The local grocery chain here in RI/MA had a local artist paint its Fourth of July flyer, and I think in a world of AI slop, stuff like this is awesome. Happy fourth!

Can someone who works in rolling stock explain to me why European subway systems don’t have AC? Is there a hidden cost to converting a line to AC that I’m unfamiliar with?

Did you know that we subsidize roads even more than we subsidize rail in Wisconsin? H/T @thetransitguy.com

How much of Boston can fit within the parking lot of the Gillette Stadium complex:

ON YOUR BEST DAY YOUR CITY IS NOT AS INCREDIBLE AS NYC IS AT ITS WORST

My train from Providence to New York took 6.5 hours due to a downed power line. At Chinese HSR speeds, I would've been in Miami in the same amount of time. This country desperately needs to invest in its infrastructure.

Two Washington bound Amtrak trains are sitting at Kingston and passengers are walking up and down the platform as we wait for overhead wires to be fixed in New Haven. Current estimate is 90 minutes until the catenaries are fixed.

Imagine hating me while I’m sat here trying to figure out if Jurassic Park could conform to any zoning laws in Collin County, TX

The MBTA Providence Line frustrates me the most, as we are running push pull diesel trains on tracks that are rated for high speed rail with wires above. My latest: open.substack.com/pub/thetrans...

If you overlaid the freeways of Dallas's urban core onto Paris:

“No one takes transit in Rhode Island!” Transit in Rhode Island:

In Rochester, the sunken Inner Loop freeway is slowly being removed, allowing homes and cafes to reclaim its place.

An abandoned factory in Williamsburg becomes a public park. (2012 -> Today)

When you travel on the 0.028% of tracks in the USA capable of supporting 160 mph, it feels good to see what train travel was like in Japan in 1964.

What city or metropolitan area in the world is most hampered by its weather and climate? In other words, what city would be exponentially better if it had the weather of Southern California?

I am trying to find freight rail train movements for certain rail lines in Canada. Does anyone know where I can find that info? Thanks!

Lancaster, PA has the fifth most Amtrak riders per capita, and I believe its success is a model for what rail should look like in mid-sized cities everywhere. I talk about it in my latest piece, "What Amish Country Can Teach Us About the Future of Rail." thetransitguy.substack.com/p/what-amish...

Maybe I haven’t been paying attention but when did NEC trains starting terminating in Philly from Boston? Is this new?

So what are your predictions for what happens to slots/terminals that are Spirit’s?

HARD MODE: What transit station am I at? (If you get this wow)

Will be spending most of my summer in Providence while traveling to/from NYC intermittently. Hoping to see a lot of you beautiful people ❤️

That’s 82 years of Amtrak funding, but we don’t have money for trains!

The island of Lindau, Germany (pop. 3,000), sees 115 train departures per day. The entire state of Texas and all of its cities combined, by comparison, sees 56 daily Amtrak departures.

Objectively, the highest-impact use case for AI is automating code compliance and permitting. You should be able to propose a townhome development and find out if it’s code and zoning compliant within 60 seconds, with a human giving final approval.

Is anyone here an Ireland rail expert?

A casual reminder that the federal government in 1974 killed a plan to build a 75-mile, BART-like rapid transit rail system in Detroit, which called for 3–12 minute headways and a 150-mile BRT system feeder system, for being “too ambitious.”

A sentence I'd never think I'd read from a fellow American in 2026. Long live the people.

Abolish ICE

Hot take but transit vehicles should not have cloth seats.

What projects or trends do you hope to see with transit in 2026?

Ohio, an economy the size of Switzerland, sees just 48 trains a week and has no rail links between its major cities. Yet the state found $600M for a new Cleveland Browns stadium, 136× more than it plans to spend on rail projects over the next two years.

My family knows exactly what gift to get me. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas 🎄❤️

Wishing you all a safe and Merry Christmas. 🎄❤️ (I’m logging off and you should too)

At max speeds of 110 mph, Michigan could provide rail service between Grand Rapids and Detroit in 95 minutes, 20% faster than driving. For fun, you could name it the "Polar Express," given Grand Rapids is where the movie takes place!

If I won the lottery I wouldn’t tell anyone but there would be signs. (NY Botanical)

At least the Hunger Games at high speed rail…

That could’ve been an email

A really tough weekend. Hug your loved ones close and log off.

Providence will always be home. If you live in the state and are able to donate blood, the Rhode Island Blood Center needs it, especially O-negative and B- blood types. Link below to find a place to donate.

Huh, wonder why this is happening?

Because the state of Connecticut doesn’t want to provide rail service to Norwich, they claim it would cost around $650 million to provide 13.6 miles of rail service. I propose it can be 3x the length and cost $140 million to do.

An older man I’ve become friends with from my alumni network told me tonight he’s giving me his childhood Lionel train sets from the ’60s as he downsizes. Proof that to be loved is to be seen, and tonight, I was.

What is a DMU train you’d use to run a hypothetical rural branch-line rail service in a place like Northern New England?

People from Vienna in the suburbs of Kansas City next year for the World Cup:

It would take 2 hours and 20 minutes to travel between Boston and Washington, D.C. at this speed. This country is so behind, it's laughable.

Mecklenburg County voted in November to raise taxes to fund the Red Line. To me, anything short of an electrified rail line would be a failure, and the Red Line should be seen as the foundation for a future 176-mile S-Bahn/Regional Rail network. Thoughts?

You don't say...

I’ve never seen a sexier way to use my taxpayer dollars

Say what you want, but Mayor-elect Mamdani's transportation transition committee is absolutely fantastic. Having a roster of people who have written reports on how to make subways cheaper, along with the biggest pedestrian and transit advocates in the city, makes me very happy.

What a year this week has been