The Silver Rail Blog

From the Getaway section of today's Tampa Tribune comes this generally-favorable review of Amtrak's Auto Train:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/aug/23/tr-amtraks-auto-train-leaves-driving-in-dust/life/

--Jackson McQuigg

Eleven train stations that should have survived into the era of passenger rail revival.

From the website The Infrastructurist:

http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/06/22/11-beautiful-train-stations-that-fell-to-the-wrecking-ball/

Lest we forget...

--Jackson McQuigg

This article is from The St. Petersburg Times and includes an insightful quote from National Association of Railroad Passengers President Ross Capon:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/masstransit/high-speed-rail-supporters-kick-off-campaign-to-get-federal-funds/1028712

--Jackson McQuigg

The previous blog was designed to find out if anyone reads these blogs.

Now for the Sun Sentinel story:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-opedonline082409,0,5715584.story

Andy Healy

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2674646408572574875

Andy Healy

http://www.examiner.com/x-10977-Jacksonville-Transportation-Examiner~y2009m8d19-Will-JacksonvilleNew-Orleans-Amtrak-service-return-It-will-if-NARP-gets-its-way

Andy Healy

Rallies took place today in Tampa, Orlando, and Lakeland to support Florida's petition for stimulus funds to build high-speed rail from Orlando-Tampa.

The following article, from The St Petersburg Times, provides further details on these events, organized by former Hillsborough County Commissioner Ed Turanchik, along with longtime high-speed rail advocates Paula and Doc Dockery of Lakeland.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/masstransit/high-speed-rail-supporters-kick-off-campaign-to-get-federal-funds/1028712

--Jackson McQuigg

Fact vs. Fiction.

The Midwest High Speed Rail Association, with arguments that are applicable nationwide, answers passenger rail's critics:

http://www.midwesthsr.org/fact/index.html

Their site is a "must read" for rail advocates anywhere!

--Jackson McQuigg

Good news for West Palm Beach Tri-Rail passengers.

From the South Florida Business Journal:

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2009/08/10/daily79.html

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/aug/09/092356/na-high-speed-rail-plans-bypass-tampas-union-stati/news-metro/

FCRP is lobbying for connectivity between Amtrak, commuter rail, and any high speed rail systems which would be constructed throughout the state.

Tampa's new high speed rail terminal, if constructed as presently proposed, will be built just 6 blocks from Tampa Union Station.

However, present plans include no real connection to Amtrak or any future commuter rail services which would ultimately serve Tampa Union Station.

The same "disconnected" conditions exist at Lakeland and Orlando

This article is from the Tampa Tribune.

--Jackson McQuigg