America Has Never Built an Airport Express Railway. Chicago Is About to Try. Nearly everyone agrees that there should be fast trains between downtown Chicago and O’Hare International Airport. The sticking point has always been how to make it happen: where the line...
Newsletter 5/23/25: Key Takeaways From High-Speed Rail Conference
Key Takeaways From the US High Speed Rail Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting
Last week, the Alliance took part in the US High Speed Rail Association’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Attendance at the event has grown steadily in recent years, and the momentum continued this year. There were about two dozen sponsors, 50 speakers, 18 panel discussions, and hundreds of attendees. Topics ranged from “the business case for high-speed rail” to “building Brightline West” to “turbocharging American job growth.” In a session about building local support for high-speed rail, the Alliance’s executive director, Rick Harnish, talked about the successes of a grassroots base of train advocates in our home state, Illinois.
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O’Hare Union Station Link
A recent news article and opinion piece in the Tribune have an important connection. The Tribune Editorial Board enthused about successes at O’Hare International Airport, and Ron Grossman gave a fascinating look at Chicago Union Station’s storied past.
Together, this coverage highlights the best possible future for Chicago transportation: connecting these two assets via a quick train ride. The key is bringing intercity and regional rail passengers within walking distance of O’Hare’s ticket counters. The best transit systems in the world provide this.
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Colorado Officials Plan Denver-Fort Collins Rail Service By 2029
Europe Built Trains. America Built Highways and Regret
California High-Speed Rail Plots New Way Forward
Seattle-Portland Amtrak Train Turns Into a ‘Rolling National Park’
How to Position Passenger Rail for Federal Funding
High-Speed Rail is on Life Support in Texas
Metra Takes Control of Union Pacific Commuter Operations
Two of Europe’s Coolest Cities Will Soon be Connected by High-Speed Train
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