The case for trains usually comes down to economic and environmental arguments. And those are important! But in the end, it’s all about people—making our lives better, our families stronger, and our communities more connected. Will you help build a stronger case for...
Newsletter: Texas Central, CHIP, and CrossRail Video
Gov. Pritzker re-affirms support for Chicago Hub Improvement Program
On August 3, at an event near Amtrak’s Chicago rail yard, Governor Pritzker announced his support for the Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP). This would fix Chicago Union Station and connect it to two potential passenger-focused mainlines. Amtrak has already applied to the federal government for investment in CHIP, which would benefit people in communities all over the country that are served by Chicago’s hub.
Then, on Sunday, the Chicago Tribune published an outstanding editorial setting new expectations for Midwestern trains by comparing Brightline Florida’s soon-to-launch hourly service linking Orlando to Miami to the paltry service offered in the Detroit, Milwaukee, and St. Louis corridors.
We are excited to see the Tribune take an aggressive stance in favor of Regional Rail, but it won’t happen without a strong federal program.
You can help by asking Congress to support Governor Pritzker’s request for CHIP funding.
Read More:
$US 873m of federal funding sought to support Chicago upgrades
Chicago Hub project vies for big chunk of federal grant money
Big News From Texas
Amtrak has announced that it seeks to partner with a private company, Texas Central, to advance the planning and analysis for a roughly 240-mile high-speed line between Dallas and Houston. The line would cut travel times between the cities by more than half (versus driving), to 90 minutes. The main artery between the cities, I-45, is among the most congested and deadly in America.
Until Wednesday’s announcement, there had been few updates and little obvious activity since Texas Central won a big legal victory in June 2022.
This is big news, but it wasn’t a total surprise for those who watched our August 4 “brown bag lunch” when we learned that Amtrak has applied for grants from several federal programs to continue design work.
Read More
Big news from Texas: Amtrak wants to partner on Dallas to Houston high-speed line
Dallas to Houston in less than 90 minutes? What Amtrak’s interest means for bullet train
Texas Central and Amtrak seek partnership for high-speed rail project, stakeholders react
CrossRail Video Released
We are very happy that Governor Pritzker and so many others have embraced the concept of running trains through Chicago and to O’Hare. Amtrak’s Chicago Hub Improvement Program sets the stage for making that a reality.
We recently released a new 4-minute video outlining our vision for building upon CHIP to create the foundation for a Midwest high-speed rail network while also creating a modern, crosstown Metra regional rail service.
Please check out the video and share it with your friends.
Articles We Enjoyed
Several viewers pointed out that Metra Regional service was represented by a new Hungarian train in the CrossRail video. Here is a YouTube review of the new train: HUNGARY’S NEWEST TRAIN TRIP REPORT
Something Has Happened to the Travel Industry. I’m the One Dealing With It.
Adif progresses on high-speed Mediterranean Corridor project
The Latest from HSRA
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