Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Looks at why the U.S. has been slow to develop HSR and how conditions have changed recently within the U.S. that might affect HSR development going forward.

Signs resolution in reaction to reports from the Regional Transportation Council that a private group including Central Japan Railway is proposing bullet-train service between Houston and Dallas, with possibly a terminal in southeast Dallas.

Objecting to political compromises that they say undermine legal safeguards for the massive investment, notably a design that would move passengers between urban destinations faster than air travel.

Amtrak also plans to upgrade electrical wiring and signals on a straight, high-speed section of the Northeast Corridor from New Brunswick to just south of Trenton.

In early 2013, Amtrak will issue a Request for Information to formally start the process that will replace the existing 20 Acela Express train sets and add additional train sets to expand seating capacity and provide for more frequent high-speed service on the NEC.

The decisions will make the corridor eligible for new trains, improved frequencies, help improve on-time performance and ultimately reduce travel time to less than four hours.

The launch represents a historic step toward the establishment of a high-speed rail network in Illinois, one of Gov. Quinn's key priorities as he works to modernize the state's infrastructure.

Will assume his new role at the High Speed Rail Conference in Los Angeles in December.

Hassel Studios' Australian High Speed Vehicle — based on a 1960's muscle car design — would travel around 250 mph and would offer the choice of modern, spacious, open-plan commuter seating or private berths for business meetings or luxury travelers.

A new high-speed rail alignment beneath Center City would allow trains to avoid speed-killing curves and space limits near the 30th Street Station, helping meet a goal of 37-minute train trips between Philadelphia and New York by 2040.