The American Government's Massive Plan to Build more Passenger Rail: Corridor ID

[@alanthefisher]

If you're interested in driving some Pacers on 1990s British Rail, this might be the game for you. Check out Train Sim World 4 Here: bit.ly/TrainSimWorld-4-alanthefisher

[@syamil9912]

Ahh...Dovetail Games is the one that sponsors this....that explains the video release delay...

[@human962]

The realism of TSW4 is very poor and its a DLC simulator. Definitely do not recommend buying. Routes are also made poorly.

[@burgerpommes2001]

@@human962 buying the basegame at a 50% sale and pirating the routes can make sense

[@alanthefisher]

I'll make a video on the second channel, but the Pacer routes (Manchester to Blackpool) are quite decent. Otherwise check out reviews online for the specific route/corridors that you would want before buying.

[@trainworms]

I've riden on them so many times that it won't feel the same if everything doesn't feel like it's about to fall to peices. maybe I can play it while sitting in the local heratige one.

[@LMB222]

Hint: instead of granting money to private companies, build the tracks to own. This way the US administration could allow another company on the same line, and control the conditions.

[@scpatl4now]

...better yet, just nationalize all the track. Lord knows the freight companies don't seem to want to spend enough to maintain them.

[@LimitedWard]

Nah just nationalize the existing rail. Eminent Domain the fuck out of them.

[@KRYMauL]

@@scpatl4now This could only be done with a defense spending bill, maybe in Joe's next term he could do that.

[@bmanning4999]

@@scpatl4nowI doubt they’d want to pay the money to do that. Eminent domain requires compensation

[@slothfulcobra]

A lot of the tracks already exist, but it's hard for Amtrak to get the freight companies to let them use them

[@edkrassenstein5534]

I am pessimistic about this. If 25% is actually built, I will think of it as a great success. Most people think funding foreign wars is way more important than this.

[@ianhomerpura8937]

Building weapons and ships still help boost domestic manufacturing, which increases demand for housing and mass transit. Building housing and transit around them can help garner support, in the name of logistics and national security.

[@placeholdername0000]

More trains=fewer cars=less oil use=lower oil prices=lower profits for many of the enemies of NATO=they have less money for military=NATO has a better chance at winning. Railroad spending is defense spending, that just so happens to make the world a better place. So therefore, we should spend more money on trains.

[@tony_5156]

@@ianhomerpura8937man there’s enough bro We don’t need more weapons We have the best there is We could stop shipping so much to Ukraine that could help

[@CB____]

⁠@@ianhomerpura8937the demand for housing and mass transit is already there. Spending decades and billions of dollars building a handful of warships does nothing for anyone except for execs of a couple of companies.

[@EgnachHelton]

@@tony_5156Propaganda bots go away…

[@seancutt793]

omg an overall optimistic video about the future of US rail?? Did I enter a different timeline?

[@alanthefisher]

And here we thought that North America was doomed 😤😤

[@quester09]

huzzah! (hurls goblet)

[@dylanc9174]

​@@alanthefisherThe U.S, and Canada are in different, though similar positions. VIA rail isn't proposing any HSR despite having a few options, and there aren't any private companies building lines. Trudeau's government is mainly focusing on municipal transit, and regional rail rather than investing in large intercity projects. I do like this approach more since city mobility is the most important for everyday life. But Canada's intercity rail is honestly worse than American. Mexico has its own problems, so I don't suspect they'll invest in mass transit networks anytime soon.

[@zahirbashir4671]

@@alanthefisherNo, you don’t get it! America is doomed! Cars are the only way of life anybody knows ! Advocating for improved public transit and pedestrian friendly infrastructure in your community is a waste of time! The only solution is to move to Europe!

[@vinylcabasse]

PSA: PLEASE VOTE FOR BIDEN EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE HIS SUPPORT OF ISRAEL. Cuz you know Trump is going to support Israel regardless AND he will do whatever he can to kill our dreams of expanded rail

[@lars1588]

Being a Hoosier (Indiana resident), it's really frustrating how much our state government hates public projects. Rail especially. Pipelines and industrial parks get millions, while actually useful projects get meager funding for "research." I live on the Chicago-Indy line, and I know that almost everyone who lives near it would love to be able to actually use it practically. I-65 is so busy because of commuters going in between cities. There are fatal accidents all the time. Chicago is such a great city, but driving there is a nightmare. The land is also perfect for HSR. It's flat, stable, and open. You could even follow I-65 part of the way. It looks like the Cardinal line might at least be getting daily service, which would be great. I also hope an Indy-Louisville line happens someday. That would make a great connector that could eventually be extended to ultimately connect to Atlanta. I could imagine very high ridership on such a line.

[@chesspiece4257]

i’m hoping for a connection in louisville, too. it’d be nice to have a louisville-lexington corridor but it might only happen if it’s on the way to virginia

[@daverobinson6110]

It's not just the government that hates rail, it's the people that voted that government in place. Why they hate rail so much? God only knows...addiction to oil and cars is the only thing I can come up with.

[@robrepass2179]

Especially when they got rid of the Hossier State train that runs daily

[@joseAvila-sf8eo]

Glad the indygo bus routes weren’t stopped because SB52 didn’t pass. I’m hopeful this is the step in the right direction.

[@AStewSr]

America should 86 the whole idea of HSR or traditional steel wheel rail. Maglev IS the way to do this. Yes in the beginning the out lay of money is much more expensive than either of the latter, however in the long run the low maintenance due to lack of vibration, friction and actual physical touching of the train against a guidway will make it a cheaper option over time. Add to that the speed, safety, and on-time accuracy to and from destinations would change the way people in America live. At 385 MPH the new Chinese Maglev could get go from NYC to Chicago in 2hr 4 min nonstop. Without TSA check ins and boarding delays. Add 15 stops on that train and you still make it a 3hr 20 min trip. Add speeds like this to a daily commuting train and you can live in Ohio and travel to Indiana in 2 hrs daily. How would that change people's daily lives? Why live in congested cities?

[@Iceify_]

This country was built on the railroad, why we have abandoned rail transit is crazy.

[@CraigFThompson]

Blame the automotive industry and energy corporations (and later the airline industry), and gullible, moronic politicians supported by, and benefitting from, the aforementioned concerns.

[@jamesmcmahonii8433]

Because Door to Door is more convenient.

[@CraigFThompson]

@@jamesmcmahonii8433 And what's so wrong with using one's OWN TWO FEET?!

[@tonyburzio4107]

Or it could just be, planes are better, and you need a car anyway to get to work without strikes making you late.

[@jamesmcmahonii8433]

@user-dj7wv5ok2x well I like my mornings taking 30 mins to get up, ready, and go vs 2 hours.

[@scpatl4now]

I had no idea the state owned the rails between Atlanta and Chattanooga. I have heard mumblings of this being built for well over a decade. Hopefully it happens

[@l3gacyb3ta21]

I'm super excited too! I hope they expand MARTA, but given the campaign promises of like half the city council people in Roswell, that's gonna be hard.

[@Banom7a]

hopefully they kept those around and don't sell them like cincinatti did lol

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@l3gacyb3ta21My late grandfather moved his family to the Atlanta suburbs to work as a project manager for MARTA and always wanted the Gold Line to expand into Gwinnett County, always being frustrated when they voted against it in the referendum. His stance on the matter always seemed a bit more enlightened than most of the typical affluent white suburban populace… …including my aunt (his daughter), who still lives in Gwinnett County and would probably cycle through excuses against extension ranging from “they’d have to hike up the taxes here” to “they’d have to knock down a bunch of houses to get that going”, maybe some passing mention of “the sort of folk who have to ride the train” and maybe wishing she lived in Gainesville. Good thing the Sandy Springs station is a short car trip from my grandmother’s house, but it’s nonetheless a car trip because 70’s suburbanization.

[@GriffenDoesIt]

@@l3gacyb3ta21 I'd love infill stations, or a cross-branch connection for the heavy rail, but I guess the streetcar extension is a step in the right direction? Maybe?

[@HaiRune]

@@l3gacyb3ta21Yeah I doubt Conyers wants to expand Marta over here either lol

[@mtnman1984]

I really hope Amtrak runs it all while properly funded. "Profitability" can't be a top priority yet.

[@ianhomerpura8937]

The best way to ease the housing crisis is to have reliable intercity railway networks and building housing, schools, and commercial areas around the rail stations. It's basically going back to what the US did until the 1920s and what many Asian cities like Tokyo and Seoul still do today.

[@hithere5553]

Amtrak shouldn’t be profitable. It’s a public service funded by taxpayers. We don’t expect highways to be profitable why do we expect passenger rail to be?

[@ThePapo1980]

It’s a service, like PD, FD or Library I don’t think it should ever be “profitable” its savings and profits are in other areas. Mainly quality of life for all!

[@averagejoe845]

@@hithere5553 What do you think the Federal and State taxes on gasoline and the tolls on toll roads are supposed to do? They are supposed to pay for the cost of maintaining the roads. Yes, I expect taxes to pay for the maintenance of roads. And no, I'm not going to use these rail lines; only the people who use these rail lines should pay for them. Unfortunately, the people who want rail, won't pay what it would cost to maintain them.

[@averagejoe845]

@@ianhomerpura8937 Do you understand how small Japan and South Korea are? Do you understand how massive the U.S. is. In the 1920s there were far fewer Americans and the most lived in big cities. Do you think everyone moving back into the cities will fix the intercity housing, schools and commercial areas around the rail stations.

[@antonnurwald5700]

I know that in transport circles, trains are considered non-competitive beyond 500 km. But it would be really cool to see some actual long-range connections that could be served with fast sleeper trains.

[@stuartbaxter-potter8363]

I would love to hop on a train in, say, Indianapolis and wake up in Chicago or Atlanta or Pittsburgh or (pick two cites of your choice).

[@NarasimhaDiyasena]

This is why Florida is the only region where comprehensive rail infrastructure will find success as the States shape along with the Cities geographic planning is in such a manner where it’s too small to commute via plane yet too far to commute via car. This was understood back in the 60’s but politics has saw to it that a proper rail was not implemented until 2018 when Hedge fund implemented the Hong Kong MTR model by buying out real estate to develop and connecting the developments with track. Today it’s called Brightline.

[@jamalgibson8139]

I think the trains being non-competitive is really just in a theoretical sense. I could absolutely imagine an LA-NY or SF-NY high speed train being successful, even if it takes over 12 hours, because being on a plane for any amount of time is kind of miserable. The thing is, it can't be done in a vacuum. You'd never build a high speed train for the sole purpose of running LA-NY trains, but you could build multiple regional systems that, when connected, could facilitate such a train ride.

[@painting4850]

Plenty of tgv routes are over 500km and well used and thats at 300kph, I’d put it closer to 1000km

[@europe_trains]

Here in Europe it works. As im Swiss i’ll mostly talk about our international routes. Zürich to Rome (690km) and Basel to London (710km) are planned high speed services. Zürich to Rome and Zürich to Barcelona (830km) are planned sleeper trains. A Day and a sleeper train to Budapest (790km) already exists, with the day train running every 2 hours until Vienna (590km) and continuing once a day to Bratislava (655km). We’ve also got regular night and day trains to Hamburg (700km) and Berlin (660km), also running every second hour. For some of them you have to change at Basel, still in Switzerland. And all of that for a Metro area of around 1 million. People here are willing to take the train even if it’s longer than a flight because it’s better for the environment and you learn much more about the regions you pass by.

[@andrewgrove2638]

As a North Carolinian I’m glad to see our rail system getting a lot of attention I just hope the checks being wrote translate to real infrastructure and better service in a reasonable amount of time.

[@AdamM]

We definitely need Texas Central. I’ve been pushing back for over a year now to people who are opposed for no real reason. It’s frustrating.

[@adventurefaps9571]

Cant wait to ride it in 2050!

[@CraigFThompson]

​@@adventurefaps9571It appears to be coming a helluva lot sooner than that....

[@CindiHedgepeth-yq3ie]

You're a bright red state, that's why!

[@falsificationism]

I like how the title is all “it’s happening folks!” but the content is all “groundbreaking in 5-10 years…maybe…unless you’re Iowa.” 😅

[@BeauBaaa]

This *is* optimistic compared to how it's been lol. This is the most "it's happening" it's ever been 😭

[@tm3m]

if we're gonna be in the stone age for the next 20+ years the least the goverment could do is open up a rent-a-horse public service, and we can just go back to that lol

[@tm3m]

it's so sad dude, it's all just a few short length conventional rails 10 years out, our country's so pathetic

[@falsificationism]

@@tm3m agreed! I remember being a kid in the 90s, imagining what the future would be like. I always imagined super fast trains criss-crossing the continent, green spaces everywhere, no pollution… Instead we got cities with more parking spaces than people, and hostile urban infrastructure that holds us (literally) in contempt. It’s painful that we can do so…so…so much better.

[@cynvision]

Yeah. The money for Georgia is to study the idea people from Savannah and Macon want to go to Atlanta. We won't see rails along I-16 for a long, long time.

[@trevorthefoamer220]

The Rust Belt Limited is actually going to operate 6 trains per day, which is surprisingly more than the 3C which will only operate 3-5 trains. In that case the 3C should probably run 7-9 trains

[@russellstewart5414]

Would be nice to see all of the projects in Ohio to get approved and built. We could transect the state quickly and reach Pa. Mi. And possibly Canada via the new mega bridge set to open late 2025. But it’s all a dream and I’ll die an old man before any trains run on the rails

[@denelson83]

Too bad "Rust Belt Limited" is actually a terrible name.

[@denelson83]

@@russellstewart5414The Gordie Howe International Bridge did not include a provision for running rail lines over it. Had it did include one, it probably would have to have been longer to accommodate the shallower slopes trains need to run safely and been much more expensive as a result.

[@tonywalters7298]

@@denelson83 there is already a rail tunnel

[@denelson83]

@@tonywalters7298 A rail line over the Gordie Howe Bridge could have increased freight capacity across the Detroit River.

[@yukaira]

babe wake up new alan fisher

[@zubinzuro]

i can't find babe

[@Pablo-Iza]

Alan fisher just dropped 🔥🔥 we making it out the highway with this one

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

For Florida, it's great to see it being recognized that it makes so much sense for Floridians to be able to travel between the employment centers of Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami without having to rely on long-distance trains. Jacksonville has different military bases and also has the Port of Jacksonville. Orlando is a major tourism center for its theme parks. Tampa has MacDill Air Force Base and Port Tampa Bay, and finally Miami is a major center of commerce and one of the busiest ports of entry. So each of these are important for different reasons, and further connecting these centers will not only give people more options, but also contribute to better urban transit planning which FL very much needs. Brightline has helped big time. But Amtrak to Ronkonkoma (which Ronkonkoma is one of the best station names btw) is so....interesting. Like I get why, they don't have to deal with freight railways since the MTA owns the tracks, they need to balance out the extra regionals going to Virginia and they're limited by how many they can run on the NHL section so branching out makes sense, but still weird. The Ronkonkoma Branch is the LIRR's crown jewel with the Main Line being triple-tracked, easternmost electrified LIRR branch, and has led to TOD like Wyandanch and Ronkonkoma. Other branches in Suffolk are also getting TOD (like Patchogue station), and as long as the local bus system continues to improve, progress is very much possible on Long Island.

[@ddog_2559]

it would also help to connect Tallahassee and Pensacola to Jacksonville and Atlanta. just a thought as someone who lives in north florida 🤷‍♂️ and it makes it easier to travel to the state capital

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

For Delaware, I'm really glad that was brought up. Just because Delaware is small, doesn't mean it shouldn't have more trains, or trains just in one corner of the state. Connecting the rest of the state by train (and maybe even extending it to Virginia Beach, VA if possible) to Wilmington is giving them the attention that they deserve. It complements the DART system, and connects even more people to the Northeast Corridor. One should be able to take a quick hop by train from Wilmington to the state capital Dover! Not to mention, the Eastern Shore Region of Maryland has been a transit desert, and Salisbury having this connection to Wilmington is vital. And for the San Jose-San Luis Obispo thing, it's more fitting to say Coast Daylight since it's really a revival of the old Coast Daylight route I'm glad people like you have been defending California HSR. I support the Central Valley corridor. The Central Valley isn't "nowhere" as millions live there (and regardless, many places have grown overtime because of trains; Junction Blvd and Bay Ridge in NYC for example had nothing until stations were built), and this is the boost they need for their economy. The Central Valley would be a median state in population if it was its own state. Transit advocates should be emphasizing that high speed rail can and should be built in places like this, not just big cities. Not to mention it's less susceptible to erosion compared to choosing a more coastal route like the Surfliner.

[@sammymarrco2]

Id like to see it go from Ocean city md to philly, I think that'd get a lot more ridership.

[@Bmarshall3892]

@@sammymarrco2we do not want more Philly tourist-ocean city resident😂

[@qolspony2689]

Does Delaware really need a rail line. This a very low population state with most of the residences living in the Wilmington DE region. Not unless it extends to Virginia Beach, I think it is pointless

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

@@qolspony2689 Trains lead to growth. If you build it, they will come. Having train service will give people a reason to live in the rest of Delaware. Especially when said rail service can be supported by feeder buses.

[@qolspony2689]

Raleigh to Wilmington. Interesting. Raleigh is a more important city than Fayetteville. Although Fayetteville is much closer. I could only Invision Fayetteville Wilmington and Charlotte connected together. But I do see a Case for Raleigh. It would be much cheaper to build - of course if Charlotte wasn't in the picture. There really isn't nothing South of Fayetteville. It is an Amtrak line that needs to be extended to Jacksonville FL.

[@vintagetriplex3728]

Finally, the USA is stepping their games up when it comes to train travel. If they make progress I am gonna travel by train everyone in the USA. I won't have to deal with the anxieties of flying. I feel a lot safer on trains then on planes.

[@emadalvi3006]

Traveling by train in the US isn't bad! The on board experience is decent, but there are issues with delays and frequency and freight companies

[@cmdrls212]

Sure. I mean if you want to spend days locked up in a train for long journeys 😂 zero chance Americans will embrace such slow form of travel when they get annoyed if the plane takes 15 minutes to taxi.

[@ind3lble300]

I feel like the flying comparison is so needed. Not only is safety a concern, but the experience of Flying SUCKS rn because, much like with car dependency, we’re all forced to fly much too often for short domestic trips that we could accomplish with rail. Airlines have a monopoly and get away with a terrible customer experience.

[@ianhomerpura8937]

​@@cmdrls212 those trains are only slow because of freight railways and their PSR bullshit, all to cut corners and increase profits for their Wall Street hedge funds lol Time for the feds to show the very visible hand to the freight railways then

[@InfamousAustinT0]

Reminds me of an old interview where MLK was expressing how flying makes him nervous. He then goes on to tell a joke saying "I don't want to give you the impression that as a Baptist preach I don't have faith in God in the air it's simply that I've had more experience with Him on the ground."

[@Lydia13778]

I'm still mad that the line between Las Vegas, St. George, Salt Lake, and Boise plan was abandoned. I was really looking forward to it and we need more trains out here in the west. (not just West Coast)

[@gljames24]

It was abandoned? I thought they submitted again this last December? I really hope they could start building from both ends with a Las Vegas to Cedar City connection being built and Frontrunner being extended down to Nephi.

[@erictrumpler9652]

This is one of the glaring gaps on this map...

[@kr46428]

Mike Christensen believes this route was rejected because of insufficient enthusiasm from local elected officials. The routes that got funding apparently already had a lot more local officials "on board". Amtrak itself liked the route.

[@erictrumpler9652]

@kr46428 ...demonstrating the biggest problem with interstate rail concepts in the US. Why should short-sighted state transportation officials have such a grip on interstate transportation policy?

[@blakeveracruz122]

@@erictrumpler9652it’s cuz their residents. It’s politically unpopular with conservatives and they’ll vote/fire/harrass people out of office for supporting rails

[@NorthWARail]

The PNW one is the thing im looking forward to because im a Native Washingtonion been here since i was born and have loved and railfanned the Cascades for my life so seeing this would be such a nice thing

[@NW255]

I’m a conservative and I think high speed rail infrastructure is an incredible idea, I mean it takes four hours to go to Chicago from my house by car and probably the same amount of time by plane once you factor in waiting at the airport and waiting for your bags. To got from Detroit to Chicago in less time than that would mean day trips to Chicago and no need for a hotel. Not to mention I don’t have to drive and it’s significantly cheaper than flying.

[@fennex4329]

Then why are you a conservative?

[@NW255]

@@fennex4329 that’s really none of your business

[@gymbroski7020]

@@fennex4329 Social issues, personally.

[@MonarchCorporate]

@@fennex4329 Why do you even care? Some people have nuance in their thought and don't blindly follow political parties or ideologies. Maybe you should try it sometime.

[@sirblack1619]

@@NW255 Then you should have left your political leaning off your comment if you have an issue with someone asking a question about it.

[@TeleportsBehindYou]

One of the reasons the Empire Builder improvement between Chicago and Minneapolis St Paul has such a favorable timeline, is because there's already a project happening to do so. The "Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Intercity Passenger Rail Project" has been planned for years and is getting going right now. It's a variety of small track improvements like realignment and adding second tracks for more mobility. I'm very excited for it to finish!

[@AllenGraetz]

The reason it's timeline seems so short is there's near bupkiss to do. They're running a 2nd passenger train on an existing route. No new lines, no doubel track, no connections, no stations. In fact, so little needs to be built one has to wonder how they're not running that 2nd train tomorrow.

[@stanford2444]

@@AllenGraetz OPened May 21st, I'll be using it in 2 weeks

[@shughes57]

Chicago to Pittsburgh getting more trains within 2 years would be incredible. Please I hate driving through Indiana and Ohio.

[@scout8145]

Seconded! I’m sure you already know this, but to anyone unfamiliar: the only train between Chicago and Pittsburgh right now runs once a day, and it’s overnight each way. So the only options Amtrak gives us are 1. try to sleep on a train seat, 2. pay at least double the price for a roomette/room with a bed, or 3. stay awake and mess up your sleep schedule (unless it’s already out of sync with most people in either time zone). Or give up and drive/fly, and I hate both those options even more than taking an overnight train.

[@stuartm6069]

As an Ohioan, living in Youngstown, I hate driving across Ohio too.

[@aimxdy8680]

Illinois needs high speed rail more than any state because nobody wants to drive through its crooked roads full of potholes, Illinois has more potholes than any other state.

[@The_king567]

Fly

[@BlueIron64]

I saw a CTA bus driving on the highway past Cleveland so maybe you could try that lol

[@FPOAK]

Thank you for including some CAHSR b-roll. The notion that there's been no progress is pretty strange for those of us in the San Joaquin Valley with a daily first-person view of what are already the largest public infrastructure builds we've ever seen. But that's the type of Coastal obliviousness I've come to expect in a state that refers to cities with half a million people as "rural" because they don't have a beach

[@grantmarsh327]

I think it’s because groundbreaking was in 2015, meaning it’s been almost a decade and people still haven’t heard much. Still another 6-9 years (estimate) until it’ll run anyway so unless people are properly informed by the state about the progress, they’ll assume it’s making little progress.

[@mk-oc7mt]

Well said. I’m hopeful about cal hsr and look forward to the day I book one of the first tickets and tell the world we told you so

[@wta1518]

Every single time I've driven down to LA, I've seen one of the viaducts for CAHSR. There doesn't seem to be any progress on it lately though... ...oh wait, that's because it's done

[@jamalgibson8139]

Oh man, you picked up on one of my biggest pet peeves when the media talks about CAHSR. They call the central valley rural when many of the cities are over 100k in population. It's infuriating.

[@FPOAK]

@@grantmarsh327 That’s the stronger version of the argument that I think is a completely fair and reasonable critique. But there’s also still a common misconception that CAHSR still hasn’t gotten off paper yet which is obviously untrue

[@ScottTooley]

I grew up in the Quad Cities (Iowa side), and it feels like we've been talking about a Chicago route for decades. I think the main problem is that the Interstate is too efficient for a straight Chicago to QC route to work. On either I-80 or I-88, it's like a 2 hour drive to your destination. On a train, it's close to the same time (plus you then need to spend time getting from where it terminates in Chicago to your intended destination), AND you have to leave the QC at whatever few times the train leaves. I used to think it would make more sense if it continued through the QC and hit Iowa City where all those University of Iowa students could hop on, but with that route being blocked, I don't think this route would ever happen. UNLESS it's high speed, but my precious QC is only a little under 400k people. Even if you add in Iowa City and Des Moines, that's only another 1m, probably not enough ridership for that to make sense.

[@lindsiria]

It doesn't even need to be truly high speed either. 125mph trains are perfect for a route like this. Faster than driving but not nearly as costly as true HSR.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

Could pitch it as resilience. Sure, the Interstate works well _now,_ but if population growth is expected, who knows how long until you get traffic jams across Illinois? Can only add so many lanes. When the trains get running and go quickly (especially if they decide to upgrade track for 110 or even just 90 mph operation), they’ll feel glad they were able to get to Chicago so quick. If it was important enough for the Rock Island to continue after Amtrak was formed, it could run again.

[@AllenGraetz]

@@DiamondKingStudios more people are moving out of Illinois than moving in. At this rate you'll never need to worry about those infite traffic jams.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@AllenGraetz In that case: “HEY, ILLINOIANS! Need to get out of this state? Think Iowa’s a fine place to go? Here’s another way to book it! For the first time in over *forty-five* years, now you can take a train outta here! Tired of your old hunk of scrap on four wheels? *You can leave it behind!* The Quad Cities Rocket, leaving Chicago *TWICE A DAY* in the morning and evening! Book your tickets at 1-800-whatever USA-rail thing they have Today!” Hope this works instead. Not that they’d ever have an ad like this, but still…

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

I know this was just briefly mentioned in the sponsor segment, but the Antelope Valley Line is just so cool. Up there with the MNR Hudson Line, Frontrunner, NM Rail Tunner, and MNR Port Jervis Line, as the most scenic commuter routes in the country. Antelope Valley was named such for the pronghorns that roamed there until the pronghorns in the valley were all eliminated in the 1880s, mostly by hunting, or resettled (they're still around in other states as well as in Canada. The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere, with running speeds of up to 88.5 km/h (55 mph). The thing is, they may look like Old World antelope, but they're not! They're actually closely related to giraffids! That aside, Atlanta is meant to be a rail city, so it's great to see it getting so much attention. The very reason Atlanta became Atlanta is because of being a historic train hub, being named such after the Western and Atlantic Railroad. MARTA has done wonders for Metro Atlanta, you can take it directly to the airport, it has promoted development around stations, the MARTA Market concept helped give access to fresh produce in food deserts, Atlanta Streetcar expansion helps even more people connect to MARTA, and hosting the 1996 Summer Olympics motivated Atlanta to further improve its infrastructure. Seattle voting against a subway system and the federal government handing their money over to MARTA instead was only the beginning of Atlanta's rail comeback.

[@sevensicilies]

My parents tell me of a mythical train that was said to run direct between Philly and Chicago. It doesn't need any new track, but it still makes me sad to see that it probably won't ever be coming back.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

Revive the Broadway Limited, *sixteen hours and all.* If the schedule between New York and Chicago is sixteen hours and thirty minutes, it’s too slow. If we had sixteen hours before, we can have it again.

[@donaldpetersen2382]

Major demographic changes could result from one or two east-west passenger rails connecting the PNW. I can see how seasonal agriculture workers would greatly benefit from such.

[@quester09]

which benefits growers. which benefits eaters.

[@himbourbanist]

Think about how popular the Cascades corridor already is, the entire states of Oregon and Washington could evolve dramatically with solid branch lines off of the corridor that covers cities as far East as Idaho. Eventually extensions into Canada could be possible as well, with long-distance routes up to Calgary and Edmonton even, and an interconnect with future rail networks in Minnesota and down into the Great Lakes. It all feeds into itself - the more people that can ride the train places, the more people will want to ride the train to OTHER places

[@hurricanefury439]

or we could just hire all of the jobless people in the PNW

[@CyanideCarrot]

Spokane needs a daytime train!

[@jacobbaker7763]

@@hurricanefury439or you could do both you bumbling buffoon

[@admiralcapn]

I love all of this...but to me the absolute, top, #1 priority for Amtrak needs to be enforced priority over freight trains. More service/routes is great, but if it's not reliable its value drops considerably.

[@CraigFThompson]

The nation's private rail companies need governmental compensation for the installation of double track along most lines for this to happen....

[@jamesmcmahonii8433]

Not happening. Freight is vastly profitable from producer to consumer. Passenger transit is not.

[@CraigFThompson]

@@jamesmcmahonii8433 Right. The LEAST PROFITABLE ode of travel happens to be the stuperhighway; these "Hitler strips" have never paid their own way since the first cupful of concrete was placed for their initial construction.

[@SiincereARC]

1. Dope video, keep it up. 2. Massachusetts/Boston Native. We BADLY needed an express train from Boston to NYC to DC for a million years now. We also would benefit immensely from a Boston to Burlington to Montreal train. As someone who enjoys driving but enjoys passenger railway WAY more, we definitely need high speed from Boston to Portland Maine. Yes, Boston to Albany would be cool but the reality is Albany isn't that big of a city for us to badly need access to but if it's fast enough I could see Greater Boston residents applying for jobs in the Albany area if they can ride a train that could take around 2 hours or less to get there (I don't think that's likely but it would be desired of an expectation). 3. I know most people don't negative talk on this scope and prefer doing things by the books but a lot of the heads of these transportation companies or departments in local government need to be ousted yesterday. All of these people skipped the entire generation of Millennials who could have greatly taken advantage of proper and widespread passenger railway. I know so many people in my age range (33-45) who would definitely pay for railway from Boston to most of the east coast or mid west if it was reliable and affordable. Flying should really be relegated to red eye flights, last minute trips or country wide flights as railway and trams used to be so heavily used in this country during the 1800s.

[@Sleeper____1472]

Albany does open you up to a lot of the Western routes by going through Buffalo to Chicago.

[@SiincereARC]

@@Sleeper____1472 I meant that more for Boston residents wanting to ride to Albany. If you want to take a longer trip to Chicago, Toronto or further west, then yea, I'd love for that route to be available.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

Flying should be used EXCLUSIVELY ONLY OVER OCEANS!! No excuse to burn fossil fuels to power airplanes over land.

[@tecran89]

Can someone provide part two of the video?

[@JoeySouth]

Amtrak needs to upgrade their website. You should be able to add your start location and end location and they tell you where you need to go to get to your final destination. Currently you have to figure it out on your own, at least that's what I've noticed.

[@VanillaMacaron551]

Yes a "journey planner" is a pretty basic thing to have on a passenger service website! It should show different route/time options at one click.

[@firiel2366]

Their website is AWFUL. I'm not saying a great website will fix all of Americans' negative perceptions about rail travel, but it would help if the website weren't actively hostile 😅. When trying to plan a trip I felt like they were doing everything in their power to discourage me from riding with them.

[@mixolydia3309]

It does really suck, when I get the desire to see how I could theoretically get somewhere via train, I use Rome2Rio since it gives many options (train, bus, driving, plane, etc)

[@just_matt3937]

The Philly to reading line is much needed. Also, there is much need for a high-speed line from Philly to Pittsburgh. It would help businesses in both cities flourish, especially Pittsburgh.

[@masonsmith2984]

I've always said an Express with maybe Lancaster, Harrisburg and Altoona would be better. Half these suburbs in Philly already have Septa routes

[@Bluepizza1684]

I had an odd dream recently where the government just decided to replace the highways with trains Just straight up imagine your local highway but instead of lanes for cars they were lanes for train tracks Edit: forgot to mention In the dream every time the highway/train railroads met an off ramp to a main street for a town It would be replaced with a station instead of the loop-de-loops or “clover” highway tracts

[@cmdrls212]

I call that a nightmare 😂

[@TheGreatQbert]

That would be horrible. However, it could be plausible to build passenger rail parallel to highways, construction, land use, and general infrastructure would be simplified.

[@swagmundfreud666]

I have dreams that the public transport infrastructure in my area is way better all the time haha. I had a dream a few weeks ago that I was on a train to Edmonton from Calgary. No such train exists.

[@b.y.2460]

That would make an hour's shopping take an entire day. For those who grow food or dig minerals or, you know, actually feed the system that makes trains even possible, that would really, really, really suck.

[@OpenbaarVervoer2D]

@@TheGreatQbert That would be the most plausible thing to do to have it take off. Less to no confiscating of new land, or crossing through rural land areas, while next to the highway mostly noone would notice. But please don't build those scourcing hot platforms in the middle of between highways in the middle of nowhere.

[@letitiajeavons6333]

Glad you mentioned the Scranton corridor. It includes East Stroudsburg which has a local state University. I think they're either Division 2 or Division 3, but college towns are great for train stations. You could even do a (another?) video on college towns and train stations.

[@jakevolpe]

Not to mention Scranton itself, which has the U(niversity of Scranton), Geisinger Medical, Marywood and Penn State Scranton, and personal experience from living here tells me that a huge number of those students are from New York and New Jersey. Will be a popular route

[@demetriosb5758]

There’s also a massive amount of commuters that live in Scranton & Stroudsburg that commute by car to NYC daily. Or drive to one of the stops on the NJ transit lines. There’s also demand for traffic going into Pennsylvania from New Yorker Tourists to the Pocono mountain area to it numerous water parks and ski resorts. I-80 entering PA is always jammed up on weekends and commute times not to mention it only being a four lane interstate with tight shoulders leading to accidents frequently causing massive backups. It could seriously benefit from rail service.

[@Wingnut353]

Charlotte has a light rail... but its flipping stupid, it literally blocks more traffic than it carries 95% of the time. It also has a homeless problem.... where people I knew that were using it stopped because it wasn't safe. It also takes up about as much land space as an additional 4+ traffic lanes. Extended buses totally would have made sense.... trains for local traffic are stupid. Trains are good for low cost bulk intercity traffic... you don't have to get there fast you just have to get there at all, everyone else would choose to use airplanes or cars.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

An earlier proposed map had Atlanta-Montgomery (possibly up to 3 a day) and because I’m from around there I was so infuriated when they took it off the Corridor ID. Auburn, AL is another college town that could use a station.

[@RailFireProductions]

@@demetriosb5758It also doesn’t help that I-80 has many tight curves going through the mountains.

[@DanielLoganGames]

Yay new video. Really hope the PNW high speed rail happens. It would transofrm the region.

[@bjf10]

Amtrak Cascades is already pretty good for the US (better than driving for sure), but HSR there would make it amazing.

[@ryanatkinson2978]

I love all the Atlanta/southeast proposals. We would all be very thankful for that!

[@קעז-מענטש]

It's a shame transit has become so partisan, speaking as a Republican.

[@Skyfoogle]

decades of neoliberal stupidity trained americans to view cars as symbols of personal autonomy and to view public transit as communism.

[@קעז-מענטש]

@@matthewmoore7447 Maybe

[@tflking4916]

Rural people don’t want it

[@קעז-מענטש]

@@tflking4916 I am a Rural person, I want it, never met a person who doesn't want to improve and expand transit.

[@Skyfoogle]

@@קעז-מענטש then you've never met a conservative politician

[@jfmezei]

On Delaware: Would have prefered a Dover Lewis-Rehoboth-Bethany-Ocean City service to remove holiday traffic from the 1. (Cycling between Rehoboth and Dover, you are basically stuck to the 1 until you can turn right on the 9 just before Dover to get to Wilmington (and then take the really nice Marklell bike path all the way to the Amtrak station) Until a couple years ago, tracks made it to Lewis for an industrial customer. Now a bike path. And the tracks from Lewish to Rehoboth have been the Junction and Breakwater trail, so as a cyclist I am stuck between protecting bike path and encouraging new rail services 😞

[@andrewdiamond2697]

It's an exciting time to be in North Carolina...and Virginia. Even though both are "purple states", both states have little financial interest in petroleum sector, but significant financial interest in electrical power generation. This helps to bring more positive action to electric vehicles and rail. Honestly, it would also make a lot of sense to look at Bristol, VA/Asheville/Greenville/Columbia as a feeder route to the HSR between Charlotte and Atlanta. Hopefully, the HSR would also be multimodal connections at the ATL/GSP/CLT airports as well.

[@AtlasNovack]

8:10 does that mean it's a Chattanooga choo choo? 😉

[@scpatl4now]

If it gets built quicker...sure!

[@Pensyfan19]

Thanks for summarizing all of these proposed corridors as it helps generalize an otherwise long list of projects. Considering that many states haven't had the best history with federally funded passenger rail, I would suggest introducing mostly privately operated services like Brightline for these corridors so that most of the line is privately funded instead of using taxpayer dollars. I also feel that CPKC might be willing to host a bunch of proposed Amtrak services, since Amtrak essentially approved their merger since CP agreed to play nice with allowing more passenger trains.

[@caster863]

Oh boy. Can't wait for these projects to be ready in the year 2078!

[@legacy_the_archer]

I do take the issue of there not being a stop to barstow on Bright Line West, its literally heading right past a historic train station. It's super weird to me. Especially since that's the most ideal connection point for Bakersfield to Vegas. as well as a veer off to palm springs/Arizona. My reasoning is identical to how BSNF is treating barstow with there BIG project btw .

[@jfmezei]

I have been pleasntly surprised by Virginia. Early adopter of bikes on trains, and pushing for extension of Amtrak's NE Corridor trains to Richmond. And your map shows a lot more routes. (and recently announced construction of new rail bridge to add capacity between Washington and Alexandria).

[@diegoyanesholtz212]

Expanding the Acela to Richmond VA is a good idea. I do think running VRE to Richmond and Charlotteville is a good idea, connecting Charlottesville to DC and to Richmond and the coast.

[@dumbcow1]

Very glad Phoenix is getting re-connected. I'd love to see passenger service back up to Flagstaff from Phoenix too...

[@ericmoore571]

I always take the train back and forth between NYC and Florida. I love it! Its longer than flying, but its far less hassle!

[@tony_5156]

Damn people actually do that?

[@axmajpayne]

Being in eastern Ohio, the only thing that makes me sad about the "Rust belt Limited", is that any potential station locations in this part of the state would require me to drive half way to Columbus or Pittsburgh anyway. My guess for potential locations for stations along that stretch are CMH Airport, Newark, Coshocton, Urichsville, Mingo Junction, and Bridgeville. It will still make it way easier to get to Chicago or New York, though.

[@jamestrivett1294]

Do you mean Bridgeville PA on the WLE? I thought the route they were proposing ran up NS to Rochester and then into Pittsburgh. There is no good connection between the old Panhandle and the WLE unless you get on at Jewett.

[@mrvwbug4423]

It's an existing line that would just need to be upgraded for speeds above 79mph. A lot of the old stations are there still I think, and could potentially be renovated and put back into use. Amtrak used that line until 2004

[@jamestrivett1294]

@@mrvwbug4423 Are you talking about the WLE main through PA from Mingo through Avella and so forth or the abandoned PRR (PC/CR) that went to Weirton?

[@gobblox38]

I'm really pushing for the Colorado Front Range line to be built. Once it's in place, I'll push for expansion so it'll connect to more east-west lines. Once that's done, I'll push for even more lines across the state.

[@andrewdiamond2697]

Front range is a no-brainer. You can't build enough lanes for I-25.

[@gobblox38]

@andrewdiamond2697 I talked with a traffic/ highway design engineer a few years ago. She said that in all of their models, no matter how they designed the roads, traffic would be bumper to bumper in 10 to 20 years. She said that passenger rail would be absolutely necessary for people to get around the problem. There would still be traffic, but the only way to improve the number of people moved would be a train. Looking at the development plans for castle rock and other cities south of Denver, I believe it. If the NIMBYs get their way, everyone will suffer.

[@andrewdiamond2697]

@@gobblox38 I live in North Carolina and only visit Coloarado 1-2 times a year, and this is even obvious to me as a casual observer. Arguably, much of CDOT's Bustang service also needed to be rail.

[@eonsprite6109]

I guess I don't know how the funding and construction will actually happen but I totally agree. Denver seems to understand the importance of transport beyond more cars considering how extensive the RTD line despite only being like the 19th largest city. Which gives me some hope that the project will actually get a lot of backing from Colorado.

[@AllenGraetz]

@@andrewdiamond2697 any notion that more lanes can't be built on I-25 is a product of your ignorant ideology.

[@redflashpontiac]

I would love the diamond state/Delmarva corridor to happen. There was passenger service on Delmarva in the 60s and 70s. I've always loved the idea of catching a train from the town I live in to the NEC. Maybe with some cooperation from the state, a local line could be connected to the beach towns to alleviate beach traffic, which is horrible during the summer.

[@Magus__Quinn]

As a person stuck in GA atm I'm happy to hear this news, ty train person

[@DiamondKingStudios]

Same. Last passenger train from here to Atlanta: 19 May 1970 (and the track’s gone, too) Last passenger train from here to anywhere: 30 April 1971 (intermediate stop on a Chicago-Miami train)

[@lilkuch1]

I really love your videos! I wanted to pull your attention to another line that didn't make your list. The old Amtrack line, what I'm calling, modified Blackhawk line is reopening 2027 with service from Chicago to Rockford. These cities have been disconnected since the 80's. They will be operating on UP track using Metra as the operator. This is a much anticipated route for the area.

[@null7879]

“Switzerland” of the us is a super interesting concept. I actually think that the regional rail around Denver is quite good, although unfortunately the outskirts of Denver suck and much development of things to do / see is needed. A case of building the “bones” of a system before the expected infill development. Intercity rail should be upgraded since there’s so many people flying to Denver then going to ski resort towns. Also, driving in Colorado is often treacherous

[@mrvwbug4423]

Mountain rail to the ski towns other than just Winter Park would be amazing. Amtrak currently runs the ski train to Winter Park, since the resort is literally at the west portal of the Moffat Tunnel, and they just stop right there and unload rather than going to the station in town. The state is just starting on a new project to rehab an old abandoned freight line between Denver and Steamboat springs and run passenger service on it, apparently that should only take a few years to get into service. RTD rail service could be better, the A line is amazing, the light rail is pretty slow and its frequency sucks. They also closed a bunch of light rail track from Lincoln St all the way down to Castle Pines, which could've been used to extend service to Castle Rock in the future, though LR would be a bit too slow for that.

[@null7879]

@@mrvwbug4423 I wouldn’t call the rtd perfect myself, but for a western us city it is damn good! Didn’t know about the steamboat springs project but that sounds promising. Good example of building rail where many people say it isn’t possible

[@tonytins]

Glad to see trains finally getting some love in this country.

[@solarpixiejournals]

Portland OR to Vancouver BC would be awesome. I live in Olympia and despite being 60 miles from Seattle I rarely visit due to traffic. There is a public transit bus from Olympia to Lakewood where you can connect to Sounder trains, or bus routes up to Tacoma to connect to Seattle. Generally Driving on I-5 can be about an hour in good traffic but suddenly it can become a multi hour ordeal. Seattle Parking is expensive so if I wanted to take a nice little day trip, I'd prefer taking public transit.

[@DougNorth-ml9de]

Where is Chicago Toronto?? This is LONG overdue to be restored.

[@bmeares]

Looking forward to your review of the proposed ATL - GVL - CLT high speed rail line🤞🏻

[@FunKayyy]

Hopefully this leads to better walking/bike infrastructure nationwide, what use are rails when you gotta drive when you get to your destination?

[@CraigFThompson]

Simple. The need to drive will be reduced with an expanded rail system. In fact, so greatly reduced that one can use their OWN TWO FEET to complete the "last mile" connection.

[@FunKayyy]

@@CraigFThompson not if your destination is impeded by shitty infrastructure...

[@friedzombie4]

16:02 Been hounding for this project for 10 years and the area has been in anguish ever since the service was pulled in 1986. The infrastructure bill and state surplus finally convinced everyone this is a no brainer (hell since the green fairy was legalized the 194M of state funding match will be back in state coffers in 9 months!)

[@railrodemike]

As a retired railroad conductor, questioned years ago why Oklahoma City was not hooked up with the rest of the nation. A line from OKC to Newton, Kansas, and Omaha to Kansas City. Missouri is a no-brainer.

[@Cookies4Wookiees]

I am not a democrat and I see the importance of a rail system.

[@Thinginator]

I wish Idaho would get some rail. I hate commuting to Boise. And this is coming from a car guy… So frustrating that the rail lines go out of their way to steer around this state.

[@DwynNWynns]

So we should have a rail just because some people prefer to not drive, like that one train line somewhere that have to stay open because there is still one passenger that use it?

[@woahelo]

@@DwynNWynns very cool strawman

[@CraigFThompson]

​@@DwynNWynnsOF COURSE! Why do his tax dollars hafta be spent on a stuperhighway he doesn't use?!

[@AaronRenner]

Living in Ohio, I can tell you the state is super excited about the 3C+D line as are all the cities along it, some of which are already planning stations.

[@stuartdilts2729]

The North Coast Hiawatha is a long shot, but it has alot of backing from the towns it will connect. The main problem with it is that there are several bottlenecks along the route. At least in Montana, there's lots of interest in it for intercity travel, but the passenger train times were really slow compared to driving.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

This is where I hope that the MLR would be open to upgrading track to run at 90 mph on parts, but that seems futile honestly, and going through the mountains might cut down on the speed regardless.

[@elongatedshrew5902]

It's not gonna be so slow if such trains are high speed like the video entat😮🫢😐 the trains will be going well over 100 mph (probably closer to 150 mph on straightaways) and be going in a straighter path with less turns

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@elongatedshrew5902 I don’t think they’ll make the _North Coast Hiawatha_ high-speed. Wouldn’t make too much sense for a long-distance route such as that. Pouring a lot of money for one route that would specifically benefit North Dakota and Montana at the expense of the other states could be called wasteful at best and pork-barrel at worst, since neither ND or MT are very well-known for population density. Pretty soon Wyoming’s going to ask for a high-speed station in Cheyenne and Arizona’ll ask for one in Phoenix as the central and southern transcontinental routes seek high-speed lines paralleling their existing slower counterparts. I still hope they can run the route in 45 hours or less to try to match the schedule of the _North Coast Limited_ (its predecessor under the Northern Pacific) according to the April 1959 edition of the _Official Guide of the Railways_ (specifically 45:40 and 44:50 westbound to Seattle and Portland respectively and 46:15 and 44:45 eastbound from Seattle and Portland respectively). Get it down to 40, maybe 36 hours, and that’ll be enough for the average Amtrak passenger to be satisfied.

[@stuartdilts2729]

@@elongatedshrew5902 Not really possible unless they they make significant changes to the existing track or restore a significant amount of abandoned track. A 2009 study put the max speed at 60 mph through much of Montana: nrvrc.org/nrvpassengerrailstudy/resources/research/national/Amtrak_North_Coast_Hiawatha_Study.pdf. The route is winding, with at least two mountain passes to go over. You can really see this at Mullan pass; use Google Earth to find Austin, Montana and view the two tight switchbacks that are used to get over the pass.

[@appalachianenthusiast9499]

I like the idea of electric "splinter" cars that detach from the main train at one of its station stops and continue to a smaller destination under its own power. North Korea actually uses this type of railcar between Pyongyang and Vladivostok, Russia, where it then hitches a ride to Moscow. Imagine one of these taking Lake Shore Limited and/or Capitol Limited passengers to Monroe, Detroit Airport, Dearborn, Detroit, Royal Oak, Troy, and Pontiac.

[@moover123]

You don't have to Take NK as an example. You can also Take a country in Europe.

[@rockstc955]

wow, i am cautiously optimistic

[@Trainguyrom]

I recently attended my first Green Bay Packer Game and sitting in the post game traffic heading south on the interstate was really eyeopeninng for how badly this train line is needed with gameday specials. Running a gameday specials between Chicago and Greenbay with buses between the stadium and train station (if not within walking distance) would greatly help the crush of 75000 people from elsewhere in the state and country all descending onto the same single interstate to return to every other population center in the region. Especially if it can be combined with a rail service to Madison to further ease travel to the remaining unconnected population center (green bay, Madison and Milwaukee are the 3 cities in the state with >100k population, and only 2 major cities in the state, Milwaukee and La Crosse currently have passenger rail service, and the frequency sucks and is horribly inconvenient if you want to travel into Milwaukee/Chicago for a visit)

[@andrewlindstrom9599]

Packers traffic heading south is always miserable. I think Milwaukee - Green Bay (on C&NW) still ran in 1971 when Amtrak took over, it's a shame the service wasn't retained. Super excited about the Wisconsin plans

[@DiamondKingStudios]

Not just specials; if Green Bay is large enough to even still host an NFL team it needs *regular* service, every day, maybe more than one round trip daily; I’d expect at least to Milwaukee.

[@DwynNWynns]

But can you generate enough train traffics the rest of the time to pay off the railway cost?

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@DwynNWynns I’d say after a few football seasons perhaps, but if the track has to be updated maybe a few more.

[@alexboxstadium98]

Baton Rouge resident here. It'll be so nice to have an alternative to go to a Saints or Pelicans game other than I-10. NOLA union station is right next to the stadiums and easy connection to the streetcar system. Can't wait!

[@alexboxstadium98]

The Merger also was the main facilitator of this corridor coming to life. KSC i think now has 2 routes in and out of NOLA so they can let one take some rail service. Bonnett Carre Spillway Bridge getting updated now, I think 2027 is the advertised start date

[@ThunderTheBlackShadowKitty]

New Orleans resident here. It really would be nice to see ANY new trains in our state, but since Louisiana's government is controlled by Christian Neo-Nazis, I don't see it happening any time soon. Jeff Landry needs to be recalled, he is too far right-wing.

[@whoandgo]

I'm drooling out the mouth for the North Coast Hiawatha. Would love to take a train to Missoula, MT

[@DiamondKingStudios]

Not to mention the other cities.

[@whoandgo]

Definitely ​@@DiamondKingStudios . MT is definitely one of the couple of states that was in dire need of rail

[@GundamPharmacist]

I live in Springfield MA - having Lake Shore Limited being expanded would be so good to get from Western MA to Worcester and Boston. It's either an overpriced bus ticket (can be well over 60 USD round trip) or you're forced to go all the way down on CT Rail from Springfield to New Haven and then from New Haven to Boston which is like a three to four hour trip. Being able to commute from Springfield to Boston reliably would be a huge economy boon for Hampden County.

[@GrockleTD]

My city is along the rustbelt limited, and i cannot begin to express how hyped i am

[@baddriversofcolga]

Georgia should have Columbus, Macon, Savannah, and Augusta all connected to Atlanta through passenger rail. Maybe one of these centuries...

[@nicholasmarshall9128]

I hope Delta and Southwest Airlines don't try to block these new routes as it may impact their existing services and profit

[@DiamondKingStudios]

Hey, another Columbus local! I agree; it would be cool to get to Atlanta by way other than overpriced flying or chaotic Atlanta road traffic. It’s a shame most of the former right of way on either route was torn up for the most part. Best I could hope for would be if Columbus was a spur on an Atlanta-Montgomery line. Make it take only twenty minutes to get to Opelika and arrive five to ten minutes before the next passenger train departs. Macon, Savannah, and Augusta would be connected much easier, though, since the tracks are still there. It’s the stations that are gone.

[@baddriversofcolga]

@@DiamondKingStudios Hey! And that's true, though did you know there was a study in like 2014 on passenger rail from Columbus to Atlanta? They determined it was financially viable and came up with a few different possible routes. It's a shame that hasn't been acted on...

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@baddriversofcolga “financially viable”? Understatement when that would encourage me to travel to Atlanta more and (at least this is what I’d tell economists) participate more in the local commerce of Atlanta. But you know GDOT and all that. Maybe effort will begin on such a route in 2027 idk about earlier because the next gubernatorial election is in 2026

[@ccubsfan94]

Iowa interstate also got rid of the football line. They used to run a few passenger cars from parking lots on the outskirts of town to the college football stadium on game days. It was so slick, but now you gotta bribe people to park on their lawn

[@cut_and_cover]

Finally. Now people can stop asking me to upload a follow-up to my 2022 Amtrak video.

[@EricPeter]

Heck yes! I can't wait for the Northern Lights Express to Duluth!!

[@SteveRoberts5330]

I'm so happy for Chuck Walsh and his associates... I also am really pleased with how well you plug and boost the LCO Channel! That man deserves a permanent mention/monument somehow on the new "Phoebe Snow" Service to Scranton! I cannot wait to take a train from Penn across the cutoff!!! 🎉

[@christopherradel3965]

Great video, can tell you put a ton of time into this. I would’ve liked more in depth descriptions of all the lines and would’ve watched for the extra 10 minutes or so!

[@patrickmcneilly4293]

On Christmas Eve, I heard from the grapevine that Stanhope Borough submitted for a grant for another water tower, the application was accepted. However, according to a representative, the southern representatives are on the fence to sign the infrastructure bill due to seeing "high speed rail" and thinking of the California project. So, hopefully everything goes through soon and everyone gets what thet need.

[@Ostermond]

it’s here! it’s finally here!

[@writtwoodson6879]

Great video. Thanks for bringing the Corridor ID projects and the construction funding into a map and narrative. This is the first such effort that I have seen. You mentioned some of the North Carolina projects, but left out at least three of them. You mentioned Wilmington to Raliegh, but left out Fayetteville to Raleigh and Winston-Salem to Raleigh. Those three cities are among NC's largest cities and have no passenger rail service now. NCDOT - Rail is building a feeder system for the S-Line- Raleigh to Richmond corridor; at least that is the way I see it. The S-Line won't have any slow spots, when it is completed. The S-Line will really uplift passenger rail in the region.

[@causarumcognitio]

There are so many University of Iowa students from quad cities and Chicago that they alone would have a huge impact on weekly travel from Iowa City. Like 25-50% of University of Iowa students could use that line to go back home and they and their parents would gladly pay.

[@GeorgeWashingtonLaserMusket]

DAMMIT!!! Still no Lexington Ky Trains?!?!? COME ON We have a respectable population and are located in the heart of the state.

[@Gfynbcyiokbg8710]

There are much more important projects

[@dmike3507]

What perfect timing. Just rode Amtrak Cascades between Tukwila & Portland yesterday, my only time ever on passenger rail since a kindergarten field trip lol. If only they had much more comfortable seats and were a little faster it'd be far superior to air travel.

[@AnimilesYT]

0:13 Gotta love American trains that proudly display the Dutch flag :D

[@jon.bo_]

was not expecting Ice V by king gizz in the intro bit there! another reason to love this channel!

[@stanford2444]

The Borealis route (extra route between Chicago and Minneapolis) is open 3 months after this video. Not 2 years. Come on Northern Lights (Duluth to Minneapolis)!

[@MaxwellWilliams42]

If the 3C+D route gets done at a decent speed it'll be fantastic. High speed rail would be cool but even speeds matching the Michigan Wolverine train would be spectacular. (Plus are we really gonna let Michigan whoop our ass in everything??)

[@bjf10]

Just give us Toledo back and everything will be OK lol

[@bjf10]

And yeah, the Wolverine line is great! I'm looking forward to the higher-speed section being expanded to Dearborn. I know this has been the long-term plan for a while, but am not sure if this recent round of funding includes support for that or not.

[@tonywalters7298]

I would say the one bright spot for Indiana is the South Shore Line double tracking, and the new west lake branch.

[@carlbeaver7112]

The line from Indy to Louisville was abandoned about 20 years ago. Reviving it shouldn't be a big deal. Extending it from Louisville to Bowling Green and Nashville/Murfreesboro is amazingly absent. That is just ridiculously short-sighted as is the Pueblo to (near) Trinidad portion (about 70 miles of relatively open, flat land.) Macon to Orlando/Tampa would also be greatly beneficial. Can't anyone imagine what moving people from the Midwest corridor - Chicago, Detroit, Toledo, Columbus, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Lexington, Louisville, into Nashville and on to Florida - would accomplish? And connecting St. Louis, Paducah & Nashville would be another great line.

[@lars1588]

Ultimately connecting Atlanta to Chicago would be amazing. There are so many important cities in between (including my own).

[@user6122]

Hoosiers represent!

[@jacobandrewclark]

So excited for Peoria to Chicago. Even though getting to Normal to get on the Lincoln Service isn’t that inconvenient, I would take that train at least a few times a year for day trips to Chicago or even connecting to long-distance services. Really hoping that one gets funded, as it seems there’s local and state interest in getting it done.

[@MelvinDEngineere]

I was not aware previously that the Delaware corridor, the Diamond State Line, was even a thing. One idea I hope they implement is to make a branch that splits from Harrington, and heads towards and connects with the resort towns of Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach. The branch would pass through Milford, then Ellendale, then two options could be used to continue the branch. The first option would head straight east from Ellendale with new tracks 1 mile past Ellendale. The 2nd option would have the branch continue south to Georgetown where the branch would then heads east toward those resort towns but would require new tracks. While I don't see this branch being built in either form anytime soon, I still find it fun to think of what if's for potential corridors and branches. For the Quad Cities corridor, I had to look up the Iowa Interstate Railroad to see if it was the same railroad that used to do special steam train excursions with a Chinese 2-10-2 steamer, and it was indeed the same railroad. It's a shame Iowa Interstate doesn't want to cooperate because of positive train control. Did the owner of that railroad say why they don't want to implement PTC? Should Amtrak go ahead with the Reading to Philly connection, I hope they also then extend that line from Reading to Harrisburg and implement a station at Hershey. Imagine the possibility of taking the train to Hershey for Hershey Park or one of the events held at Hersheypark Arena.

[@Ih8kone]

Everyone, I know you have your doubts, but do not be pessimistic. These projects are pretty much guaranteed, but construction will take a very long time. For the longest time, every railfan including myself thought that California High-Speed Rail would be a total financial disaster, but it has received substantial federal funding and is partially using existing infrastructure. By 2029, the first phase of the project will be completed. This will mean less cars on California highways, and when people see how effective the train service is, they will want more. And, furthermore, Las Vegas will see the return of passenger rail service as early as 2027 in the form of a high-speed electric train similar to the TGV in France. Where there's a will, there's a way!

[@Karpp1nen]

It still blows my mind to think about how underdeveloped the US is when it comes to logistics infrastructure.

[@SamRMoyer]

We operate on a Tragedy of the Commons basis over here 😅

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

To be fair, we DID think we were being super developed, super pro-future, super progressive in the 1950s when we built out suburban sprawl and massively increased highways.

[@tonyburzio4107]

Even better, looks like JB Hunt is taking over management of BNSF's logistics at container yards.

[@crowmob-yo6ry]

I'm currently visiting Germany and I've been able to go pretty much everywhere I want by train and tram. Even in the country that gave the world the automobile and car culture (and one that also has NIMBYism), trains and public transport co-exist with cars and highways. There's no excuse as to why the USA can't build an equally great passenger rail system, not even its huge geographic area size.

[@Windona]

I'd argue that huge geographic size is even more reason to build out rail!

[@CraigFThompson]

Actually, it was FRANCE that gave the world the automobile; a mechanic named Nicholas Cugnot invented the world's very first automobile, steam powered with front wheel drive. It was so damned dangerous it had to be removed from the streets!

[@CraigFThompson]

​@@WindonaChina says: "HOLD MY BEER!"....

[@banebury2346]

You are right that the Atlanta - Savannah line should have been built long ago. It would make so much sense. If Amtrak ran it, then it would allow people to take the train from Atlanta down to Florida and vice versa so much easier.

[@dihedraldesign7978]

+1 for the Scranton corridor! Have been waiting for something like it my whole life! 🙏

[@janmelantu7490]

I really hope Indiana gets more service, tho I’m extremely pessimistic. The state barely wanted to allow the South Shore to expand. But like, Indy and Louisville are cities that are criminally under-served by intercity rail

[@erikgustafson9319]

Add to the fact that the IN GOP is a tea party dinosaur then let’s hope for the best

[@richardstevens8839]

Indiana is Republican so the Road rules there

[@erikgustafson9319]

@@richardstevens8839 Nowadays many Republicans like trains you just looking in the wrong places

[@spartan117zm]

It really hurts that we’re talking 10-15 years to even BEGIN potential construction between Charlotte and Atlanta. In that time China will have undoubtedly nearly doubled their track mileage again somehow and Japan will likely have started maglev service on the Chuo Shinkansen, and we’ll just be talking about getting shovels in the ground on a project that’ll likely take another 10 years somehow to build.

[@antonnurwald5700]

It's about getting something started. Once more projects get underway, institutional learning will set in, projects will get more acceptance, demand will rise, and things will get faster. The real challenge is voting/keeping Republicans out of office.

[@Fullstrengh100]

They talked about the new tunnel in nyc for 20 years

[@MaxRamos8]

anyone else remember that the U.S. was once the Pinnacle of passanger rail before the car? we had railroads that connected basically everywhere. and now we got stuck with stupid traffic and pollution.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

Medical doctors need to deny Republicans/conservatives all medical care. Conservatives care only about ideology and political identity and national identity, NEVER about anything that actually matters in the real physical world, never anything that is practical, useful. They care ONLY about giving billionaire scammers even more property and money. I'm a Green but I am pro-war for Green causes.@@antonnurwald5700

[@adventurefaps9571]

Thats the beauty of neoliberal and right wing policies! We HAVE to have private companies do it! We just have to! Our corporate overlords demand it. Meanwhile countries with developed economies and centralized planning continue to put us to shame. We are such a joke of a country, honestly surprising we are still the biggest economy, but that will end soon enough.

[@Talrich77]

Any chance of the North-South Rail link in Boston being built? It's insane that Boston's North Station and South Station aren't directly connected. The right of way was preserved as part of the Big Dig, but the Amtrak/commuter rail portion never seems to be a priority.

[@peridotscoutelijahmoore9182]

So excited for the Phoenix-Tucson route, I'll finally be able to avoid traffic and late night drives after concerts n other things.

[@RoboJules]

For the Cascadia corridor when it gets to Canada, all of the roads, very wide freeway ROWs, and electrical corridors are owned by Translink, BC Hydro, the Feds, Municipal government bodies, Metrovan, and/or the Government of BC. We have some great corridors in Vancouver where cheap cut and cover construction for an HSR corridor is very feasible - Boundary Road and 1st Ave come to mind, and south of that is mostly flat, undeveloped farmland nowhere near any SFH NIMBYs to complain about it as it's near the landfill. We also have very plentiful and affordable electricity to power the HSR thanks to new hydro projects, and we will have lots of recent local experience in modern, grade separated passenger rail construction from the Canada Line, Evergreen Line, Broadway Subway, Langley Expo Line Extension, and then some. I know the States has had a rough time with infrastructure lately, but know that we Canadians are going to make it as easy and cost effective as possible.