“We already have [the Amtrak Cascades] rail corridor on which we can build upon. We endorse hourly (clockface) service along the corridor as proposed in Alternative E and then make incremental improvements.” https://seattletransitblog.com/2024/04/21/the-future-of-amtrak-cascades/ #GreaterNW #AmtrakCascades #WashingtonState
“Dan Bilka…one of the main driving forces behind bringing back passenger rail service to South Dakota for the first time since 1969.…said if Amtrak were going to come to the state, they expect the federal government to take a lion’s share of the cost.…
“Our personal take is that it should not be put onto the states or communities. …it should not be burdensome, especially since we have not had passenger rail service here in South Dakota since before Amtrak service,”’ https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2024/04/20/transportation-secretary-throws-cold-water-south-dakota-amtrak-expansion/
“If you stand along the Seattle waterfront…you’ll catch sight of a train headed south carrying the distinctive shape of a Boeing 737. Though it’s colored a metallic green and missing its tail—clearly not the finished product—it’s the kind of thing you point to and say, Look kids, a Boeing plane’s on that train! Not so. The logomark on the side spells it out: Spirit AeroSystems of Wichita, KS, has built this fuselage, which isn’t coming from Boeing. It’s going to Boeing." https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/boeing-corporate-america-manufacturing/678137/
Next step: fill the hole in the map—People Live Here! “Train data alert! FRA published its quarterly report on intercity passenger train performance, covering October - December 2023. This report provides data on Amtrak passenger train operations, including customer on-time performance and delays - and now features new route profiles. “ https://railroads.dot.gov/rail-network-development/passenger-rail/amtrak/intercity-passenger-rail-service-quality-and #GreaterNW #PassengerRail
'Rail advocate Dan Bilka [said that]…the current study is meant to identify routes that would best serve both rural and urban transportation needs, enhance existing long-distance routes and “reflect public engagement” on passenger rail. “That’s why we might be actually a higher priority than some of these other ones that might overlap with state supported services,” Bilka said of the South Dakota proposals.' https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/04/17/state-transportation-head-doubts-passenger-rail-service-is-a-real-possibility-for-south-dakota/ #GreaterNW #PassengerRail #SouthDakota
"The board also heard from Dan Bilka of Madison, who’s with the group All Aboard Northwest that is promoting the idea of bringing Amtrak service to South Dakota.…“Those are the four primary considerations that Congress has given to the FRA to look and evaluate these services,” Bilka said. “So that’s why we actually might be a higher priority than some of these other ones that might overlap with state supported services.” https://www.keloland.com/news/capitol-news-bureau/dot-says-study-will-score-sd-passenger-rail-routes-low/ #GreaterNW #PassengerRail #SouthDakota
"The South Dakota State Railroad Board was updated on the Amtrak Daily Long Distance Service Study. The study is look at expanding Amtrak passenger rail service across the county including into South Dakota.…Dan Bilka with All Aboard Northwest, a group in support of Amtrak expanding to South Dakota says the current study is different than an early study." https://www.kccrradio.com/2024/04/17/state-railroad-board-gets-update-on-amtrak-daily-long-distance-service-study/ #GreaterNW #PassengerRail #SouthDakota
All Aboard Northwest advocates new passenger railroad in Eastern Idaho https://soundcloud.com/byu-idaho-radio/all-aboard-northwest-advocates-new-passenger-railroad-in-eastern-idaho #GreaterNW #PassengerRail #Idaho
“Dan Bilka of Madison is a spokesman for the All Aboard Northwest …is concerned that “we’re trying to fight for table scraps out here” in South Dakota and Wyoming, while the northeast corridor is receiving generous Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to enhance its rail service. In addition to Rapid City, communities in Wyoming including Casper and Laramie are creating pressure for the return of Amtrak service.” https://www.sdstandardnow.com/home/passenger-rail-service-would-benefit-south-dakota-in-many-ways-will-we-see-it-return-here-at-some-point #PassengerRail #SouthDakota #GreaterNW
“An Amtrak train traveling from Portland, Oregon, to Vancouver, B.C., came to a halt and lost power for hours north of Seattle due to a mechanical issue on March 29. Passengers aboard the Amtrak Cascades Train 518 were left in the dark Friday night and into early Saturday morning.”
https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/passengers-left-in-dark-amtrak-train-loses-power-north-of-seattle/281-1fa85ef3-bbaa-4acd-b738-102a290f896b #Amtrak #AmtrakCascades #GreaterNW
“New train routes are coming…Just don’t count on the railroad that’s tied to Washington to lead the way.
“That would be Amtrak…A few weeks ago, it released a new map of some proposed routes. Two of these — a Seattle to Denver and a Denver to Los Angeles route — would include major stops in Salt Lake City…because of regulatory hurdles, the construction of these lines would take an estimated 15 years.” https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2024/03/28/passenger-railroads-are-coming-to-utah/ #GreaterNW #PassengerRail #SaltLakeCity