Train Explainer

11/01/2023

NS paid Trustees a $500K “accelerated transaction fee” a week after the National Transportation Safety Board hearing on the East Palestine derailment, according to a federal filing in June.

Trustees voted to put the issue on the ballot on July 13.

In addition to , we rounded up a list of recent railroad safety issues in Ohio — NS averages 32 accidents annually across the state.

The $500,000 payment from Norfolk Southern came five days after the National Transportation Safety Board hearing on the East Palestine derailment on June 22-23. The Railway Trustees voted unanimously to put the issue on the ballot on July 13.

10/27/2023

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has issued a call for consultants interested in providing General Engineering support for the Cascadia High-Speed Rail and I-5 Program.

The project envisions the development of a high-speed rail system in the Cascadia megaregion, connecting Washington State with Oregon and British Columbia. Furthermore, it includes comprehensive planning for the Interstate 5 (I-5) corridor, a primary north-south artery spanning the entire state.

WSDOT has allocated approximately $8.5 million for a two-year agreement running from 2023 to 2025, with the potential for extensions depending on future funding availability, notably through federal grant opportunities.

The project, initiated through ESHB 1125, has secured $11.92 million for the 2023-2025 biennium, with an overall plan to direct $40 million through 2029. Collaboration with Oregon and British Columbia has been a pivotal aspect, involving grant applications submitted to the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration in 2023. These grants, if awarded, will provide critical support for the project’s planning phase.

The selected consultant will be tasked with providing an array of management, planning, and engineering services as negotiated with the state, extending their support to all aspects of the Cascadia High-Speed Rail and I-5 Program, including commercial aviation mobility. The submission deadline is November 17, 2023.

10/26/2023

A cautionary tale of when a city rushed to sell off a public good for $1 BILLION, only to find out later it was worth billions more.

A Midwestern city facing a large deficit with deferred maintenance decided to sell off a public asset for over $1 billion dollars. Sound familiar? This story is not only about the Cincinnati Rail Sale, but a similar situation with Chicago parking meters in 2008. The Chicago story did not end well .....

10/25/2023

The last municipal-owned railroad in the United States is up for sale this November. A bipartisan citizen group is opposing the sale, citing the purchase price is undervalued.

Compared to a similar sale with the state of Virginia, the Cincinnati Rail Sale is being offered half the value per mile for one of the busiest rail lines in the Midwest.

Cincinnati needs to look no further than to the State of Virginia for proof that their railway is worth at least double the $1.6 billion offered by the buyer, Norfolk Southern.

10/20/2021

Hey Boomers:
Do you like it when your children visit? Want to see them more often? Invest in fast trains. 🚆

Ever imagine taking the train from Detroit to Toledo? The infrastructure bill won't get us there, but it could help with the building blocks.

10/15/2021

In Italy, the passenger shift from ✈️ to 🚆 is celebrated as a triumph of central planning. In addition to being more comfortable and generally cheaper, trains are fit for a low-carbon economy – a 🚆 journey from Milan to Rome produces 25kg of carbon VS. 113kg for ✈️

In a taxi in Rome on Sunday night, I decided to check in for my flight back to Zurich the next morning. Weirdly, the Alitalia app showed no upcoming reservation. Then I remembered a not-particularly urgent email from Alitalia a couple of days earlier. Searching my inbox, I found it under the subject...

10/04/2021

Did you know that was finished on time & $50 MILLION under budget? 🚈 It’s one of the benefits of having a regional entity () managing the project vs. too many cooks in the kitchen, which often leads to delays and cost overruns from disagreements.

09/22/2021

" doesn't just make it easier to get to a place with HSR. It also makes it easier to leave the place with high speed rail."

Planning for a successful train station starts with the passenger. Is the location well-connected, easy to use, and can attract foot-traffic to nearby businesses? Thoughtful planning reduces risk that people and investment don't flow away from cities -- especially intermediary cities along the high speed rail line.

09/17/2021

3 billion passengers, 7 generations of TGVs and 549 trainsets locally built: celebrating 40 years of in France. 🚆

Unveiled 40 years after its first service, the latest generation of the TGV faces stiff competition from high-speed trains around the world.