The $48M cost to run NJTransit during the World Cup represents 0.44% of the estimated $11B that FIFA will bank this summer.

https://twp.ai/E5AWgM

www.halifaxexaminer.ca 'The steel highways are always open': Let's make trains and transit exciting - Halifax Examiner

Advertising for train/transit travel a generation ago was absolutely unmatched with countless museum worthy pieces - so what's stopping us from that now?

captimes.com Amtrak’s plans to restore passenger rail in Madison are on track

Arun Rao, Amtrak's senior director for state partnerships and one of the main officials behind the launch of the Borealis - even going back to his days with WisDOT - led a public meeting last night to discuss the future of service between MKE and Madison

www.wwltv.com Amtrak Mardi Gras line set to board 100,000th passenger

Big celebration in the Gulf Coast next Tuesday.

www.cbsnews.com First look at NJ Transit's new multi-level trains shows high-tech upgrades

Thanks to a $3B investment, part of which was announced back in 2019, the future of NJTransit's fleet is now.

www.youtube.com Amtrak Advances New Long Distance Train Fleet

Amtrak has officially submitted their RFP for the brand-new single-level long distance fleet. The future begins now.

www.theurbanist.org Amtrak's Seattle Trainyard Expansion Hits Halfway Mark

The construction of the future $300M maintenance home for the new fleet of Cascades trains has officially hit the 50% mark.

www.wfaa.com Heartland Flyer could face shutdown as Oklahoma talks funding cuts

Last year, the Regional Transportation Council in TX stepped up to support the Flyer when the state legislature could not. Now, with the Texas chambers not in session until next January, it's their counterparts in Oklahoma that are failing passengers.

columbusunderground.com Experts Weigh in on State of Passenger Rail Efforts in Ohio - Columbus Underground

Coverage of this weekend's Ohio Rail Summit hosted by our good friends at All Aboard Ohio Our very own VP of Government Affairs, Sean Jeans-Gail, will be there as the featured "fireside chat" guest.

www.progressiverailroading.com BNSF, Metra sign 10-year passenger-service pact

While Metra and UP still can't get along, they have secured a long term access deal with BNSF for their busiest weekday line.

gothamist.com MTA sits on sidelines as Trump and NJ Transit rebuild Penn Station

Two weeks ago, NJ Transit was announced as a "key partner" in the Penn Station rebuild plans - but the "home agency" is still not involved.

As we celebrate Artemis II's return to Earth on this #HotlineFriday, the boss discusses how two major transit systems are taking very different approaches to World Cup visitors, and we give important updates for our upcoming Advocacy Week in DC.

https://twp.ai/E6HYZ6

www.thecalifornian.com Pacific Surfliner adds new daily trips to Central Coast

More information on story we have covered in the past.

qns.com Nearly 200 residents attend Sunnyside Yard information session after Mamdani revives plans – QNS

A project first proposed through a partnership between Amtrak and the New York City Economic Development Corporation in 2019 under then-Mayor de Blasio has been revived by current NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani

www.northjersey.com NY Penn Station to close for hours before World Cup matches

The transit plans for those attending World Cup matches this summer around the country have, so far, not been kind to those who are just trying to get around for work, school, appointments, etc.

usa.streetsblog.org Trump Wants to Slash Federal Funding for Public Transit, Rail (Again) — Streetsblog USA

As highlighted in our press release from last Friday, these cuts move the nation "in the wrong direction for affordability, mobility, and safety" right when Americans are facing record-high travel costs.

More from Streetsblog USA:

www.smart-union.org Maryland Senate Advancing Two-Person Crew Bill - SMART Union

Thanks to the grassroots advocacy work led by members of the SMART Transportation Division, the Maryland State Senate is poised to send the Two-Person Crew Bill out of committee and to the floor for a full vote.

The more gas prices rise, the more we will see articles like this pushing for people to take the train.

https://twp.ai/E6HNcs

Hundreds of fans traveling on the “Rockingham Special” last weekend to catch the NASCAR races were greeted at the station by North Carolina native and 3rd generation racing legend Kyle Petty.

https://twp.ai/E6HNci

Our VP of Government Affairs Sean Jeans-Gail is currently giving a rail transportation legislative briefing

https://twp.ai/E6Hc8b

With tickets for the first five group stage matches going on sale tomorrow (April 8th), the MBTA is laying out their plans to get fans to and from "Boston Stadium" in Foxboro for the World Cup

https://twp.ai/E6Hckp

Trains Pro coverage of Friday’s opening of Siemens Mobility's brand-new $220M, 200 acre facility in Lexington, NC - the "birthplace" of Amtrak’s Airo fleet.

www.cbsnews.com Coloradans have spoken and chosen the name of the Front Range Passenger Rail

Front range service between Pueblo and Fort Collins in Colorado officially has a name!

Also, something we learned today: "Trainy McTrainface" is actually the name of a train line in Sweden.

www.woodtv.com Track washout cancels Amtrak Grand Rapids-Chicago trains

Major storms that rolled through the Midwest/Great Lakes over the last few days took out tracks and caused temporary cancellations of Michigan service trains.

Amtrak's Planning and State Partnerships Team is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, April 14th at 7pm central on the proposed Hiawatha West service that would extend into downtown Madison.

Register here: https://twp.ai/E6HV8b

Leave it to the government to drop a major budget request on everyone's laps on the Friday before a holiday weekend - but have no fear we have you covered on that and the rest of the #HotlineFriday news. See you onboard!

https://twp.ai/E6HJRP

The Trump Administration's FY27 budget request is not very kind to public transit and passenger rail but, when you add in the soon-to-be expiring advanced appropriations of the IIJA, there is a looming cliff approaching.

Read our full press release here: https://twp.ai/E6HV65

gothamist.com America’s horrible trains mean you have no alternative to hourslong airport lines

“Every time we have crises like this, and they do pop up from time to time, inevitably people flow to Amtrak. We just, basically, don’t have the resiliency to absorb the extra travelers.” - Rail Passengers President & CEO Jim Mathews

www.wfmz.com 'The numbers say New York': Passenger rail group advocates for sharpening focus

All Aboard Lehigh Valley President, and Association Council Member, Brett Webber successfully secured $30,000 from the Northampton County Council to help support an economic impact/ridership study for the Allentown-NYC corridor.

www.youtube.com NYC’s Worst Rail Bottleneck Is Finally Fixed

A look at the opening of NYC's new Portal North Bridge and what's still to come.