Donald Trump and rail

[jon0844]

Elon will probably get the contract and rip up the rails and operate the services with Tesla's.

 

[TheHSRailFan]

DOGE has gone for the DOT and Amtrak, layoffs are happening and even at a management level.
There's word that Andy Byford (perviously TFL, MTA and TTC) has been laid off, but there's been no confirmation.

Elon has wanted to kill rail for years, even pretending Hyperloop would replace it to take valuable money away from rail to fund research into one of the most pathetic scams of all time.

He's admitted the whole point he made the whole Hyperloop thing was to try and derail California High-Speed Rail. Not to mention how little involvement he has with it now (and the past few years.

 

[jon0844]

He's admitted the whole point he made the whole Hyperloop thing was to try and derail California High-Speed Rail. Not to mention how little involvement he has with it now (and the past few years.

Yet even now some people think Hyperloop could work if only someone spent the time to properly develop it.

 

[zwk500]

DOGE has gone for the DOT and Amtrak, layoffs are happening and even at a management level.
There's word that Andy Byford (perviously TFL, MTA and TTC) has been laid off, but there's been no confirmation.

Will be interesting to see if these all stick. The courts have overturned or paused a fair amount of DoGE decisions so far.

 

[jon0844]

Will be interesting to see if these all stick. The courts have overturned or paused a fair amount of DoGE decisions so far.

But the administration seems to be ignoring most court decisions, and now we're seeing the narrative being that these woke leftist judges need to be fired etc.

 

[edwin_m]

Yet even now some people think Hyperloop could work if only someone spent the time to properly develop it.

It could be made to work. But whether it would be an efficient, economical and safe transport system is a different question.

 

[nwales58]

Deleted: long, heading off-topic.

 

[whoosh]

DOGE has gone for the DOT and Amtrak, layoffs are happening and even at a management level.
There's word that Andy Byford (perviously TFL, MTA and TTC) has been laid off, but there's been no confirmation.

Andy Byford whose wife is Canadian. He's probably packing his bags, yeah.

Quick, get him headhunted to GBR!

 

[yorkie]

Reopened for @nlogax to provide an update

 

[nlogax]

Cheers @yorkie

Looks like another delay / postponement on the Hudson Gateway second river runnel for the NEC as well as Second Avenue subway expansion. This is the result of the Transportation Secretary stating that the federal government will withhold $18bn of funds. Were I a betting man I'd wager this is connected to the wider anti-Mamdani campaign being waged by Trump's White House. Time will tell.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/...e_code=1.qE8.MQ8-.QrwiZ34UOipr&smid=url-share

The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it would withhold $18 billion in federal infrastructure funds previously awarded to New York City, including funding for two major transportation projects.

In a statement, Sean Duffy, the transportation secretary, specifically mentioned the expansion of the Second Avenue subway line and the construction of new train tunnels under the Hudson River, a $16 billion project known as Gateway.

He said that funds for those two projects would not be distributed while the Transportation Department reviewed what it described as New York State’s “discriminatory, unconstitutional contracting processes.”

 

[geoffk]

"After a decade of service, streetcars are set to make their final runs throughout the H Street Corridor, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) said this week. DDOT said DC Streetcar service will end on March 31, 2026, encouraging people to look into other travel options to use after that date, including the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA’s) D20 Metrobus. DDOT said it is working with WMATA to provide people alternatives."

This is a recently-built line and apparently no fares are charged!

https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/washington-dc/dc-streetcar-service-ending-on-h-street/

 

[jon0844]

People should be driving coal powered trucks with confederate flags.

 

[nwales58]

"After a decade of service, streetcars are set to make their final runs throughout the H Street Corridor, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) said this week. DDOT said DC Streetcar service will end on March 31, 2026

Any future home for a bunch of middle-aged DPO Inekons?

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

Portland?

Ostrava?

 

[edwin_m]

I seem to recall that the DC streetcar was something of a gimmick and not really useful as a transport service as there is a bus on the same route that actually links somewhere useful beyond both ends. The same is true of some (not necessarily all) other city centre streetcars in the States, which generally have no reserved lanes or signal priority.

 

[stadler]

I seem to recall that the DC streetcar was something of a gimmick and not really useful as a transport service as there is a bus on the same route that actually links somewhere useful beyond both ends. The same is true of some (not necessarily all) other city centre streetcars in the States, which generally have no reserved lanes or signal priority.

They certainly seem to love building tiny short tram systems that serve nothing useful and serve little real purpose to get places.

Milwaukee, Tucson, Tacoma, Detroit, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, are other examples of tiny little systems that just stay in the city centre and do not serve much.

It baffles me why they waste money on such systems if they are not going to extend them beyond the city centre in to the residential neighbourhoods and areas that people actually need to get to and from.

 

[Krokodil]

It baffles me why they waste money on such systems if they are not going to extend them beyond the city centre in to the residential neighbourhoods and areas that people actually need to get to and from.

They might tread on the toes of the oil lobby if they did that. Alternatively NIMBYs will campaign against public transport links to their neighbourhood in case it allows people of colour to live there.

 

[williamn]

The DC streetcar was supposed to be a much bigger network but it never got beyond the short stretch they’re now closing down.

On the subject of the main topic - with the government shutdown still ongoing how will this start to affect Amtrak?

 

[edwin_m]

It baffles me why they waste money on such systems if they are not going to extend them beyond the city centre in to the residential neighbourhoods and areas that people actually need to get to and from.

If they serve any purpose at all they are probably to distribute people to final destination, who have driven to the many car parks that are found in American city centres.

 

[zwk500]

It baffles me why they waste money on such systems if they are not going to extend them beyond the city centre in to the residential neighbourhoods and areas that people actually need to get to and from.

US infrastructure spending (you cant really use the term planning for it) is almost entirely personally political. The bit that isnt personal is party political.

 

[AdamWW]

They certainly seem to love building tiny short tram systems that serve nothing useful and serve little real purpose to get places.

Milwaukee, Tucson, Tacoma, Detroit, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, are other examples of tiny little systems that just stay in the city centre and do not serve much.

It baffles me why they waste money on such systems if they are not going to extend them beyond the city centre in to the residential neighbourhoods and areas that people actually need to get to and from.

The Tucson line does at least link the city centre with the Amtrak station (for those using the 3 times a week service...)

When I used it (not long after opening) it seemed be quite popular.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Nov 2025 ==

On the subject of the main topic - with the government shutdown still ongoing how will this start to affect Amtrak?

Perhaps less than air travel since I don't believe that Amtrak staff are directly employed by the government.

And most of the infrastructure they use (by track milage if not train or passenger miles) is privately owned.

 

[Mag_seven]

The Tucson line does at least link the city centre with the Amtrak station (for those using the 3 times a week service...)

When I used it (not long after opening) it seemed be quite popular.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Nov 2025 ==



Perhaps less than air travel since I don't believe that Amtrak staff are directly employed by the government.

And most of the infrastructure they use (by track milage if not train or passenger miles) is privately owned.

Unlocked to allow an update from @LUYMun

 

[LUYMun]

Just the other week Union Pacific have unveiled a new livery for one of their diesel locomotives, being painted in a white livery with the USA flag and "Donald Trump" written on the side, ahead of the Artemis III space programme. It's indicated the loco will then do duties to carry the space rocket's components.

https://www.trains.com/pro/freight/class-i/union-pacifics-donald-trump-locomotive-makes-debut/

Union Pacific’s Donald Trump locomotive makes debut​

CORINNE, Utah — Union Pacific’s locomotive honoring President Donald Trump made its debut on Tuesday, leading a train hauling solid rocket motor segments for NASA’s Artemis III lunar exploration mission.

No. 4547, a predominantly white locomotive featuring an American flag design and the president’s name in gold lettering, was joined by the railroad’s Abraham Lincoln unit in powering the train as it departed a facility near Corinne. UP CEO Jim Vena, along with Utah legislators and officials from Northrop Grumman, NASA, and Wabtec were on hand for a ceremony christening the locomotive and celebrating the shipment.

“We are proud to honor President Donald J. Trump with this commemorative engine while helping advance the Artemis III mission,” Vena said, according to a UP press release. “As No. 4547 carries these rocket components, it represents the strength of our nation’s supply chain and our role in connecting the country – linking industries, communities and opportunity from our rail network to the surface of the moon.”

Artemis III is scheduled to be the second crewed mission in NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration program. It is scheduled for launch next year.

The Trump unit is the railroad’s third honoring a president, along with the Lincoln locomotive and a unit honoring President George H.W. Bush, which is now on display at his Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas. Vena told Trains earlier this year that No. 4547 is “actually celebrating America. We are not celebrating any individual” [see “Union Pacific’s Trump locomotive …,” Trains.com, May 1, 2026].

Union Pacific also released this video of clips of the locomotive’s christening and other aspects of Tuesday’s event.

 

[Krokodil]

Pardon me, I just need to go and vomit...

 

[jon0844]

Perhaps this is the way to get Trump to invest in rail travel. Let's offer him a high speed line named after him. He'd accept it a heartbeat!

Once he's gone they can rename it and bring out the paint.

 

[43096]

Of course, this has absolutely nothing to do with Union Pacific needing final regulatory approval for its merger with/acquisition of Norfolk Southern.

 

[yorksrob]

Ridiculous.

Every other president would be more appropriate for a loco naming.

 

[43096]

Ridiculous.

Every other president would be more appropriate for a loco naming.

UP do have history for Presidential locos, albeit after they have left office. Loco 4141 was used to haul George HW Bush’s funeral train and painted to match. 4141 number chosen as Bush was the 41st President. Likewise number 4547 has been used as Trump is 45th and 47th President.

 

[yorksrob]

UP do have history for Presidential locos, albeit after they have left office. Loco 4141 was used to haul George HW Bush’s funeral train and painted to match. 4141 number chosen as Bush was the 41st President. Likewise number 4547 has been used as Trump is 45th and 47th President.

I hope they gave President Nixon one in that case as he was less corrupt (than Trump, not President GHW Bush).

 

[Krokodil]

UP do have history for Presidential locos, albeit after they have left office. Loco 4141 was used to haul George HW Bush’s funeral train and painted to match. 4141 number chosen as Bush was the 41st President. Likewise number 4547 has been used as Trump is 45th and 47th President.

An Abraham Lincoln one has been going around with the Big Boy. Though that's because UP wouldn't exist if not for Lincoln signing the Pacific Railroad Act.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Jun 2026 ==

One of the Nextgen Acela power cars has been wrapped in a vinyl commemorating USA 250. It's not been done in a tasteful fashion though, it's very cringey. "1776 National Champs", a picture of the Statue of Liberty (something the French should have repossessed by now), and emblazoned down the side "Delivered by President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Sean P. Duffy".