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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 3h

Also, y'all: we need to have a look at the costs for the Heartland Flyer. It's the negative outlier here. Love the train, have ridden it; it would likely do much better per-rider with a 2nd daily RT...

RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 3h

Hope it happens! When I was in Fort Collins last spring, it was obvious to me how much they would benefit from Front Range service, not to mention Boulder, Longmont, Colo. Springs & Pueblo.

RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 3h

My objective yesterday was to pick a few examples to compare/contrast funding from LA/MS/AL to support Mardi Gras service, but then just decided to make it comprehensive.

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 3h

*Estimated 12-month ridership based on actual ridership to date
**Includes Downeaster, skewing data
***Includes Hiawatha, skewing data

Also note, Missouri River Runner not included. Couldn't find a way to pull that specific funding & ridership from Lincoln Service data.

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 3h

Listing of annual state funding & per-rider cost for Amtrak state-supported routes. Data generally from amtrak.com/state-fact-s.... Unless I'm wrong (please say so if I am!), the NNEPRA has an absolute bargain going with the Downeaster. View alt text to copy/paste. A few notes 👇🛤️

Downeaster (NNEPRA): $4 million / 591,948 riders = $1/rider
Borealis (MN/WI/IL): $6 million / 232,000 riders* = $26/rider ($34/rider if $8 million)
Mardi Gras (LA/MS/AL): $6.97 million / 155,000 riders* = $45/rider
Virginia Routes: $7.4 million / 1,711,528 riders = $4/rider
North Carolina Routes: $7.9 million / 708,015 riders = $11/rider
Heartland Flyer (TX/OK): $9.6 million / 80,371 = $119/rider
Vermonter/Ethan Allen: $10.5 million / 198,117 riders = $53/rider
Hiawatha (WI/IL): $14.3 million / 665,297 riders = $21.50/rider
Michigan Routes: $15.2 million / 695,075 riders = $22/rider
Pennsylvania Routes: $20.2 million / 1,959,443 riders = $10/rider
Massachusetts Routes: $21.5 million / 1,279,043 riders = $17/rider**
Cascades (WA/OR): $25.4 million / 941,727 riders = $27/rider
New York Routes: $32.5 million / 3,983,581 riders = $8/rider
Illinois Routes: $71.7 million / 2,473,306 riders = $29/rider***
California: $142.2 million / 3,926,252 riders = $36/rider

*Estimated 12-month ridership based on actual ridership to date
**Includes Downeaster, skewing data
***Includes Hiawatha, skewing data

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 5h

Looking up the annual operating investment for the various state-supported routes. And, folks, one route is substantially lower in both total annual funding amount needed (due to high passenger revenue) and per-passenger subsidies. Anyone down with which one it is?
Story at 11…

RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 1d

Addtl thoughts:
1) Imagine ridership when its actually, you know, Mardi Gras...
2) Each train is carrying about 25% passengers than a standard configuration CRJ 900
3) This isn't even a very high population corridor with meh trip time. Imagine how good other corridors could do🤔

RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 1d

Calculations by the Louisiana Assoc. of Railroad Passengers for @amtrak.com Mardi Gras Service: "The trains so far have averaged 105 riders per train, so 420 per day times 365 would be 153,300 for the year. That's more than double the first year estimate of 70,000."
www.wxxv25.com/ridership-es...

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 1d

Addtl thoughts:
1) Imagine ridership when its actually, you know, Mardi Gras...
2) Each train is carrying about 25% passengers than a standard configuration CRJ 900
3) This isn't even a very high population corridor with meh trip time. Imagine how good other corridors could do🤔

RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 1d

Calculations by the Louisiana Assoc. of Railroad Passengers for @amtrak.com Mardi Gras Service: "The trains so far have averaged 105 riders per train, so 420 per day times 365 would be 153,300 for the year. That's more than double the first year estimate of 70,000."
www.wxxv25.com/ridership-es...

Ridership estimates for two months of Amtrak on the Coast - WXXV News 25

With the month of September now in the books for Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service, the Southern Rail Commission has released a brief update on how the service is doing. Since the start of service, 19,000 p...

www.wxxv25.com

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 1d

Transit measures are on the November ballot in these local elections in Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina & Washington | Smart Cities Dive – www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/local-t...

Transit measures are on the November ballot in these local elections

Voters in four states are being asked to approve taxes to support roads and public transit and form a new transportation authority.

www.smartcitiesdive.com

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 1d

Calculations by the Louisiana Assoc. of Railroad Passengers for @amtrak.com Mardi Gras Service: "The trains so far have averaged 105 riders per train, so 420 per day times 365 would be 153,300 for the year. That's more than double the first year estimate of 70,000."
www.wxxv25.com/ridership-es...

Ridership estimates for two months of Amtrak on the Coast - WXXV News 25

With the month of September now in the books for Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service, the Southern Rail Commission has released a brief update on how the service is doing. Since the start of service, 19,000 p...

www.wxxv25.com

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 1d

Gilman (Vermont) grapples with its identity as rail is poised to return | @vtdigger.bsky.social – vtdigger.org/2025/10/12/g... #VT #trains #NewEngland #freight

Gilman grapples with its identity as rail is poised to return - VTDigger

“We don’t want to have industry come that doesn’t give us jobs or that doesn’t feed our community,” said Kate Baxter, a town volunteer involved in “putting the community’s voice at the table.”

vtdigger.org

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Reposted by RAIL Magazine

Kenny Uong @kennyuong.bsky.social · 3d

Upcoming rail openings in the US 🎉🚈🚆

@hnldts.bsky.social Skyline (Aloha Stadium to Kalihi TC) - Oct. 16

@kcstreetcar.org (Union Station to UMKC) - Oct. 24

DART Silver Line (DFW Airport to Shiloh Rd.) - Oct. 25

@sound-transit.bsky.social 1 Line (Angle Lake to Federal Way Downtown) - Dec. 6

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 4d

And, of course, the station also provides great access to the city's Allentown neighborhood. Do they perhaps draw a connection there between the district's name and the professional football quarterback who plays in Orchard Park...? Perhaps.

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 4d

The only Buffalo Metro Rail subway station that currently has appreciable development is the first subway station north of the downtown surface session: Allen-Medical Campus, which has experienced substantial growth over the past 2 decades with the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus.

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 4d

The city of Buffalo & NFTA have selected a developer for mixed-use growth at the LaSalle Metro Rail station, with formal approval/agreements still needed. Buffalo's light-rail network (in subway at LaSalle) is among the top performing systems per-mile in the U.S. TOD at more stations could grow that

City chooses developer for LaSalle Metro station properties

A Long Island development firm has won the preferred right to redevelop the LaSalle Metro Rail station and 11 acres of surrounding land, after initially proposing a $191 million transformation that co...

buffalonews.com

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 4d

Train Beer Friday: Boxcar Bumpkin Pumpkin Spice Golden Stout by Off The Rails Brewing in Pocatello, ID. There's plenty of boxcars to be found just behind this brewery via Union Pacific's massive presence on its Nampa and Montana Subdivisions. 🍻

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 5d

On departure day, sunrise scenes along the Tennessee Pass line: grade crossing, bridge with Rio Grande marking and signal. That will wrap up this look back to my visit to the Eagle River Valley.

Tennessee Pass line bridge with legacy Rio Grande branding

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 5d

Looking down on the Tennessee Pass line from my hotel room balcony, then at grade level and from the unofficial trail below grade level, all in Avon.

Looking down on the Tennessee Pass line from my hotel room in Avon

Tennessee Pass line at grade level in Avon

Tennessee Pass line from trail level in Avon

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 5d

More views of the Tennessee Pass grade crossing in Avon (obviously, no trains are expected anytime soon). Plus the ski resort site map, and the aforementioned gondola.

Tennessee Pass in Avon, looking west/north

Tennessee Pass grade crossing in Avon, looking towards Avon Station

Beaver Creek Mountain ski resort diagram in Avon

Riverfront Express gondola in Avon, which connects the hotel and commercial district area to the ski resort

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 5d

More bus scenes at Avon Station. Both CORE Transit and Avon Transit serve this facility, just steps away from the gondola over to the ski resort.

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 5d

Views of UP's Tennessee Pass Line from I-70 between Eagle and Avon. The landscape & terrain was breathtaking from the Interstate. Imagine it from the rail line that predated the modern roadway infrastructure...🛤️

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 5d

View of CORE Transit's Chambers Park & Ride in the Town of Eagle

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 5d

As seen from CORE Transit's Valley Route, the Tennessee Pass line is fully grade separated at Eby Creek Rd in the town of Eagle.

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 5d

Eagle County Regional Airport (KEGE, also marketed as Vail) is well-served by Eagle County's CORE Transit on its Valley route connecting Dotsero, Gypsum, Eagle, Edwards, Avon & Vail.

CORE Transit Valley Route eastbound arriving at Eagle County Regional Airport

CORE Transit timetable at Eagle County Regional Airport

Terminal at Eagle County Regional Airpor

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 5d

Had some things come up during my visit to Avon, Colorado a couple weeks ago, including views of Union Pacific's (former SP) Tennessee Pass line – inactive since 1997) and the impressive local & regional bus options. Here's a synopsis thread of that visit...

Tennessee Pass Line at Lettuce Shield Ln near the Avon Station bus center

Avon Transit bus adjacent to UP Tennessee Pass Line in Avon

UP Tennessee Pass Line near Eagle Regional Airport at sunrise

2 Eagle County CORE Transit buses at Avon Station

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RAIL Magazine @railmag.bsky.social · 5d

These fans are lucky @nctcogtrans.bsky.social stepped up to fund Texas' portion of the operating budget to support the continuation of Heartland Flyer service this year!

Oklahoma fans opt for train travel to Red River Rivalry to avoid I-35 traffic

Oklahoma fans are choosing the train to Dallas for the Red River Rivalry to avoid traffic on I-35, with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation ensuring the service continues despite funding concern...

www.koco.com

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