(Source: Bostonglobe.com)

In the half-month since the Senate nearly slashed mass transit from the stimulus bill, yet more locales broke ridership records from coast to coast. The New York City subway system moved 1.62 billion people last year, the most since 1950. Combined with buses, the city moved 2.37 billion people, the most since 1965. The Metro-North rail that services the suburbs outside New York carried a record 84 million passengers.

In the Pacific Northwest, the Amtrak Cascades line from Portland to Seattle set a new record with a 14.4 percent increase. In the South, ridership for the Piedmonttrain between Charlotte and Raleigh was up 30.8 percent last year.

Click here to read the full article.

(Source: Scoop Independent News)

Auckland’s rail electrification right on track

International rail rolling stock manufacturers and suppliers from across the world have responded strongly to a call for Expressions of Interest in response to the release of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority’s Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) Expression of Interest (EOI) document which was advertised on 23 December 2008 and closed on 12 February this year, ARTA’s Chief Executive, Fergus Gammie said today.

In December last year, the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) made an historic decision for the region to approve ARTA taking a major step forward towards the purchase of a new fleet of 140 electric train cars for Auckland.

(obtained via Associated Press)

LONDON (AP) — Board a train in London, and in 2 1/2 hours you can be in Paris, City of Light — or in Manchester, city of gray skies and grit.

It frustrates many travelers that sometimes the trip to Paris is cheaper. Advance fares to the French capital on the high-speed Eurostar train start at 59 pounds ($85), 7 pounds ($9) cheaper than a standard off-peak return to the city in northwest England.

A major report released Thursday provided more fuel for passenger complaints, finding that train travel in Britain is expensive, frustrating and confusing.

The government-commissioned study found that British rail journeys are among the highest-priced in Europe, while passengers find the country’s Byzantine fare structures baffling.

The report by watchdog group Passenger Focus said the same train could contain passengers who had paid 150 pounds ($215) for a ticket and others who paid just 10 pounds ($15). It said the structure of long-distance train fares was “complicated and not logical.”

To read the entire article, click here.

YPT is happy to announce our February Leadership Seminar with Amtrak Board Chair Donna McLean.

When:

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009

6:00 to 7:30pm

 Where:

PB Consult

1401 K Street NW, Ste. 300

Washington, DC 20005

[Northwest corner of 14th and K St.; Metrorail – Blue/Orange to McPherson Square]

Ms. McLean serves on the Amtrak Board of Directors and currently is Chair of the Board.

In her last position in the Federal government, Ms. McLean was at the US Department of Transportation serving as the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer under Secretary Norman Y. Mineta.  In her position, Ms. McLean was responsible for developing the $60 billion President’s budget request for the Department of Transportation. 

Prior to CFO of DOT, she was the Assistant Secretary for Financial Services and Chief Financial Officer of the Federal Aviation Administration.  Ms. McLean was also a professional staff member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for nearly seven years.  In addition, she has worked at the Office of Management and Budget on the President’s budget as well as the regulatory agenda.

In 2003, Donna McLean established, DONNA McLEAN Associates, LLC, a Washington, DC based consulting firm specializing in transportation policy.  In addition, she is an adjunct Professor for Indiana University’s Washington Leadership Program.

Please join us on February 19 to discuss transportation policy and the nation’s rail service.