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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · 9d

The California High Speed Rail Project is set to see private sector funding and faster construction. Read the first 3 entries of the latest newsletter from the California High Speed Rail Authority (@cahsra.bsky.social):
www.hsr.ca.gov/communicatio...

www.hsr.ca.gov

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · 9d

When you have a decade of frivolous lawsuits trying to stop the project and years of political attempts to kill it, delays happen and costs go up. That said, the new CAHSRA CEO Ian Choudry has done a lot to turn the project around, speed up construction, and bring in private sector funding.

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · 18d

California High Speed Rail will deliver more value for less than half the per-mile cost than the North Houston Highway Project, which is over budget and more delay-plagued than CAHSR:

Why do they hate California high speed rail? Because it could actually succeed | High Speed Rail Alliance

Against the odds, the project could succeed in bringing true freedom to travelers in America. That is the great threat and promise of CA HSR.

www.hsrail.org

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · 27d

Our parent org, All Aboard Erie, is holding a fundraiser on October 4, 2025. The nephew of the late comedic actor Don Knotts of Andy Griffith and Three's Company fame will be discussing his life and career at McClane Church in Edinboro, PA. Buy tickets here:
www.ticketleap.events/events/mclan...

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Sep 4

@lunatrain.bsky.social has an insightful blog on the state of the travel industry. We highly recommend it.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Amtrak’s Roomette is a Relic of the Past | Lunatrain

The roomette no longer serves its original purpose.

www.ridelunatrain.com

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Reposted by Lakeshore Rail Alliance

Streetsblog L.A. @streetsblogla.bsky.social · Sep 3

If Caltrain (and much of the world) can experience the huge benefits of train electrification, so can Metrolink la.streetsblog.org/2025/09/03/m...

Metrolink Needs to Draw Inspiration from Caltrain's Electrification Success - Streetsblog Los Angeles

Electrification means faster, more frequent, cleaner and quieter trains. If Caltrain (and trains all over the world) can do it, so can Metrolink.

la.streetsblog.org

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Sep 3

Again, Ohio showcases its position as the biggest impediment to passenger rail expansion in the Midwest. The state just dropped its updated rail plan, which contains no passenger rail projects. It's another slap in the face to the super-majority of Ohioans who want more & better passenger rail:

Passenger rail advocates pan state’s updated rail plan for freight focus

Ohio’s major passenger train advocacy group is railing against the state’s updated rail plan, which they say underplays passenger train expansion and places too much focus on freight rail.

www.daytondailynews.com

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 29

California High Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri is working to accelerate the construction of the CAHSR project and bring in private sector funding:
Message Body

www.forbes.com/sites/alanoh...

How AI Data Centers Could Save California High-Speed Rail

Trump is clawing back $4 billion, but CEO Ian Choudri has a host of new ideas—including leasing land for data centers—to raise more revenue for the costly project.

www.forbes.com

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 20

The effects of the State of PA's cuts to transit will cascade to Amtrak. No one ever suggests de-commissioning roads to save money. It's time to recognize that transit is no less essential.

SEPTA cuts may 'lead to deterioration' of Amtrak services across the Northeast

Amtrak officials said SEPTA cuts may impact trains between Philly, New York and Harrisburg as well as services throughout the Northeast Corridor.

www.nbcnewyork.com

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Reposted by Lakeshore Rail Alliance

Rail Passengers Association @railpassengers.org · Aug 11

Are you telling us that when service frequency goes up, then ridership will follow that same direction?

This is our shocked face: 😐

www.planetizen.com/news/2025/08... via @planetizen.bsky.social

Electrified Caltrain Boosts Ridership 76%

The introduction of electric trains and faster, more frequent service has led to a dramatic increase in ridership.

www.planetizen.com

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 9

Though we at times criticize @amtrak.com, let's be clear about what the problem really is here: The lack of a strong, coherent federal passenger rail program with highway levels of funding annually (~$52 billion).

Amtrak pushing the new Acela so proudly--DC to Boston in 7 hours. Shinkansen does the same distance in 4

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 9

It's kind of hard to avoid driving when there are few to no alternatives. Car dependency makes life worse. bsky.app/profile/bike...

BikeBike In Calgary @bikebikeyyc.bsky.social · Aug 9

Welcome to the @thewaroncars.bsky.social, Newsweek.
www.newsweek.com/millions-urg...

Millions urged to avoid driving

Air quality alerts have been issued across parts of Illinois, Colorado, Wyoming, and Arizona on Thursday.

www.newsweek.com

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 9

Let's stop with the passenger rail double standard. Airlines can't exist without publicly-funded airports, traffic control, security. Some states directly subsidize flights. There is a federal Essential Air Services subsidy. Bus companies don't build highways. Highways lose huge amounts of money.

We don't need high speed rail. If we did, there would be a profitable HSR system somewhere on earth that exists without gov't subsidies. There isn't. Airlines move much faster and often exist without subsidies

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 9

Dems passed a HSR funding bill during Obama's tenure. When Tea Party Repubs took over the House and Senate, they removed the funding. Sen. Markey and Rep. Moulton (Dems-Massachussetts) have repeatedly introduced HSR funding bills

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 9

In the EU, there is pubic ownership of track that is open to competition by private sector operators. There are lines that the private sector can make money operating, but that's because, like aviation, the infrastructure is publicly owned.

Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 9

This argument only makes sense if airlines had to build airports, pay for security, and pay for air traffic control; and if trucking and bus companies had to build highways. That said, Japan's Shinkansen is fully privatized (after the gov't build the track) and is profitable. Continues...

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 9

2/3 of the US has cities ideally spaced for high-speed rail and the travel density between them to make it work.

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 9

Keep up the good work All Aboard Ohio!

All Aboard Ohio @allaboardohio.org · Aug 9

We’re on our race to Chicago to learn about good rail and transit policy and infrastructure. Why’s that so important for Ohio? @railpassengers.org

www.allaboardohio.org/posts/racing...

Racing Toward Rail Progress: All Aboard Ohio's Second Race to Chicago | All Aboard Ohio

All Aboard Ohio joins the Race to Chicago, with teams from Cleveland and Cincinnati traveling by rail to meet national transit leaders and explore high-speed rail opportunities. Follow the journey as ...

www.allaboardohio.org

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 7

A lot of people don't grasp that 2/3 of the US has cities ideally spaced for high-speed rail as well as European-style night trains and fast, frequent conventional service to connect smaller cities and towns to those endpoint cities.

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 6

This @theatlantic.com piece is both spot on and misses a key point. The built environment Americans live in is hostile to kids. Walking/biking is unsafe and destinations are too far for it. Drivers speed everywhere. Cul-de-sac neighborhoods are isolated. Fix the built environment, fix this problem.

What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their Phones

Children who were raised on screens need more freedom out in the real world.

www.theatlantic.com

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 1

Ohio needs to do a better job with passenger rail development. a robust, well-funded, federal passenger rail program would help:

Opinion: Ohio is the Poster Child for Why We Need a Stronger Federal Approach to Passenger Rail — Streetsblog USA

Ohio's reluctance to build new passenger rail has made them a bottleneck in the national network, and an emblem of bigger national problem.

usa.streetsblog.org

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 1

Good to see pollution fall, but there are still way to many cars in Paris.

Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Aug 1

It was the increase in frequency that did the most to increase ridership. That said, electrification is great for its faster acceleration, which helped shorten trip times.

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Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Jul 31

Was in Paris briefly in May. Amazing to see the level of cycling and glad it's not slowing down. That city is overrun with cars. Not as badly as N. American cities, of course, but bad enough.

Lakeshore Rail Alliance @lakeshorerail.bsky.social · Jul 31

An increasing number of Americans are underwater on their car loans. Car debt surpassed student loan debt in 2023. Cars are destroying household wealth. Legalize transportation freedom. We need high-quality options to the car keys.

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Column | More Americans are car poor as they misjudge trade-in math and pile on debt

More than 1 in 4 consumers owe more on their car loans than the vehicle is worth, while car payments of $1,000 have reached a record high.

www.washingtonpost.com

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