Oregon lawmakers push for rail funding in transportation package https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/oregon-lawmakers-push-passenger-rail-transportation-package/283-8a36125f-b77d-4832-9526-89bf0321296b

The West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition's recent meeting in Eau Claire included Dan Bilka's presentation "Regional action, local impacts" http://www.westwisconsinrail.org/blog/2025/2/1/how-will-new-dc-political-reality-impact-passenger-rail-expansion

AANW's Dan Bilka on returning passenger rail to South Dakota https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/video/2025/01/31/fra-submits-final-long-distance-service-study-report-congress/

The thoughts of everyone at All Aboard Northwest are with those affected by the terrible air tragedy in DC. We will continue to work with elected officials to build a safer, more reliable, interconnected and interdependent transportation network for all, with aviation and rail as two critical components.

An improved rail network needs to be national, but funding must come from local officials. We need to replicate the sort of grassroots support Matt K is doing in Oregon. https://neoregonpassengerrail.substack.com/p/the-outlook-for-the-amtrak-pioneer

"The truth is bullet trains are often overkill: many nations would be better served by running slower trains, in the 150-220 km/h range, and focusing on building more track mileage, serving more cities." https://www.highspeed.blog/theres-more-to-speed-than-meets-the-eye/?ref=high-speed-newsletter

The Naugatuck Railroad has acquired three Hi-Level passenger cars, two of them former Pacific Parlour Car lounges. https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/naugatuck-railroad-acquires-former-santa-fe-hi-level-cars/

'Matt Krabacher of Baker City is an advocate for returning Amtrak to Eastern Oregon. He is also the Eastern Oregon vice president for The Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates (AORTA), a nonprofit citizen advocacy group working to “educate the public about the need for safe, fiscally responsible, environmentally sound transportation.”'
https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/federal-report-recommends-restoring-amtrak-train-service-through-baker-city/article_4f3cff64-d8d2-11ef-9d62-33a0e5be1152.html

'It is a big deal': Elaine Clegg sworn in as Amtrak board member https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfegK5JLSYk

The Federal Railroad Administration's Long-Distance Service Study Report to Congress includes 15 additional routes, several in the Greater Northwest. Now it will be up to us to tell Congress to implement these recommendations. The full report is available at https://fralongdistancerailstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Amtrak-Daily-Long-Distance-Service-Study-%E2%80%93-Final-Report-2025.pdf

All aboard: Lessons for regional passenger rail in Alberta https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/all-aboard-lessons-for-regional-passenger-rail-in-alberta

Top Ten Urbanist Articles of 2024
https://www.theurbanist.org/2024/12/28/top-ten-urbanist-articles-of-2024/?feed_id=4896&_unique_id=67707651969fe
#1: Amtrak’s Expansion Plan Includes Two New Pacific Northwest Routes

"For the first time in over 30 years, Amtrak will count someone from the Pacific Northwest on its board — a longtime Boise City Council member-turned-transit-leader. Showing continued bipartisan support for passenger rail, a U.S. Senate committee unanimously confirmed Elaine Clegg, CEO of Valley Regional Transit, to the national post."
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/community/boise/article297513833.html#storylink=cpy

New Amtrak board members ready for the challenge: Analysis https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/new-amtrak-board-members-ready-for-the-challenge-analysis/

'On Saturday, December 21, 2024, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Valley Regional Transit’s CEO, Elaine Clegg, to serve on the Amtrak Board of Directors. Clegg will be sworn in alongside three other incoming board members in the coming weeks.…

'The prestigious appointment is a testament to Clegg’s decades-long commitment to public transit, sustainable infrastructure, and connecting communities through innovative transportation solutions.'
https://www.valleyregionaltransit.org/news/vrt-ceo-elaine-clegg-to-join-the-amtrak-board-of-directors/

This morning, The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved these nominations to be a Director on Amtrak Board of Directors.
David Capozzi
Ronald Batory
Elaine Clegg
Lanhee Chen

All Aboard Northwest participated in the Amtrak Board of Directors meeting that was held in Seattle on December 4. While there was some good news from Amtrak and the Northwest states about expanded ridership in fiscal year 2024, it’s evident that rail advocates have lots of work to do in the coming months. More in our December 2024 update at https://allaboardnw.org/blog/aanw-update-december-2024/