The Silver Rail Blog

If anyone doubts that the same arguments which have been used against Amtrak and other passenger rail projects are one and the same with those being used against high speed rail, one need look no further than this column by George Will in the current issue of Newsweek.

Will has been an outspoken adversary of Amtrak for many years, but this column indicates that he feels like government support for passenger rail is part of a big government conspiracy.

Reality check, George! The reasons to support passenger rail are not partisan at all.

That's why plenty of Republican support passenger rail, as well.

--Jackson McQuigg

The minutes of the Florida Coalition of Rail Passengers' most recent Board of Directors meeting, held on Saturday, February 19, in Lakeland, are now available online.

To access the minutes, click here. 

--Jackson McQuigg

From the Tampa Tribune:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/feb/25/lahood-gives-florida-another-week-to-save-high-spe/news-metro/

Analysis from Tampa alternative weekly Creative Loafing:

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/2011/02/25/florida-high-speed-rail-advocates-ready-to-be-disappointed-once-again-officials-get-one-more-week-to-convince-a-skeptical-governor/

--Jackson McQuigg

From the Orlando Sentinel:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/fl-tri-rail-locomotive-20110225,0,1601733.story

--Jackson McQuigg

Florida might not get a high speed rail line in the near future, but Kazakhstan will.

From the International Railway Journal:

http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/kazakhstan-railways-signs-mou-with-china-to-build-hs-line.html

--Jackson McQuigg

The Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Study Commission met Wednesday to hear a presentation regarding a study originated by the Georgia Department of Transportation began last month to explore the possibility of high-speed rail from Atlanta to Jacksonville.  The information was part of a larger presentation highlighting transit initiatives for the two-year commission.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/fb_showstory.php?Story_id=533013

From the St. Petersburg Times:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/gov-rick-scott-is-done-with-high-speed-rail/1153594

and WTSP in Tampa/St. Petersburg:

http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=176885&catid=250

Their message: passenger rail does not work. Ever.

And they cite Amtrak and Tri-Rail as examples of this position.

From the Sunshine State News:

http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/blog/social-conservatives-praise-rick-scott-rejecting-federal-high-speed-funds

--Jackson McQuigg

More proof that our new Governor doesn't understand passenger rail!

From the Palm Beach Post:

http://www.postonpolitics.com/2011/02/tri-rail-poster-child-for-what-could-go-wrong-with-hi-speed-rail-scott-says/

--Jackson McQuigg

From the St. Petersburg Times:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/masstransit/gov-rick-scott-being-pushed-to-kill-sunrail-too/1152976

--Jackson McQuigg