This article takes a look at the past and future of rail in America, with an emphasis on one surprise success story.
"'A lot of New Mexicans said this is going to be Richardson's folly... we like to drive our pick-ups, we like to drive fast, we like to drive along with our rifles in the rack at the back of the car, and what's happened is everyone's realised that the Rail Runner has been a blessing because it gets people to where they're going quicker,' he [New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson] says.
'And you know, that lone spirit, that individualist spirit, you can still exercise it on a train.'
Rail Runner is still bedding down - there are more stations due to open in the future for example - but the commuters we spoke to as we travelled between Albuquerque and Santa Fe were all keen supporters of the project."
FULL STORY: Full steam ahead for US railways

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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
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