San Antonians for Rail Transit
@railforsatx.bsky.social
San Antonians for Rail Transit (SART) is a group dedicated to promoting efficient, reliable rail transportation for Central and South Texas.
Pinned
Did you know that the Amtrak Texas Eagle has to BACK UP to get out of the San Antonio Amtrak station? It’s true, and it adds 15 minutes to an hour to every trip that goes through San Antonio. Why is this?
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
The full Mobile - Texarkana corridor is possible with 4 trainsets operating daily, plus appropriate number of spare ratio for preventative maintenance.
This route would offer 5 different transfer opportunities to other Amtrak routes at New Orleans, Shreveport & Texarkana.
This route would offer 5 different transfer opportunities to other Amtrak routes at New Orleans, Shreveport & Texarkana.
November 12, 2025 at 5:09 PM
The full Mobile - Texarkana corridor is possible with 4 trainsets operating daily, plus appropriate number of spare ratio for preventative maintenance.
This route would offer 5 different transfer opportunities to other Amtrak routes at New Orleans, Shreveport & Texarkana.
This route would offer 5 different transfer opportunities to other Amtrak routes at New Orleans, Shreveport & Texarkana.
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
After this expedition, I worked on an expanded schedule crayon from my Mardi Gras expansion to Baton Rouge projection, continuing up to Shreveport and Texarkana using the current Mardi Gras schedule. Blue column highlight = overnight train. Times modified from 1941 KCS Southern Belle timetable
November 12, 2025 at 5:09 PM
After this expedition, I worked on an expanded schedule crayon from my Mardi Gras expansion to Baton Rouge projection, continuing up to Shreveport and Texarkana using the current Mardi Gras schedule. Blue column highlight = overnight train. Times modified from 1941 KCS Southern Belle timetable
Disappointing news for rail transportation.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed 4 years ago. In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social we study its effects.
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
Federal Infrastructure Spending on Transportation, Four Years after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is up for reauthorization in 2026. New analysis shows that the act increased spending on transportation infrastructure, but…
www.urban.org
November 12, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Disappointing news for rail transportation.
"[P]assenger rail infrastructure should be treated like highways and airports, whereby it is considered a public good...."
A bold and broad-reaching plan of action.
A bold and broad-reaching plan of action.
Read our white paper "Creating a Robust American Passenger Rail System". Federal policy toward passenger rail needs an overhaul. Let's get a national conversation started:
www.allaboarderie.net/_files/ugd/b...
www.allaboarderie.net/_files/ugd/b...
www.allaboarderie.net
November 12, 2025 at 11:32 PM
"[P]assenger rail infrastructure should be treated like highways and airports, whereby it is considered a public good...."
A bold and broad-reaching plan of action.
A bold and broad-reaching plan of action.
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
Tell TxDOT you want more multimodal options in Texas! 🚶🏽♀️🧑🏻🦽🚲 🚌
The Texas Department of Transportation is developing the Texas Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan 2050!
Participate in-person or online!
🔗 https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/statewide/statewide-multimodal-transit-plan.html
The Texas Department of Transportation is developing the Texas Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan 2050!
Participate in-person or online!
🔗 https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/statewide/statewide-multimodal-transit-plan.html
November 12, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Tell TxDOT you want more multimodal options in Texas! 🚶🏽♀️🧑🏻🦽🚲 🚌
The Texas Department of Transportation is developing the Texas Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan 2050!
Participate in-person or online!
🔗 https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/statewide/statewide-multimodal-transit-plan.html
The Texas Department of Transportation is developing the Texas Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan 2050!
Participate in-person or online!
🔗 https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/statewide/statewide-multimodal-transit-plan.html
Sounds like a great idea.
Our original publisher of RAIL Magazine had this idea for a reserve fleet of standard railroad coaches and locomotives of 25-50 trainsets that would be well-maintained and ready to dispatch for disasters, emergencies, repair shortfalls, etc. We shopped it on the Hill a few times.🚆🛤️
SEPTA has reached an agreement to lease 10 passenger coaches from Maryland’s commuter railroad, adding capacity to help ease the shortages now wrecking Regional Rail schedules.
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Sounds like a great idea.
San Antonio public presentation is TONIGHT 5:30-7:30 at Plaza de Suenos, 1811 S. Laredo. If you can't make it, view the prerecorded presentation at the link and take the survey in the next post. www.txdot.gov/projects/hea...
Texas Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan
Between Oct. 22 and Nov. 13, TxDOT is hosting seven public meetings across the state to provide the public information about the Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan (Texas SMTP 2050), ask the technical ...
www.txdot.gov
November 12, 2025 at 10:26 PM
San Antonio public presentation is TONIGHT 5:30-7:30 at Plaza de Suenos, 1811 S. Laredo. If you can't make it, view the prerecorded presentation at the link and take the survey in the next post. www.txdot.gov/projects/hea...
So are we! San Antonio session is tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Plaza de Suenos
(1811 S Laredo St.)
(1811 S Laredo St.)
We are SO excited about TxDOT's multimodal plan! Read on for more information and please fill out the survey to show your support for multimodal transportation in Texas! surveymonkey.com/r/F6RQFQN
November 11, 2025 at 10:37 PM
So are we! San Antonio session is tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Plaza de Suenos
(1811 S Laredo St.)
(1811 S Laredo St.)
Now would be a great time to start on that Laredo-San Antonio line.
Mexico begins work on passenger line to Nuevo Laredo | Trains Magazine -
www.trains.com/pro/passenge...
www.trains.com/pro/passenge...
November 9, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Now would be a great time to start on that Laredo-San Antonio line.
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
Monthly and annual ridership numbers for Amtrak. Capping off a strong fiscal year with yet another ridership gain.
Thank you to everyone who has ridden Amtrak over the past year. Here's to another good year in front of us.
Thank you to everyone who has ridden Amtrak over the past year. Here's to another good year in front of us.
November 8, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Monthly and annual ridership numbers for Amtrak. Capping off a strong fiscal year with yet another ridership gain.
Thank you to everyone who has ridden Amtrak over the past year. Here's to another good year in front of us.
Thank you to everyone who has ridden Amtrak over the past year. Here's to another good year in front of us.
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
SMTP is the most important step in bringing passenger rail to Texas, and public comment ends Nov. 20. In-person meeting dates and times are listed in the link, along with a prerecorded presentation. Your input matters! www.txdot.gov/projects/hea...
Texas Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan
Between Oct. 22 and Nov. 13, TxDOT is hosting seven public meetings across the state to provide the public information about the Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan (Texas SMTP 2050), ask the technical ...
www.txdot.gov
November 3, 2025 at 10:27 PM
SMTP is the most important step in bringing passenger rail to Texas, and public comment ends Nov. 20. In-person meeting dates and times are listed in the link, along with a prerecorded presentation. Your input matters! www.txdot.gov/projects/hea...
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
I’m not sure what it says about the state of U.S. transit, but only five states move more people by rail each day than the people mover at Atlanta’s airport. By my estimate, it’s one of the most efficient rail systems in the world.
November 7, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I’m not sure what it says about the state of U.S. transit, but only five states move more people by rail each day than the people mover at Atlanta’s airport. By my estimate, it’s one of the most efficient rail systems in the world.
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
Thanks to the Illinois’ massive investment in transit, Chicago has a bright transit future, with the dawn coming next year:
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen’s ambitious plan would also expand — from 20 to 30 routes — the so-called “Frequent Bus Network” that provides service “every ten minutes or better” between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
trib.al/Va4Ri0r
trib.al/Va4Ri0r
CTA plans 24-hour service on Orange Line to Midway, thanks to mass transit bailout
Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen’s ambitious plan would also expand — from 20 to 30 routes — the so-called “Frequent Bus Network” that provides service “every ten minutes or better” between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
trib.al
November 7, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Thanks to the Illinois’ massive investment in transit, Chicago has a bright transit future, with the dawn coming next year:
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
34,471,000
Amtrak has closed out fiscal year 2025 with a new ridership record! Here’s to another one in 2026.
Amtrak has closed out fiscal year 2025 with a new ridership record! Here’s to another one in 2026.
November 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
34,471,000
Amtrak has closed out fiscal year 2025 with a new ridership record! Here’s to another one in 2026.
Amtrak has closed out fiscal year 2025 with a new ridership record! Here’s to another one in 2026.
Look at the scenery instead of the road.
Looking for a fall getaway? Each of these cities is accessible by rail.
Five exciting Amtrak getaways for fall break - Columbia Spectator
Fall break is coming up—the perfect excuse to trade crowded subway cars for a scenic train getaway.
www.columbiaspectator.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Look at the scenery instead of the road.
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
A typical European car is parked 92% of the time. It spends 1/5th of its driving time looking for parking. Its 5 seats only move 1.5 people. 86% of its fuel never reaches the wheels, and most of the energy that does, moves the car, not the people.
Sound efficient?
HT @ellenmacarthurfdn.bsky.social
Sound efficient?
HT @ellenmacarthurfdn.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 10:33 PM
A typical European car is parked 92% of the time. It spends 1/5th of its driving time looking for parking. Its 5 seats only move 1.5 people. 86% of its fuel never reaches the wheels, and most of the energy that does, moves the car, not the people.
Sound efficient?
HT @ellenmacarthurfdn.bsky.social
Sound efficient?
HT @ellenmacarthurfdn.bsky.social
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
We delight when any public leaders find intercity passenger rail & rail transit convenient to conduct their travel.
November 4, 2025 at 10:45 PM
We delight when any public leaders find intercity passenger rail & rail transit convenient to conduct their travel.
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
What we lost when cars won | grist.org/culture/cars... via @grist.org
What we lost when cars won
Americans once feared cars. Now we can’t imagine life without them.
grist.org
November 3, 2025 at 10:32 PM
What we lost when cars won | grist.org/culture/cars... via @grist.org
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
AORTA (Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates) VP for Eastern Oregon Matt Krabacher will be giving a presentation this Saturday on the restoration of Amtrak's Pioneer service.
More info:
More info:
Train talk planned for Nov. 8 in Baker City - Baker City Herald
Matt Krabacher, an advocate for returning passenger rail service to Eastern Oregon, will give a talk on Nov. 8 at the Baker County Library.
bakercityherald.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:29 AM
AORTA (Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates) VP for Eastern Oregon Matt Krabacher will be giving a presentation this Saturday on the restoration of Amtrak's Pioneer service.
More info:
More info:
SMTP is the most important step in bringing passenger rail to Texas, and public comment ends Nov. 20. In-person meeting dates and times are listed in the link, along with a prerecorded presentation. Your input matters! www.txdot.gov/projects/hea...
Texas Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan
Between Oct. 22 and Nov. 13, TxDOT is hosting seven public meetings across the state to provide the public information about the Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan (Texas SMTP 2050), ask the technical ...
www.txdot.gov
November 3, 2025 at 10:27 PM
SMTP is the most important step in bringing passenger rail to Texas, and public comment ends Nov. 20. In-person meeting dates and times are listed in the link, along with a prerecorded presentation. Your input matters! www.txdot.gov/projects/hea...
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
Me and almost everyone else I know talking about car dependency On Here shout about this exact issue all the time. We all want to change this, which includes advocating for better public transit.
(NB: It's also a fact that many people are in debt *because* they need to own cars)
(NB: It's also a fact that many people are in debt *because* they need to own cars)
October 31, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Me and almost everyone else I know talking about car dependency On Here shout about this exact issue all the time. We all want to change this, which includes advocating for better public transit.
(NB: It's also a fact that many people are in debt *because* they need to own cars)
(NB: It's also a fact that many people are in debt *because* they need to own cars)
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
Today’s historic pic: 41 years ago today, South Maitland Railway 10 class 2-8-2T steam loco no 25 shunts no 22 on the Richmond Vale Railway, Hexham, NSW, November 1 1984. The RVR was Australia’s last commercial steam railway with steam used until its 1987 closure ended Australia’s steam railway era.
November 1, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Today’s historic pic: 41 years ago today, South Maitland Railway 10 class 2-8-2T steam loco no 25 shunts no 22 on the Richmond Vale Railway, Hexham, NSW, November 1 1984. The RVR was Australia’s last commercial steam railway with steam used until its 1987 closure ended Australia’s steam railway era.
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
So, it’s official and the voting is in: Toledo will be the site for our next RailNation fall conference. #RNTOL
For more on Glass City: http://railpax.org/xTo650XlfcA
For more on Glass City: http://railpax.org/xTo650XlfcA
November 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
So, it’s official and the voting is in: Toledo will be the site for our next RailNation fall conference. #RNTOL
For more on Glass City: http://railpax.org/xTo650XlfcA
For more on Glass City: http://railpax.org/xTo650XlfcA
Reposted by San Antonians for Rail Transit
We're delighted to see access measures feature prominently in this new report on urban mobility!
Sadly, the only kind of access measured in the report is access by car (1/3 of Americans don't drive). Hopefully the next version includes access measures for all modes! mobility.tamu.edu/umr/report/
Sadly, the only kind of access measured in the report is access by car (1/3 of Americans don't drive). Hopefully the next version includes access measures for all modes! mobility.tamu.edu/umr/report/
2025 Urban Mobility Report and Appendices - Mobility Division
Report 2025 Urban Mobility Report (5.1MB) Appendices Learn how we got the numbers and more in the appendices. Appendix A – Methodology (1.2MB) Appendix B – Change in Vehicle Occupancy Used in Mobility...
mobility.tamu.edu
October 30, 2025 at 1:26 PM
We're delighted to see access measures feature prominently in this new report on urban mobility!
Sadly, the only kind of access measured in the report is access by car (1/3 of Americans don't drive). Hopefully the next version includes access measures for all modes! mobility.tamu.edu/umr/report/
Sadly, the only kind of access measured in the report is access by car (1/3 of Americans don't drive). Hopefully the next version includes access measures for all modes! mobility.tamu.edu/umr/report/
Alternatives to mandatory car ownership are needed now.
Hey, I'm in this @npr.org story about the hidden costs of car ownership! www.npr.org/2025/10/30/n...
Cost of Living: The hidden price of car ownership
The cost of both new and used cars has soared in the last four years, and insurance, maintenance and the invisible costs like damage to our health add up to a much higher price tag.
www.npr.org
October 30, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Alternatives to mandatory car ownership are needed now.