up, a Hudson Tunnel action alert, Amtrak's winter woes, and all the rest from our the country. Happy #HotlineFriday! www.railpassengers.o...

NC DOT's Rail Division has released an economic impact study (something we at the Association are very familiar with) of returning passenger rail to the Salisbury to Asheville corridor for the first time since 1975.

"Northstar wasn’t a transportation project that failed. It was a funding project that succeeded." Strong Towns Founder Charles Marohn gives a sobering look at the start and sadly predictable end of commuter rail service out of the Twin Cities.

With a possible workers strike still looming in the distance, the LIRR contract disputes were a hot topic during an MTA legislative meeting earlier this week.

How's your 2026 rail season looking so far? 1. Screenshot this. 2. Mark the squares you’ve cleared. 3. Post to your accounts and tag us so we can see who has a bingo!

There is not much you will get the Garden and Empire states to agree on - sports, food, music, etc - but they are standing united in their fight against the Trump administration's freeze of funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project

Over 300k passengers a year get on and off the train in Roanoke, VA. City officials are hoping to give them a bit more comfort in the near future.

Today, construction stopped on the Hudson River Tunnels because the Trump Administration has frozen funds as part of a political spat with New York State Democrats. 1/5

Going to be in the Bay Area for the game on Sunday? BART, Caltrain, Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor, and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority will have everything covered to make getting to and from Levi Stadium as easy as possible.

The MTA has a new Chief of Rolling Stock to lead the agency's $12B replacement program.