Earth Day 2019

A Greener Pacific Surfliner

April 24, 2019

By Carolyn Cokley, Director Customer Programs This week, the globe is celebrating 49 years of Earth Day. The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 motivated about 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. Twenty years later, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in more than 190 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. The mission of the Earth Day Network is to diversify, educate and ac

A train big enough for us all

American passenger trains face false choices

April 23, 2019

Abe Zumwalt False Dichotomy ˈfȯls \ dī-ˈkä-tə-mē “a false dichotomy is a kind of fallacy in which one is given only two choices when in fact other options are available.” -Merriam Webster You don’t get to headline that “there is no reason to travel across the U.S. by train,” as was written in the New York Times last month, if in the same article you end up providing a reason. A compelling one, at that: Scale on a rail trip is what’s most arresting. We live so much of our

Whistle Stop (and Delay & Cancel) While You Work

April 18, 2019

by Joe Aiello | Northeast Field Coordinator “And isn't it ironic, l don't you think” - Alanis Morissette So I mentioned in last week’s Hotline that I was invited to give some brief remarks at a Regional Rail “Whistle Stop” event hosted by TransitMatters and Grow Smart RI. It was a great event attended by many local Rhode Island advocates and elected officials. The Mayor of Providence was there and spoke about being open to new ideas in transportation and looking forward some of the

Business & Pleasure

Regardless of my job, this is really my favorite way to travel.

April 11, 2019

by Joe Aiello | Northeast Field Coordinator Owen: I'm to drive you to Wichita to catch a train? Del: Yeah, we'd appreciate it. Owen: Train don't run out of Wichita... unlessin' you're a hog or a cattle. Owen: People train runs out of Stubbville. from "Plains, Trains, and Automobiles" I know I work for the largest passenger rail advocacy association in the country and all... but this really is my favorite way to travel. @narprail @Amtrak pic.twitter.com/JSMyvoQiWY— Joseph Anton Aiello (

The Shame of Indiana

April 9, 2019

The Hoosier State train could be good for Indiana businesses, and yet "pro-business" politics has undermined it at every turn

Florida Action Alert: Support Next-Gen Trains to Orlando, Tampa

Attend a meeting in Orlando on Friday, April 5th to support Brightline

March 28, 2019

The Florida Development Finance Corporation (FDFC) is holding a Board of Directors meeting in Orlando on Friday April 5th to consider Virgin Trains USA (Brightline) application to market an additional $950 million in Private Activity Bonds. These bonds are a new allocation in addition to $1.15 billion in bonds already allocated by USDOT and approved by FDFC. Upon completion of this next FDFC board approval, Virgin Trains USA will go to market for the full $2.1 billion. The bankers are ready to

Seamless Transitions

How Can Technology Help Us Get Around?

March 28, 2019

by Joe Aiello | Northeast Field Coordinator I spent a lot of time with Rail Passengers CEO & President (and my boss) Jim Mathews this week working on a final presentation for the National Advisory Committee on Travel and Tourism Infrastructure (NACTTI) at USDOT - I have been staffing Jim on this committee for nearly the last year. The idea of new and “seamless” technologies came up in conversation quite often, especially from those involved with other modes of transportation (airlines,

You Don't Need to Be In D.C. to Help Us Advocate for More Trains

It's still not too late to register. But even if you can't be there, you can still lend your voice to the chorus of passengers calling for more and better trains in the U.S.

March 28, 2019

By Sean Jeans-Gail, Vice President of Policy Rail Passengers Association's members and Council of Representatives are gathering in D.C. on April 1st and 2nd to advocate for better transit, better intercity rail, a better Amtrak -- a better transportation network for all Americans. It's still not too late to register. But even if you can't be there, you can still lend your voice to the chorus of passengers calling for more and better trains in the U.S. With 31.7 million Amtrak passengers carr

Passenger Contact

It's Always Good Riding The Rails

March 27, 2019

By Carolyn Cokley, Director, Customer Programs It is always good to get out and ride the rails. And I could not be happier to work a position that allows me to get out of the office, every now and then and take a trip. On Saturday, February 23, I boarded Train #19 in Washington, DC headed to New Orleans. Riding the Crescent was new for me. I have always heard about what a great ride it was and was really looking forward to the trip. I was also looking forward to eating in the dining car and me

Yeah, Your Commute is Bad - But What's it Worth to You?

March 25, 2019

Chances are good that, if you commute by car, your commute has gotten significantly worse over the past decade. But how bad, exactly? And what would you be willing to trade to make it less painful?