217.370.8505 cory@bletislb.org

Dem senator opposes provision in House Amtrak bill.  Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) is vowing to stop a proposal in the $7.8 billion Amtrak funding bill that was approved by the House last week that he says would result in high-speed trains skipping stations in his home state.  “High-speed rail without stops in Connecticut is a nonstarter,” Blumenthal said in a statement. “I will strongly and steadfastly oppose any proposal for high-speed rail that uses Connecticut tracks but bypasses Connecticut stations.” http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/235217-dem-senator-opposes-provision-in-house-amtrak-bill

 

New policy worries states supporting short Amtrak routes.  INDIANAPOLIS — The leader of a coalition of states that foot most of the costs of Amtrak’s short passenger routes says its members are awaiting answers from a federal agency about a new policy Indiana cited in its decision to end a line between Indianapolis and Chicago.  Depending on its final form, the policy being drafted by the Federal Railroad Administration could make it impossible for some states to keep their Amtrak routes running, said Patricia Quinn, who chairs the Portland, Maine-based States for Passenger Rail Coalition. http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20150312/NEWS/150319878/-1/LOCAL

 

Indianapolis-to-Chicago Amtrak line not finished yet.  INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Department of Transportation says Amtrak service between Indianapolis and Chicago will continue throughApril 30 while Federal Railroad Administration officials reconsider a policy.  INDOT announced the one-month reprieve Friday. It says acting FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg told INDOT Commissioner Karl Browning in a phone call that her agency would reconsider a policy that INDOT has cited in announcing the four-days-pert-week Hoosier State service would end April 1.  Browning says it isn’t clear the FRA will change its mind but wants to give the agency more time to reconsider.  http://wishtv.com/2015/03/13/indianapolis-to-chicago-amtrak-line-not-finished-yet/