Rail

‘Underutilized’ Rail Line Getting Closer Look: Corridor From Snohomish To Renton May Combine Transit, Trail In Years To Come

Original Article Several officials say they are united behind rescuing a 40-mile railroad corridor snaking from Renton’s Gene Coulon Beach Park through the heart of the Eastside to Snohomish. While the route does a pretty good job of hitting major job centers, state and local officials say the rail line misses the biggie: Downtown Bellevue. “As a high-capacity transit line, Read More ›

Stanwood Studies Train Service

Original Article Stanwood studies train service An official from the Cascadia Project tells officials about the benefits a different type of passenger rail service could bring to the city. By Scott Morris Stanwood officials want to hear more about a regional transportation dream that could revive the long-defunct train depot at the east end of downtown. On Monday, the city’s Read More ›

‘Gang’ Wants To Test Train on Track

A group turning to trains to improve transportation in Snohomish County has set its sights on a little-used rail line on the Eastside. The group, made up of residents and elected leaders and backed by the Seattle-based Discovery Institute’s Cascadia Project, is trying to bring a new kind of high-speed rail car to the Puget Sound region. Burlington Northern Santa Read More ›

2010 Fast Tracks Railway Dreams: BC and US Businesses Looking to Olympics to Provide Catalyst for Rail Investment

The 2010 Winter Olympics is stoking enthusiasm for new rail services on bothsides of the Canada-U.S. border. Leading the charge is Whistler Railtours Ltd. of Vancouver, which says it is close to a deal with Via Rail Canada Inc. that could see $20 million poured into launching tourist-oriented rail service between Vancouver and Whistler in time for the 2005 cruise Read More ›

Perhaps the Next Big Idea Is… Auto-Mobility

In a recent tour of the transportation policy horizon, Seattle Times’ editorialist James Vesely offered an intriguing observation. “Environment-first groups have the big idea on their side… But the other side has no competitive big idea. They talk capacity while the greens talk about how we live.” Transit theologians have hammered at the notion that auto use is morally wrong. Read More ›

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speeding train
Licensed from Adobe Stock

Officials Closing in on Deal to Save Amtrak

The quick, pragmatic answer is the national passenger snail service known as Amtrak cannot be allowed to collapse. That means the railway should receive the short-term financing needed to keep it alive through October and into next year.Clearly, however, the three-decades-old Amtrak is a failure as it is now configured. Last week, the Bush administration proposed shifting more of the Read More ›

Making Tracks

OLYMPIA — Increasingly popular passenger trains rumble between Portland and Seattle four times a day as the upgraded Amtrak Cascades service continues to attract business travelers, sightseers and Mariners fans seeking an alternative to airports and Interstate 5. Ridership has risen sixfold in the past eight years, turning the 466-mile Eugene-to-Vancouver, B.C., corridor into one of Amtrak’s fastest-growing services. Rider Read More ›

Rail-Lovers Determined Service Will Survive

SEATTLE — There’s an unusual coalition of train lovers here determined to ensure at least some passenger rail survives along the American West Coast even if Amtrak dies. What is interesting for British Columbians is that some of the strongest proponents of passenger rail on the U.S. West Coast are trying to “internationalize” the rail corridor. They want fast, efficient Read More ›

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The Town of La Conner in Northern Washington
Licensed from Adobe Stock

What Does 2002 Hold for San Juan County?

This section came from a larger summary of opinion from San Juan (Wash.) leaders in housing, growth, technology, education and volunteerism, in addition to transportation. For the complete article, click here. Transportation Since 1997, community leaders have gathered regularly at the Farmhouse Inn in La Conner to explore better ways to connect communities in North Snohomish, Skagit, Island, Whatcom and Read More ›

Amtrak Has Failed, But What Comes Next?

The quick, pragmatic answer is the national passenger snail service known as Amtrak cannot be allowed to collapse. That means the railway should receive the short-term financing needed to keep it alive through October and into next year. Clearly, however, the three-decades-old Amtrak is a failure as it is now configured. Last week, the Bush administration proposed shifting more of Read More ›