#Yakima Herald article from earlier today reposted by the #Seattle Times. “Advocates hope federal passenger #rail study will include Yakima Valley“ https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/advocates-hope-federal-passenger-rail-study-will-include-yakima-valley/

Advocates hope federal passenger #rail study will include #Yakima Valley https://replica.yakimaherald.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=fc77c62d-7fa4-4d84-b513-731360f1dc48

“Beginning Monday, March 6, #Amtrak adds a morning departure from Vancouver, British Columbia, to #Portland, Ore., and drops in a mid-afternoon northbound frequency from Portland that departs Seattle at 7 p.m. and arrives into the Canadian city at 11 p.m.” https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/second-vancouver-b-c-cascades-round-trip-set-to-roll-monday/

"In recent decades, though, #transportation officials and others fed up with the #automobile’s dominance have sought to revive portions of the #rail service of yore, from building light rail systems in #Denver and #Phoenix to commuter rail in #Utah to #California’s long-running effort to develop high-speed #passenger trains.

"We #mapped the current state of the rails in the West, showing what was lost, what remains and what may someday come to be." https://www.hcn.org/issues/55.3/transportation-trains-in-the-west-then-now-and-someday

Enthusiastic support for expansion of passenger #rail in the #Oregon legislature today. Supporters included legislators from throughout the state, the 15 members of the Eastern Oregon Counties Association, the city of #Portland, Portland Metro, Oregon American Planning Association, Union Pacific, short line railroads, Oregon Rail Users League, AORTA, @aanw and other rail advocacy organizations. Bill details and testimony at https://arr.as/4

“One national statistic stands out: 62% of passengers on long-distance trains travel 400 miles or less. There is no reason those passengers should be treated any differently than travelers riding state-supported or Northeast Corridor service.” https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/fra-look-at-amtrak-long-distance-service-yields-wealth-of-data/

Oregon Lawmakers introduce bill that would require ultra-high-speed rail project to extend to Eugene https://www.opb.org/article/2023/02/25/cascadia-bullet-train-pacific-northwest-transportation-portland-seattle-eugene-politics/

Amtrak passenger recounts frustrating trip to Portland https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/weather/amtrak-passenger-recounts-frustrating-trip-to-portland/

WA lawmakers eye ban on 2-mile-long trains https://www.kuow.org/stories/washington-lawmakers-eye-ban-on-2-mile-long-trains

Public hearing for passenger rail service study https://www.argusobserver.com/news/public-hearing-for-passenger-rail-service-study-moves-to-tuesday/article_869e8fc2-b15b-11ed-be36-abc007a16003.html

Boise moves forward with application to reopen Pioneer railroad line https://arbiteronline.com/2023/02/23/boise-moves-forward-with-application-to-reopen-pioneer-railroad-line/

Northwest Railway Museum to preserve Talgo Bistro car https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/northwest-railway-museum-to-preserve-talgo-bistro-car/

AANW Participates in FRA’s Amtrak Long-Distance Study Workshops https://allaboardnw.org/blog/aanw-participates-in-fras-amtrak-long-distance-study-workshops/

"The trend is most pronounced for teens, but even older members of #GenZ are lagging behind their #millennial counterparts. In 1997, almost 90 percent of 20- to 25 year-olds had licenses; in 2020, it was only 80 percent." https://wapo.st/3HXKdNb Something like 30 percent of the US population does not drive. https://allaboardnw.org/blog/how-many-people-do-not-drive/ #NonDriver