First High-Speed Rail Study was in 1992 for the Vancouver-Seattle-Portland Corridor Since 1992, There has been studies and discussion about high-speed rail, or recently ultra-high speed transportation between Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. Let us look back at the history of this idea and an update of where we are at now. In October 1992, the Washington High Speed Ground Transportation Study was submitted to the State of Washington. It was done by Ganett Fleming Incorporated. The recommendations from that study stated, the State of Washington, Oregon and the province of British Columbia, should continue its commitment to upgrade Amtrak service and take further action on improving rail infrastructure now to build support for a high-speed rail program by adopting the following three goals. Implementation of true high-speed rail service, 250 kilometers per hour or greater between Everett and Portland by the year 2020. A maximum travel time between downtown Portland and downtown Seattle ...

Supporters of the restoration of passenger rail services between Michigan and Ontario were presently surprised lately. In the Amtrak 2020 General and Legislative Report there is a line item titled, Restoration of the Detroit–Toronto Service " on page 7. The amount of money needed is "to be determined." The idea of of having trains connecting from Chicago, through Detroit/Windsor can become reality. There are significant hurdles to go through to make this happen: getting permission to use tracks from freight companies,  improving/adding to track infrastructure moving VIA Rail station to former site of Canada Southern station site, or connecting to existing VIA station federal government funding from Canada and USA funding from the province of Ontario and state of Michigan support from VIA Rail Canada and the Cities of Detroit and Windsor for the idea resolving customs/border issues complete restoration of Detroit's Michigan Central Railway Station to al...

Mandatory viewing. This will be on the CBC Passionate Eye website for a short time. Please watch this video. http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/episodes/why-trains-crash

Niagara Falls New York Amtrak Station by Paul Langan -  I am surprised I missed the opening of the new Amtrak Niagara Falls New York train station. It is no secret that I have had a life long interest in cross border passenger trains. I have seen the Windsor/Detroit, Sarnia/Port Huron border passenger rail service end in my lifetime. The current state of the last remaining Ontario crossing at Niagara Falls NY and Niagara Falls ON is worth keeping up to date on. On December 6th the station at 825 Depot Avenue West Niagara Falls NY opened to its first passengers. The station is a blend of new and old and contains the original 1863 Custom House. It has room for retail space and is looking for a vendor to run some food services. Three trains a day currently utilize the station, two Amtrak Empire and the Maple Leaf  (Toronto-New York). Although some are critical of the station and the related expense the city will have to run it, others are more optimistic. Here is a link ...

At Amtrak we know the future of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) depends on the investments we make today, which is why we are excited to announce the upcoming arrival of the next-generation of high-speed rail. The new trainsets will replace the current Acela Express equipment and begin service in 2021. As part of this multifaceted modernization program, Amtrak is also investing in the infrastructure needed to improve your customer experience onboard the train and in major NEC stations including Washington Union Station and Moynihan Station New York. This investment will expand and modernize the Acela Express service you've come to expect, while adding the amenities and ride quality of international high-speed train services. This next-generation of Acela Express will give you a more comfortable and productive travel experience throughout your entire journey. Just a few of the new amenities include: Approximately one-third more passenger seating, while preserving the spacious, h...

With the final route selection on the Boston Montreal high speed rail study due out in the fall and increased ridership on the Amtrak Vermonter things are looking very positive for the return of a cross border connection. An overview of the project is available here. http://rail.vermont.gov/sites/railroads/files/documents/Boston-Montreal%20HSR%20Study%20Overview.pdf Here is the latest article on the subject. Officials laud local increase in Amtrak Vermonter ridership, paving the way for future rail projects.  By Chris Lindahl at gazettenet.com NORTHAMPTON —  Local ridership of the Amtrak Vermonter has increased by more than half since it was rerouted to Northampton and Greenfield in January, which officials say helps make the case for increased state and federal investment in rail. From January to May 2014, 5,870 passengers used the now-closed Amtrak station in Amherst. During that same period this year, 7,014 passengers used the Northampton station and 2,820 use...

Angelo Young - International Business Times - If you step onto a train in Uzbekistan, you’ll discover a system far more advanced than anything built in the United States. The 4-year-old Afrosiyob high-speed rail system connects the country’s two major cities with a modern, efficient and safe train that can get from one end of the 214-mile line to the other in 90 minutes. That’s roughly the same distance Amtrak trains travel between Boston and New York, a trip that takes nearly four hours. And like many other rail systems of the United States (and underdeveloped countries), Afrosiyub is technologically safer because high-speed rail lines utilize high-tech accident-avoidance systems that have been implemented only on short stretches by Amtrak, which shuttles more than 30 million people every year, mainly through its Northeast Corridor. “The Northeast Corridor has a hodgepodge of modern train control systems,” said Richard Harnish, executive director of the Chicago-based Midwest High Spee...

As our federal government slowly allows the demise of cross boarder rail service, (Windsor/Detroit, Sarnia/PortHuron, Fort Erie/Buffalo RIP) the city of Niagara Falls New York is building a brand new international passenger rail terminal. WATCH VIDEO It is hopeful this station will improve the local area and get increased passenger rail service. Currently only one train the Maple Leaf travels through the area and that trains is notoriously slow taking a minimum of 9 hours. On the USA side track infrastructure improvements are being made and more are being planned . On the Canadian side the federal government is definitely not on board. In 2012, the Harper Tories cut Niagara Falls VIA Rail service down to one train. A recent article on the obstacles in place preventing GO Rail service from Niagara Falls, Ontario to Toronto highlights some of same the issues that VIA Rail/Amtrak would have if they ever decided to increase rail service. Congratulations to Niagara Falls NY for havi...

MONTREAL — Amtrak has scrapped plans to add 40 Bombardier Inc. cars to its Acela high-speed train line, judging them “too expensive” and “not based on reasonable cost.” In addition, the U.S. rail operator has decided to replace Bombardier’s entire original Acela fleet of 120 cars and 40 locomotives on the line inaugurated in 2000, the first and still only high-speed rail line in North America, linking Washington, New York and Boston. An internal report by Amtrak’s auditor-general said that after issuing a sole-source contract (to Bombardier), the railway received a proposal for the 40 cars on Feb. 27. “Given the high dollar value and Amtrak’s plan to award a sole-source contract,” the report states, “we initiated a review of the price proposal to determine whether it was based on well-supported and reasonable cost and pricing data.” Read more :

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/business/hassles-of-air-travel-push-passengers-to-amtrak.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha25_20120816

http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/453/325/Amtrak-Vision-for-the-Northeast-Corridor.pdf