All Aboard Washington, a passenger rail advocacy group, will host a meeting in Ritzville on Monday, August 3 at 1 p.m. at City Hall to discuss plans to establish an Amtrak stop in Ritzville.
Local support is vital. Anyone interested in learning more, or participating in the process, is encouraged to attend the meeting on August. 3.

We hope you will share this new AAWA trifold brochure with your friends. It's available on the AAWA website at https://www.aawa.us/site/assets/files/1001/aawa_tri_fold_brochure_v4.pdf

Estimated schedules for Airo test runs on July 21 and 23.

A Final Farewell to Blaine's Historic Train Station

The I-5 Interstate Bridge Replacement project has completed federal environmental review and the first phase of work is marching toward construction. Does that mean internal strife over major elements of the program is in the rearview mirror? Far from it.

Story: https://www.theurbanist.org/i-5-expansion-over-columbia-river-stumbles-forward-with-federal-greenlight/

We’ll be reporting to the board today about the latest numbers for the Toppenish event, so if you can, could you please register? The link is https://aawa.us/events/aawa-toppenish-summer-event/2026-08-08/ Can't wait to see you there!

RE: https://rail.chat/@aawa/116897929069047727

[CORRECTION] The first Airo corridor test will occur on July 21, 2026, and will make a roundtrip between Seattle, and Vancouver, BC. The second test will be on July 23, 2026, and will make a round trip between Seattle and Eugene.

Getting together, turning 50, new train sets, join us in Toppenish, Northwest rail vision, support S. 3728, upcoming events, support us... https://www.aawa.us/news/posts/aawa-news-july-2026/

We've made the minimum, so the August 8 event at the Northern Pacific Railway Museum in Toppenish, WA, is happening! Registrations are still open at https://aawa.us/events/aawa-toppenish-summer-event/2026-08-08/

Iconic train stations. Portland and Seattle are two of the oldest.

We're getting there! Who will be the 20th reservation for Toppenish on August 8 so that we can meet our minimum and make this exciting event happen? The deadline is Wednesday, so don't wait! Reserve now at https://aawa.us/events/aawa-toppenish-summer-event/2026-08-08/

Please join All Aboard Washington for our Summer Event at the Northern Pacific Railway Museum in Toppenish WA on Saturday, August 8. Your ticket incudes admission to the museum, a box lunch in their dining car, and much more. We must receive registrations by Wednesday, July 1 at https://aawa.us/events/aawa-toppenish-summer-event/2026-08-08/ We'll see you there!

Fire season is off to a roaring start in eastern Washington and Oregon. Be careful. From https://fire.airnow.gov/#7.38/46.068/-119.58

The new Airo trains will be seen testing on the corridor shortly! Service is expected to begin in September. But we need your help to make sure that they will run throughout the region. See our newsletter at https://aawa.us/news/posts/aorta-aawa-news-may-2026/

New Cascades train set in testing on the Northeast Corridor. Photo courtesy Betty.

Reminder that you can participate in the latest discussions at aawaforum.org

Washington State Standard: AAWA executive director Hamilton on new trainsets, World Cup https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/10/new-amtrak-trains-coming-soon-to-pacific-northwest-but-not-in-time-for-world-cup/

We are pleased to invite you to an end-of-session Whistle Stop Reception.

WHAT: End-Of-Session Reception & Wrap Up ~ for all legislators and stakeholders with an interest in advancing rail in Washington state

WHEN: Tuesday, March 3, 6-8pm (program and discussion 6:30-7:30)

https://www.aawa.us/about/reception/