This Week at Amtrak; August 25, 2008

A weekly digest of events, opinions, and forecasts from
United Rail Passenger Alliance, Inc.
1526 University Boulevard, West, PMB 203
Jacksonville, Florida 32217-2006 USA
Telephone 904-636-7739, Electronic Mail info@unitedrail.org
http://www.unitedrail.org



Volume 5, Number 24



Founded over three decades ago in 1976, URPA is a nationally known policy institute that focuses on solutions and plans for passenger rail systems in North America. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, URPA has professional associates in Minnesota, California, Arizona, New Mexico, the District of Columbia, Texas, and New York. For more detailed information, along with a variety of position papers and other documents, visit the URPA web site at http://www.unitedrail.org.


URPA is not a membership organization, and does not accept funding from any outside sources.



1) Amtrak is smiling approvingly at one its bankers, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, who has filed a bill in the United States Senate to provide Amtrak with $2.8 billion to overhaul existing equipment and build new rolling stock.


If this bill becomes law (and, it is only in very early stages), Amtrak must take this opportunity to properly equip itself for the future – both financially and to meet passenger demand – with the correct selection of equipment, not just replacements for existing rolling stock.


URPA has updated its 2005 white paper, Concepts of the Successful Long Distance Passenger
Train of the Future.


The update is attached, and may also be found on URPA’s web site, www.unitedrail.org .



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J. Bruce Richardson
President
United Rail Passenger Alliance, Inc.
1526 University Boulevard, West, PMB 203
Jacksonville, Florida 32217-2006 USA
Telephone 904-636-7739
brucerichardson@unitedrail.org
http://www.unitedrail.org