Obama gives "High Ball" to High Speed Rail
“My high-speed rail proposal will lead to innovations that change the way we travel in America. We must start developing clean, energy-efficient transportation that will define our regions for centuries to come.
"A major new high-speed rail line will generate many thousands of construction jobs over several years, as well as permanent jobs for rail employees and increased economic activity in the destinations these trains serve. High-speed rail is long-overdue, and this plan lets American travelers know that they are not doomed to a future of long lines at the airports or jammed cars on the highways.”
-- President Barack Obama
April 16, 2009
Tomorrow afternoon, I head to Chicago to begin a trip to Washington, D.C. onboard a private railroad car. Though I've made this journey before, the experience of "Private Varnish" is a first for me; I still can't quite believe I'm about to ride in a privately owned sleeping car...
Once in D.C., I will be attending the spring meeting of the NARP council. With this epic interest in the betterment of the country's passenger rail service by the new administration, our conference could not have better timing. I am DEFINITELY looking forward to our meetings with the staff of our representatives from California this year!
EDIT: National Association of Railroad Passengers President and CEO Ross Capon issued the following statement after attending President Obama’s unveiling of the Administration’s Vision for High-Speed Rail in America:"It was truly an honor to be present when, for the first time in my 34 years with the Association, a President of the United States delivered a speech on passenger trains that I would have been proud to have authored, backed up by the unprecedented $9.3 billion for intercity passenger trains in the Economic Recovery law ..."
EDIT2: Photos of the two private railroad cars that will be making the journey to D.C.
EDIT3: A Vision for High-Speed Rail for America coverage at The White House Blog.
"A major new high-speed rail line will generate many thousands of construction jobs over several years, as well as permanent jobs for rail employees and increased economic activity in the destinations these trains serve. High-speed rail is long-overdue, and this plan lets American travelers know that they are not doomed to a future of long lines at the airports or jammed cars on the highways.”
-- President Barack Obama
April 16, 2009
Tomorrow afternoon, I head to Chicago to begin a trip to Washington, D.C. onboard a private railroad car. Though I've made this journey before, the experience of "Private Varnish" is a first for me; I still can't quite believe I'm about to ride in a privately owned sleeping car...
Once in D.C., I will be attending the spring meeting of the NARP council. With this epic interest in the betterment of the country's passenger rail service by the new administration, our conference could not have better timing. I am DEFINITELY looking forward to our meetings with the staff of our representatives from California this year!
EDIT: National Association of Railroad Passengers President and CEO Ross Capon issued the following statement after attending President Obama’s unveiling of the Administration’s Vision for High-Speed Rail in America:"It was truly an honor to be present when, for the first time in my 34 years with the Association, a President of the United States delivered a speech on passenger trains that I would have been proud to have authored, backed up by the unprecedented $9.3 billion for intercity passenger trains in the Economic Recovery law ..."
EDIT2: Photos of the two private railroad cars that will be making the journey to D.C.
- Cimarron River - Pullman "14-4" Sleeping Car (Frisco 1948)
- Royal Street - Round-end 5 Double Bedroom-Buffet-Lounge Observation Car (Louisville & National 1950)
EDIT3: A Vision for High-Speed Rail for America coverage at The White House Blog.