MEDIA ADVISORY: Gulf Coast Rail Restoration Briefing in Mobile

Rail Passengers Association To Take Part in Hearing on Returning Trains to Gulf Coast

July 11, 2019

The Rail Passengers Association will take part in a July 12th briefing on restoring Gulf Coast regional passenger rail service between Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana. The briefing, hosted in Mobile by the Southern Rail Commission, will also present information on recently awarded federal rail grants associated with this proposed service.

Council Member to Testify Before Senate on National Network

ColoRail’s James Souby Will Defend Right of Rural, Small Town Americans to Access Passenger Rail System

June 26, 2019

The President of the Colorado Passenger Rail Association (ColoRail) and a Council Member of the Rail Passengers Association, James Souby of Colorado, will testify today before the U.S. Senate on the right of rural and small communities -- particularly those in the western and southern states -- to have access to reliable, efficient intercity rail service.

Supreme Court Declines Freight Rail’s Cert Petition For OTP

Decision is a Major Victory for Rail Passengers

June 3, 2019

For Immediate Release (19-10) Contact: Xenophon Strategies - (202) 289-4001 Washington, D.C. - The Rail Passengers Association celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today to deny the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) petition for a writ of certiorari. The AAR asked the Supreme Court review the D.C. Court of Appeals’ July 2018 decision that would grant Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) the ability to determine on-time performance metrics and standards for passenger trains.

America’s Trains Connect Riders To Foodie Destinations

Rail Passengers’ Culinary-Trained Intern to Embark on 50-Day Rail Trip to See and Taste America

May 28, 2019

For Immediate Release (19-9) Contact: Xenophon Strategies - (202) 289-4001 Washington, D.C. - Across the U.S., chefs have been revolutionizing the culinary scene in cities large and small. From Portland, ME to Washington, D.C., or Charlotte, NC to Flagstaff, AZ, chefs have upped their game and what they’re creating in their kitchens is encouraging people to seek out cities they never would have before. During “Summer by Rail 2019” Chef Madison Butler, or Chef Madi, will be traveling by

NM, KS and CO Senators Honored for Bipartisan Work in Saving SWC

America’s Passengers Recognize Senators Bennet, Gardner, Heinrich, Moran, Roberts and Udall for Role in Keeping Train Running

April 2, 2019

For Immediate Release (19-8) Contact: Xenophon Strategies - (202) 289-4001 Washington, D.C.—America’s rail passengers honored a bipartisan coalition of six senators with the Golden Spike Award today for the crucial role they played in saving the Southwest Chief train, and for their service to the tens of millions of Americans who depend upon a national train network. A Rail Passengers Association study found that the Senators’ actions preserves $180 million in economic activity in Kansas

Rail Passengers Remembers Joe Boardman As Passionate Leader

March 7, 2019

For Immediate Release (19-7) Contact: Xenophon Strategies - (202) 289-4001 Washington, D.C. - Following the passing of former Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman on March 7, 2019, Rail Passengers Association President and CEO Jim Mathews said: “Joe Boardman believed in his bones that all Americans should have the ability to choose to travel by train. He was a passionate defender of the National Network, and a passionate believer in Amtrak. He was also very gracious with his time and his i

Second Train From Chicago To Twin Cities Could Bring $25M To MN

$47 Million Economic Benefit Felt Across Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois - 90,000 People Could Shift From Car Travel to Passenger Rail

February 28, 2019

For Immediate Release (19-6) Contact: Xenophon Strategies - (202) 289-4001 Washington, D.C. - A second Amtrak train between Chicago and Minneapolis/ St. Paul could bring $25 million annually for the state of Minnesota, according to the Rail Passengers Association. This represents an economic return of eight- to ten- times Minnesota’s annual net spending to support the potential new service, which is an estimated $2 to $3 million annually. In a review of an Amtrak feasibility study, Rail Pass

Trump’s Latest Move on High-Speed Rail Breaks Campaign Promises

Americans Need Trump to Fulfill Pledge to Become an Infrastructure President

February 20, 2019

For Immediate Release (19-5) Contact: Xenophon Strategies - (202) 289-4001 Washington, D.C.—The Rail Passengers Association condemns the Trump Administration’s attempt to claw back federal grant money from the California high-speed rail project. This is a direct reversal of Candidate Trump’s promise to use his experience in the private sector to put Americans to work closing the infrastructure deficit between the U.S. and the rest of the developed world—specifically with regards to hig

Rail Passengers Statement on Gov. Newsom's HSR Announcement

February 13, 2019

For Immediate Release (19-4) Contact: Xenophon Strategies - (202) 289-4001 Washington, D.C.—The Rail Passengers Association welcomes clarifying comments from Governor Gavin Newsom that he is fully committed to building a high-speed rail line between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Our Association is eager and willing to work with the Newsom Administration to identify steps—in both the near- and long-term—to effectively deliver a world class passenger rail system to all Californians. “G

Passengers Award ‘Golden Spike’ to Senators from KS, CO, NM

Bennet, Gardner, Heinrich, Moran, Roberts, Udall, will be Recognized for Role in Saving Southwest Chief

February 1, 2019

For Immediate Release (19-2) Contact: Xenophon Strategies - (202) 289-4001 The Rail Passengers Association is awarding a bipartisan coalition of six senators its Golden Spike Award for their outstanding contribution in saving the Southwest Chief train route, and their service to the tens of millions of Americans who depend upon the national train network. The Golden Spike will be awarded to Senators Michael Bennet (CO), Cory Gardner (CO), Martin Heinrich (NM), Jerry Moran (KS), Pat Roberts (K