In the News

Stay up to date on newsworthy issues impacting Intercity Passenger Rail across the county.

SPRC Statement on Amtrak’s Leadership Transition.

March 21, 2025
The States for Passenger Rail Coalition (SPRC) thanks Stephen Gardner for his work to strengthen our passenger rail network during his tenure as Amtrak CEO. Read More.

SPRC sends welcome letter to new U.S. DOT Secretary Duffy.

March 14, 2025
On behalf of our members, the States for Passenger Rail Coalition (SPRC) congratulates you on your confirmation as Secretary of Transportation of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Read More.

Intercity Passenger Rail: Federal Policy and Programs

January 08, 2025
The United States has the largest railroad network in the world but a comparatively small passenger rail system. Read More.

Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study

January 08, 2025
The purpose of the Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study (the Study) was to evaluate the restoration or enhancement to daily intercity passenger rail (as defined in 49 U.S.C. 24102(4)) service along Amtrak long-distance routes that occur on a non-daily basis or have been discontinued, as of November 15, 2021. Read More.

CRISI grant awards announced

October 29, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced more than $2.4 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for 122 rail improvement projects in 41 states and Washington, D.C. These projects will make rail safer, more reliable, and more resilient, getting goods and people where they need to be quickly with fewer disruptions, lower shipping costs and less pollution. Read More.

Corridor ID Implementing Process Improvements Webinar

October 22, 2024
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently hosted a webinar on implementing process improvements for Steps 1 and 2 of the Corridor Identification and Development (CID) Program. The webinar provided an overview of FRA’s CID Program; Steps 1 and 2 policy updates on developing the service development plan (SDP) scope, schedule, and budget; and next steps for grantees. Webinar materials are available here: Presentation and Recording.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released its webinar presentation on the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program

October 18, 2024
FY 2024 Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program (FSP-National) NOFO Webinar Read More.

16 U.S. Senators sent a letter to Seante Appropriations Committee Leaders in Strong Support of the FRA Fed-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program

January 12, 2024
16. U.S. Senators sent a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee leaders urging, “support [of] no less than $100 million for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (IPR) grant program.” The letter detailed the need for both Northeast Corridor and Non-NEC funding. The letter concludes, “we urge the Subcommittee to vigorously defend the $100 million appropriation for FY 2024 for the Federal-State Partnership for IPR program.” Read More.

Amtrak Fiscal Year 2023: Ridership Exceeds Expectations as Demand for Passenger Rail Soars

November 30, 2023
WASHINGTON – Amtrak continued its strong growth in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) as the company resumed service on all routes and advanced major infrastructure projects that will support plans to double ridership by 2040. In FY23, more than 28 million customers rode Amtrak nationwide, fueled in part by significant growth on the Northeast Corridor (NEC), where ridership is booming and consistently exceeding pre-pandemic levels since early summer. Read More.

The U.S. is having a rail travel renaissance, but you probably didn’t notice

November 10, 2023
You can hear them as they plug in their devices at their seat. You can hear them as they pass through the hissing automatic doors between cars. You can hear them as they enter the spacious, sparkling restrooms. Read More.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $1.4 Billion in Infrastructure Funding for 70 Projects That Will Improve Rail Safety, Strengthen Supply Chains, and Add Passenger Rail Service

September 25, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced today that it has invested more than $1.4 billion from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law into 70 rail improvement projects in 35 states and Washington, D.C. This is the largest amount ever awarded for rail safety and rail supply chain upgrades through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program. Read More.

Large Majorities Support National And State Investment In Passenger Rail 

May 31, 2023
A recent national survey shows almost all voters (92%) believe it is important to invest in improved safety and service for passenger rail, and 41% feel it is extremely important. Read More.

Working Group Recommends Amtrak Improve Food, Beverage Offerings

May 15, 2023
After a year of study, a working group has submitted to Congress nearly two dozen recommendations for how Amtrak can improve its food and beverage offerings. Read More.

Amtrak Food and Beverage Working Group Report Summary

April 24, 2023
A summary of the recommendations made by this Congressionally appointed group. View Summary

States for Passenger Rail Coalition Hires Tai Ginsberg & Associates 

April 24, 2023
WASHINGTON – The States for Passenger Rail Coalition is pleased to announce a new partnership with Tai Ginsberg & Associates, LLC (TG&A) to help advance the goals of the coalition in Washington, DC. Read More

Amtrak Completes Upgrades at Gastonia, N.C., Station

April 4, 2023

WASHINGTON – Amtrak customers now have a more accessible journey with the completion of a $3.2 million project at the Gastonia, N.C., station. The upgrades are part of the company’s overall commitment to improve the customer experience at stations and onboard trains across its national network. Read More

Money sought for Amtrak rail service between Louisville and Indianapolis

March 28, 2023

Officials in Kentucky and Indiana are moving forward with seeking federal funds that could one day help connect Louisville, Indianapolis and Chicago via Amtrak rail service. Read More

All Aboard: Passenger Rail Is Rolling Along the Atlantic Coast

March 27, 2023

There’s a passenger rail boom happening on the Eastern Seaboard, and it’s not where you might think. Read More

Amtrak Study Examines Scranton – New York Corridor

March 22, 2023

SCRANTON, Pa. – Amtrak and the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority (PNRRA) have released the findings of a two-year analysis examining the potential for rail service between Scranton and New York. Read More

Amtrak, New York State Department of Transportation and VIA Rail Canada Fully Restore Adirondack Service

March 20, 2023

NEW YORK – Amtrak, in conjunction with VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail), New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and other federal agencies, today announced the resumption of train service between New York City and Montreal via the Adirondack train beginning Monday, April 3 Read More

FRA OKs Virginia Rail Plan

March 17, 2023

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s (DRPT) 2022 Statewide Rail Plan has received approval from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Read More

Rail safety bill introduced in U.S. House

March 17, 2023

WASHINGTON — Two U.S. representatives from Ohio — Bill Johnson (R) and Emilia Sykes (D) — today introduced the Reducing Accidents in Locomotives Act, or RAIL Act, the latest legislative response to the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment. Read More

Amtrak, Southern Rail Commission to seek funding for Crescent route expansion

March 13, 2023

Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) will jointly apply for federal funds to study a proposed extension of a passenger-rail route across Mississippi and Louisiana to Texas along Interstate 20. Read More

Siemens to build $220 million railcar factory in North Carolina

March 7, 2023

LEXINGTON, N.C. — Siemens Mobility officials announced Tuesday on a media call with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose that they intend to construct a $220 million passenger railcar manufacturing facility designed to complement the company’s existing Sacramento, Calif., plant. Read More

Amtrak Cascades Service Fully Restored

March 6, 2023

WASHINGTON – Amtrak, in collaboration with ODOT, WSDOT and other agencies resumes Cascades service between Portland, Ore. and Vancouver, BC on March 6. Read More

Proposed train station would bring passenger service to Pueblo for first time in decades

February 19, 2023

A proposed new train station could bring train travelers to Pueblo for the first time since passenger rail service to the city stopped in 1971. Read More

Michigan seeks federal funds to upgrade Amtrak route

February 6, 2023

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan’s Transportation Department will seek $20 million to $25 million in federal grants to repair bridges on a state-owned line used by Amtrak services. Read More

California agency awards more than $2.5 billion for transit projects

February 2, 2023

SACRAMENTO — A $600 million award to L.A. Metro for its East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Corridor project heads the more than $2.5 billion in funding announced this week by the California State Transportation Agency for transit projects, most of them rail-related. Read More