The White House agrees to sign a bill intended to improve rail safety — a response to the tragic September 12 crash in California — which also includes more than $12 billion in funding for Amtrak. (Los Angeles Times — Steve Hymon)

A commitment from Congress to spend $13 billion over the next five years to fund Amtrak is sparking an interest in linking the Midwest’s big cities with efficient, clean, high-speed rail. (Chicago Tribune — Jon Hilkevitch)

The White House plans on approving a bill to provide Amtrak with $13 billion over the next five years, helping the company accommodate the country’s soaring demand for rail travel. (Wall Street Journal — Christopher Conkey)

The feds throw down $30 million to improve performance and capacity for 15 passenger rail projects across the U.S. (Associated Press — Larry O’Dell)

New numbers from the U.S DOT show a continued drop in vehicle miles traveled — Americans drove 3.6 percent less in July 2008 than they did in July 2007, and public transportation ridership has increased by 11 percent.

Budget cuts are hitting transit hard in Vermont, despite the increasing popularity of Amtrak and other public transportation agencies.

Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn blocks legislation to improve safety for the nation’s trains, objecting to the bill’s $14 billion price tag and a provision giving a funding boost to Amtrak. (Wall Street Journal — Christopher Conkey)

Taking a group of reporters along for his Amtrak ride home from Washington D.C. to Wilmington, Delaware, vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden promises “the most train-friendly administration ever” if the Democratic ticket is elected. (Politico — Ben Smith)

Amtrak is all the rage for those travelers looking to skirt high gas prices and exorbitant airlines fees, but meeting the country’s demand for high-speed rail is going to take deep commitment and long-term investment. (Next American City — James McCommons)

Painfully high energy costs and headache-inducing congestion have made many politicians, local governments, and ordinary citizens reconsider the value of high-speed rail. (USA Today — Larry Copeland)