Antonio Ramos Gavilán’s Post

Last week marked the groundbreaking for the very first high-speed rail in the U.S., a line set to connect Los Angeles and Las Vegas and a direct result of the bipartisan IIJA. This milestone is not only an example of government working with private businesses to unlock funding for projects that benefit the public but gives us a roadmap for building infrastructure that reduces emissions while creating jobs in the U.S. https://lnkd.in/eFbuQEfP

Thanks to Commonwealth Magazine for briefing its readers on where MassDOT Rail and Transit Division's Compass Rail/West-East Rail project stands and where it's headed! These are goals which we intend to achieve and WILL achieve through current strategic planning, coordination, and collaboration with our partners (such as Amtrak and CSX); subsequent implementation; and ongoing post-implementation evaluation, not through a "concept of a plan," as some may like to say... 🚄 🔑 Key Takeaways: ↙️ 📍"Before the end of the decade, commuters should be able to zip from Boston through Springfield and all the way up past Albany twice a day via rail." 📍West-East Rail's hub will be Springfield. 📍"Compass Rail will improve existing services, like the North-South routes in Western Massachusetts, and bind them to a new rail system connecting the east and west parts of the state." 📍"Over the past 15 years, MassDOT has bolstered what it calls the 'knowledge corridor' of North-South service through 'incremental infrastructure investments...'" 📍"This involved coordination between Amtrak, Massachusetts, and its counterparts in Connecticut [Connecticut Department of Transportation] and Vermont [Vermont Agency of Transportation] rail." 📍"The first real investment seen will be early work on the inland route, connecting Worcester and Springfield to Boston and New Haven. A $108 million award from the Federal Railroad Administration will fund track improvement between Worcester and Springfield to operate two daily passenger rail round trips..." 📍"The Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor ID program is designed to connect states through their major cities. It includes the Boston-Albany route as a corridor to be advanced and improved through a series of projects, guided by a service development plan..." 📍"This federal project is the first of its kind in the US..." 📍"Smaller infrastructure improvements, like eliminating bottlenecks in West Springfield, will smooth the larger project." 📍The assets that will be operated as a part of the revenue fleet will be Amtrak's new Airo trains. Check them out here! https://lnkd.in/ePPRW8xC 📍"Local communities and the federal delegation have pushed for more rail funding, and ridership has DOUBLED [emphasis mine] along the North-South corridor since coming out of the pandemic." #publictransit #publictransportation #fra #usdot #massdot #amtrak #csx #passengerrail #trains https://lnkd.in/eSZx6AR4

A very well researched and written story in today's Chicago Tribune by John Lippert and Sarah Freishtat describing the need and complexity to invest in Chicagoland's train infrastructure. The article focusses on the infrastructure constraints at the Belt Railway of Chicago, one of our region's most notorious rail bottleneck. A lot of different organizations and public entities, including Metra Commuter Rail, Amtrak have been working for more than 20 years to rebuilt Belt Junction. The ambition is to invest over $2.5 billion for new tracks, viaducts and flyovers to double the Belt Junction corridor’s annual capacity to 4 million rail cars. The Belt Junction is an essential building block in the ambitious plan to increase the rail capacity by nearly 80% in the Chicago region by 2052. The complexity of this plan is enormous, ranging from finding sufficient funding, listening to community concerns, balancing short-term versus long-term environmental benefits, align & coordinate with the different freight train corporations, and the need to include as many influential stakeholders as possible. I was glad to see Erin Aleman from Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) quoted in the article, since her organization has been an important voice and driver to solve complicated regional challenges. I strongly believe we need to continue to invest in our region's infrastructure to both drive economic growth and accelerate the transformation to cleaner and more efficient transportation solutions. The enormity and complexity of this ambition shouldn't deter us but inspire and motivate all of us.

🚆 Upcoming Mega Rail Projects in the USA 🚆 The U.S. is on the brink of a rail transformation with several upcoming mega projects that aim to modernize infrastructure, reduce emissions, and improve connectivity. One of the most anticipated projects is the California High-Speed Rail, which will connect major cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, drastically cutting travel time. Once completed, it will be the first true high-speed rail system in the U.S., running at speeds of up to 220 mph. On the East Coast, the Gateway Program is another monumental project, aiming to improve passenger rail capacity between New York City and New Jersey, one of the busiest rail corridors in the world. The program includes replacing aging tunnels under the Hudson River and upgrading track infrastructure. Other significant developments include Brightline’s expansion to Orlando, bringing fast, modern trains to Florida, and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor upgrades, which focus on speeding up travel between Boston and Washington, D.C. These projects represent a significant investment in the future of U.S. rail, enhancing both sustainability and economic growth by providing more efficient transportation options. Learn more about these exciting developments here: https://lnkd.in/gSaYCxyT #RailInnovation #HighSpeedRail #SustainableTransport

After releasing our high-speed rail report, it has received some nice media coverage. In this article, two key elements arise that I want to underscore. First, when we published the report, we were very self-conscious about not including a map with proposed routes. We didn’t include a map because that’s not where we need help! We need to address first order issues like governance and planning. There are already a number of good maps out there, and there are no secret city pairs that people haven’t already considered. A magical Cheyenne to Jacksonville route isn’t about to emerge. Second, the article references the 2000 Republican Party platform, which supported a national high-speed network. What is currently missing is alignment re: whether or not we should build high-speed rail. When we spoke to people abroad they stressed that the debate was about WHERE to build, and not about whether or not they should build high-speed rail. If only we had that kind agreement at the federal level: https://lnkd.in/e25FGQjQ

Today's rail headlines - #InTheNews: Open access operators, Network Rail frameworks for the delivery of capital works in the North West & Central Region, Transport for Wales timetable, and Baildon landslip work. Listen here: #UKrail #railways #headlines

Great to see the ambitious Brightline West Trains project breaking ground yesterday. This 218-mile high speed rail link will be the first of its kind in the US, linking Los Angeles with Las Vegas in just 2-hours travel time. And with “an ambitious schedule of being open in time for the Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games in 2028,” and a projected cost of $12bn, other #highspeedrail projects in the UK and beyond will certainly be looking on with interest at this and other projects planned in the US. It's worth noting, however, that this project won't connect directly to the centre of LA - it will terminate at Rancho Cucamonga, some 25 miles east of downtown LA, where passengers will be able to transfer onto suburban trains (Old Oak Common, anyone?), but the economic and environmental cases look very strong indeed - with the potential to replace some 11-million air journeys a year at lower passenger cost whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 400,000 tons of CO2 annually. Notwithstanding the very obvious differences between this project and HS2, for example, it's certainly one to watch if they can pull it off at the pace and cost forecast. Good luck to all involved! Nice slogan too: "It's about time" #usinfrastructure #capitalprojects #railprojects #netzerotrains #infrastructureinvestment #futureoftransport #zeroemissionmobility https://lnkd.in/enbJ8DFW

The California High-Speed Railway project is well underway, now organised by the California High-Speed Rail Authority. 🙌 However, it is a development that has been in the works for some time. ❓ Want to know the origins of such an infrastructure project? ❓ The benefits of high-speed rail? ❓ The legislation and funding for the project? Read Part 1 (don't worry - there's more to come!) of Global Railway Review's California High-Speed Railway Timeline. Just click the link below: https://lnkd.in/eY5hJMNj

With President Biden's $1.2 trillion #infrastructure bill, there was $66 billion allotted towards passenger #rail infrastructure to be spent over a period of years and these investments have prompted the announcements for major rail advancements. There are high speed #train projects popping up around the country, and in the next few years there will be more ways to zip around in and across states. Most of them being constructed are through private ventures, not government investment. Here are some of the high speed #trains that are already here or are coming soon.

Why is There No Bullet Train in the USA?  The Dream of High-Speed Rail: An Unfulfilled Vision Imagine gliding effortlessly from New York to Los Angeles at speeds exceeding 200 mph, bypassing airport security hassles and highway traffic jams. This is the dream of a bullet train system in the USA, a vision that has captivated transportation enthusiasts for decades. Yet, despite its allure, the reality of high-speed rail remains elusive in America. Why is that? Let’s delve into the reasons behind the absence of a comprehensive bullet train network in the United States.   The Cost Conundrum  High Price Tag Building a high-speed rail network is no small feat—it demands a colossal investment. The initial costs of constructing dedicated tracks, acquiring land, and developing the necessary infrastructure are staggering. Unlike countries such as Japan and France, which have made high-speed rail a national priority, the US has struggled to muster the financial commitment needed for such a project.  Funding Challenges The US government's budget priorities have historically leaned towards road and air travel, leaving high-speed rail underfunded. Public and political support for the massive expenditure required is often lacking, making it difficult to secure the necessary funding.  Infrastructure Challenges  Geographic and Logistical Hurdles The sheer size and geographic diversity of the United States present significant challenges for high-speed rail development. Constructing tracks that span coast to coast, or even connect major cities, involves navigating through varied terrain, including mountains, rivers, and urban areas. The logistical complexity of such a project cannot be overstated.  Existing Rail Network Limitations America's current rail infrastructure is heavily skewed towards freight transportation. The rail lines crisscrossing the nation are optimized for moving goods rather than people at high speeds. Retrofitting or upgrading these lines to support bullet trains would be a monumental task, requiring extensive modifications and interruptions to existing services. Political and Bureaucratic Hurdles  Political Will and Support High-speed rail projects need strong political backing, which is often fragmented in the US. With federal, state, and local governments each having their own priorities and budgets, achieving consensus on high-speed rail initiatives is challenging. Political leaders may support the idea in principle but hesitate to back it with the necessary resources.  Regulatory and Bureaucratic Barriers The regulatory landscape in the US is complex, with numerous agencies involved in transportation planning and safety oversight. Navigating this bureaucratic maze adds another layer of difficulty to implementing high-speed rail projects. Delays in approvals and regulatory compliance can stall progress indefinitely.