09.03.2026 19:46
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Now into March and the 2nd window for Corridor ID applications is still nowhere to be seen. No clue what the hold up is, given no other FRA grants are open right now.
Amtrak is ending its search for new bi-level equipment for its long distance routes. It will instead look for entirely single-level equipment as the current long-distance fleet continues to age out.
The Saint Paul City Council joined several other cities in passing a resolution in support of studying passenger rail to Kansas City 🎉
www.bizjournals.com/twincities/n...
12 rail openings/extensions are expected in 2026 across the U.S., and the first one is less than a month away.
The Monon Corridor, a branch off of the South Shore Line, opens March 17th. It will feature 3 new stations in Lake County, IN, with 17 round trips on weekdays and 12 on weekends.
Amtrak ridership for Iowa stations in 2025:
Iowa ridership is up 2.6% over 2024 numbers, and ranked 42nd in total riders served. Still about 10% below the 2019 level of 51,499 riders.
Iowa transit ridership for December. Mostly modest gains, with Davenport up big and Ames, Sioux City taking a step back.
Over 15 cities and chambers have passed resolutions in support of our two proposed routes.
ABC 6 News - KAAL TV interviewed folks in Albert Lea about why they'd like to see a stop in their city.
www.kaaltv.com/news/all-abo...
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.
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Gateway funding, Amtrak Board meeting recap, an EON Trans report on the IIJA, and so much more. Happy #HotlineFriday!
Read up and we'll see you onboard: www.railpassengers.o...
Reminder: Amtrak is holding a public Board of Directors meeting this week, and you must register by tomorrow (1/27) to take part.
A gentle reminder that Amtrak has now been without a CEO for more than 10 months.
train going through a crossing with trees in the background, photo credit Robert Ball
At one time, passenger trains operated twice daily between Saint Paul and Kansas City. We are advocating for a new train to connect the Twin Cities Metro area with Minnesota cities along the 35W corridor.
An update to a story we covered last week. As expected, Brightline missed their payment deadline last Thursday (the second time they have done so, the first being last July) and could end up defaulting if they have to defer a third time.
IARP has declared its support for HF494 and SF38, two bills that would mandate 2-man train crews in Iowa.
As mentioned before, IARP is also declared in support of HF533, the bill to rejoin the MIPRC.
With the Iowa Legislature now back in session, the Senate will have another chance to take action on HF 533, the bill to put Iowa back into the MIPRC.
Last year the bill passed the House. This year it needs to pass committee and whole body votes in the Senate.
ICYMI: After House Republicans have proposed zeroing out the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant program, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and a number of colleagues have jumped to its defense.
A very good November for Amtrak, with a 9% year-over-year increase in ridership. Iowa's routes both saw gains, as seat capacity also saw a slight rebound nationally.
According to a recent FRA webinar, the agency is targeting January as the time to send out a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Corridor ID Program.
This would be the first time since 2023 that new corridors could enter the program.
The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, which creates a new regional authority of the same name and funds a number of investments in public transit, capital projects, and tollways across the state, officially goes into effect in June 2026.
A good write up from @ridewithdata.org on transit discussions around DART (Dallas) and Plano.
The Milwaukee-Kenosha rail project is shifting away from a commuter rail proposal in favor of a 2nd Milwaukee-Chicago intercity corridor. The corridor would return rail service to Racine, while increasing CHI-MKE capacity.
A little late to this news, but Ohio's publicly-funded GoBus network is expanding its network with 4 new routes. Once complete, GoBus will reach 47 Ohio counties with affordable intercity bus service.
Iowa will be seeing high Amtrak ridership this holiday weekend.
Not a terrible month for on-time performance, with Iowa's routes seeing improvement and Amtrak meeting it's system-wide goal of 80% on-time. As always, still work to do on the long-distance routes.
Iowa transit agencies have won $77 million in awards through a pair of FTA grant programs.
