General Information

(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/27/2020) The U.S. House today is expected to vote on a $2.2 trillion legislation package passed by the U.S. Senate late Wednesday in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation includes $25 billion for public transportation agencies, including commuter-rail operators. The funds will be provided through formula operating and…

(Source: National Public Radio, March 26, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a first for Europe, 20 critically ill coronavirus patients were evacuated aboard a fully medicalized, high-speed train. Full story: www.npr.org Friday, March 27, 2020

(Source: City Metric, March 27, 2020. The following is an extract from “Designing the Megaregion: Meeting Urban Challenges at a New Scale,” out now from Island Press.) NEW YORK — A regional transportation system does not become balanced until all its parts are operating effectively. Highways, arterial streets, and local streets are essential, and every…

(Source: Freight Waves opinion column by Jim Blaze, March 26, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — With the coronavirus pandemic as background, let’s briefly examine what the role of the rail freight sector is. How relevant is rail freight’s services during a stay-in place period? What are rail freight’s capabilities at serving the essential survival kit? Full…

(Source: Railway Track & Structures, March 26, 2020) NEW YORK — By a unanimous 96-0 vote, the U.S. Senate on March 26 passed H.R. 748, its version of a $2 trillion stimulus package for address the devastating economic and societal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Called the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act,”…

Stimulus bill includes $25B for transit, $1B for Amtrak

France transfers coronavirus patients on high-speed train with mobile emergency room

To build its emerging megaregions, USA should turn to trains

Opinion: “A fluid, unknown rail freight market”

U.S. Senate passes $2 trillion stimulus bill; rail/transit to receive billions