How Can Rail Complete its Comeback in the United States?

Deepa Sanyal writes the second installment of a series devoted to the idea of "Rail Redux"—this time examining the question of what components are necessary to drive a "true rail resurgence."

1 minute read

August 21, 2014, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Us High Speed Rail System

Alfred Twu / FirstCultural

Deepa Sanyal poses the question: "What factors will drive a true rail resurgence?" before listing four critical initiatives to achieve that goal. The list includes recommendations to build a robust train network (describing the state of Amtrak as "skeletal at best"), improving air-rail connectivity, and building public and private high speed rail. Sanyal also includes more detail on each of those points.

The first installment of the series examined the value of rail stations to communities. 

Tuesday, August 19, 2014 in PlannersWeb

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 10, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

This Toronto Suburb Has More Bus Riders Than Columbus, Ohio

Brampton, Ontario used gradual improvements in service to prove that if you build it, they will ride.

6 seconds ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Silhouette of man holding on to back of bicycle ridden by woman with Eiffel Tower in background.

Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution

The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.

April 14 - Momentum Magazine

Multifamily housing under construction.

Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas

Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.

April 14 - San Francisco Chronicle