Episode 5 of Reconnect America, “Profitability at Any Cost: The Price We Paid to Rescue U.S. Railroads”, explores how deregulation reshaped the U.S rail system to keep it in private hands, fueling globalization and leaving smaller shippers and communities behind. www.solutionaryrail.org/episode5

Railroad deregulation was supposed to preserve reliable and competitive freight service for businesses and communities. But a poorly constructed regulatory mandate has allowed that promise to be broken. Here's how shippers are trying to fix that: solutionaryrail.org/podcastinter...

Ann Warner is one of the figures at the forefront of this coalition, and serves as spokesperson for the Freight Rail Customer Alliance, an “alliance of freight rail shippers impacted by continued unrestrained freight rail market dominance over rail-dependent shippers.” @solutionaryrail.bsky.social

Our conversation with Emily Regis explores the power imbalance faced by businesses that depend on railroads to move their freight, the difficulty of getting help from regulators, and the dangers of further consolidation. Listen at: solutionaryrail.org/podcastinterviewemilyregis

Our brand new fourth episode walks you through the wild consequences, for better and for worse, of the peculiar U.S. insistence on private ownership of the critical national infrastructure called railroads. Click here to listen on your favorite platform: solutionaryrail.org/podcastepiso...

Trucks inflict 8x greater costs on the public than rail. Freight transportation policy must prioritize a modeshift from truck to rail. Listen to founder and CEO of Hum Industrial Technology Byron Porter at: www.solutionaryrail.org/interviewbyr...

A broken rate review process reinforces Class I railroads’ monopoly power over shippers. This hinders reindustrialization, forces freight onto trucks, and raises costs for consumers and the public. Listen at: www.solutionaryrail.org/podcastinter...

Merging won’t make railroads competitive with trucking. Wall Street’s railroads have prioritized profit over growth for decades. The UP-NS deal only perpetuates that model. Listen to founder and CEO of Hum Industrial Technology Byron Porter at: solutionaryrail.org/podcastinter...

Railroad mergers pit labor unions against each other with false promises. The only way forward is a united labor voice. Listen to Railroad Workers United Co-founder and Trustee Ron Kaminkow at: www.solutionaryrail.org/podcastinter...

Corporations used to be regulated to balance profits with public interests. Over the last 50 years, those regulations have been decimated, leaving the public with little recourse. Check out our full conversation with former Congressman Peter DeFazio at: www.solutionaryrail.org/podcastinter...

Class I railroads’ practices have boosted stock prices, at the expense of workers, safety, and service. What is working for Wall Street is a disaster for Main Street. Check out our full conversation with former Congressman Peter DeFazio at: www.solutionaryrail.org/podcastinter...

The proposed UP/NS merger would further concentrate the power of Wall Street railroads, opening the door to higher costs, worse service, and even greater retaliatory power over customers who speak out. Listen to former Congressman Peter DeFazio at: www.solutionaryrail.org/podcastinter...

In our latest interview, AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (@ttdaflcio.bsky.social) President Greg Regan takes on the pending UP-NS railroad mega-merger, the importance of cross-modal solidarity, public awareness about rail, and more!

Absolutely right! If we want effective freight rail that helps us rebuild American manufacturing, we must revitalize regulations like common carrier that once stopped Gilded Age robber barons and financiers from crushing their competition -- and quality, affordability, and access with it.

Our new interview with Phil Longman of @openmarkets.bsky.social adds a foundational layer to our “Reconnect America” vision for harnessing rail transport to address 21st century problems like deindustrialization, economic inequality, and polarization.

In our latest interview, writer Phillip Longman takes us through the history and principles behind “the regulatory regime under which America became great”—that is, the system of common carrier obligations that once aligned U.S. rail operations with public interests. You won’t want to miss this one!

In our latest interview, we explore the history of U.S. antimonopoly law with Basel Musharbash (@basel.bsky.social), author of the report “'Kings Over the Necessaries of Life': Monopolization and the Elimination of Competition in America’s Agriculture System" (farmaction.us/kings-over-t...)

In our latest interview, Bill Hutchison and Ed D’Amato, co-founders of Lakeshore Rail Alliance (@lakeshorerail.bsky.social), share their bold vision to fix U.S. passenger rail!

Well, this is interesting (from @solutionaryrail.bsky.social). Only 9 min long, a quick listen: www.solutionaryrail.org/podcast_rail...

In our latest Rail Bite, veteran rail planner Tom White discusses a generational loss of railroading knowledge—its origins and its severe impacts on passenger rail service.

ICYMI: Episode 3 of Reconnect America is out. This episode shows that the US needs greater public investment in rail transportation, not less. And, that passenger rail delivers benefits that far outway the cost of providing service. Listen now on your favorite platform at linktr.ee/solutionary....

It was great to celebrate the hard work when Gov Ferguson signed ESHB 1837 into law. Congratulations to everyone who pushed for this.

Good news…Episode 3 is out! In this episode of Reconnect America, we continue our deep dive into the history and future prospects of U.S. passenger rail—and the vital importance of the service it provides (or once provided) to the social and economic life of communities across the country.

In our latest Rail Bite, veteran rail planner Tom White argues that decades of subpar passenger rail service have allowed commercial bullet train fantasies to usurp the public imagination—at the expense of efforts to improve the system we already have.

Washingtonians—Sign in Pro on ESHB 1837 by 3:00 pm today! HB 1837 passed in the House, now we need it to pass in the Senate. ESHB 1837 is being heard Tuesday at 4:00 pm. As you may remember, this bill creates ambitious goals of faster, frequent and reliable Amtrak Cascades service.

Out now! Rail Bite #6: Maddock Thomas (of @publicrailnow.bsky.social) on Why the U.S. Has So Little Amtrak Service Hear how a contradictory mandate forced the railroad to eliminate as many trains as it rescued—and what it would take to revitalize the system.

Check out the work of @calelectricrail.org or in your neck of the woods, Solutionary Rail. www.solutionaryrail.org

Out now: Rail Bite #5 with Knox Ross! Hear Southern Rail Commission Chair Knox Ross on why most U.S. passenger rail routes do not turn a profit—and why they shouldn’t be expected to.

So Elon wants to privatize Amtrak, huh? The stupid, it burns. www.dailykos.com/stories/2025... via @dailykos.com and @railpassengers.org

Passenger rail is more than transit—it’s a vital connection for rural & urban communities. 🎙️ Big Sky Passenger Rail’s Dave Strohmaier joins Rail Bite to discuss restoring long-distance rail in Montana & beyond. #BigSkyRail #RailBite #ReconnectAmerica tinyurl.com/27yzm4mp

Hear Dave Strohmaier, chair of @bigskyrail.bsky.social, on how deep red counties, Tribal nations, Class I railroads, and rail labor are coming together to restore Chicago–Seattle Amtrak service through southern Montana, 46 years after its discontinuation. solutionaryrail.substack.com/p/rail-bite-...

Hear author and professor David Alff discuss the inner tension of rail transport in the U.S.: that it is expected to make a profit while providing an essential public service. solutionaryrail.substack.com/p/rail-bite-... (photo credit: @ubenglish.bsky.social)

Hear @railpassengers.org chair Meredith Richards on how Virginia prioritized TRAINS over LANES—and became the gold standard in state-level rail planning.

Hear former Amtrak Board Chair (and current Chair of @t4america.bsky.social) John Robert Smith and SR Director Bill Moyer discuss how passenger rail could revitalize rural places and reconnect a divided country.

A potential game changer for rail electrification. EPA, it's not too late to do the right thing. Grant California its waiver to implement the framework for moving to zero emissions locomotives. www.movingforwardnetwork.com/2025/01/hey-...

Have you listened to our podcast yet? Click here and listen on your favorite platform: linktr.ee/solutionary.rail