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#1
 The Great Scale Model Train Show and Railroad Marketplace will take place Saturday (9-4) and Sunday (10-4), April 12-13, 2014 at the Cow Palace on the Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium MD.  "Largest selection of scale  model railroad items and accessories in the Mid-Atlantic."  Admission: $18/family for both days, solo adult admission $9, kids under 15 free.
#2
updated 2:00 PM EDT, Mon March 24, 2014  Watch this videoTrain derails, slams into platform     STORY HIGHLIGHTS

       
  • NEW: Almost all of the 32 people hurt have been released from hospitals, official says
  • NEW: NTSB investigators are waiting to talk to the train operator after she is released
  • NEW: Video from the train and station wil be examined by investigators
  • Blue Line train passes end of line, moves up escalator
(CNN) -- A federal investigator said he's never seen a train climb an escalator like the one that jumped the tracks at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport early Monday.
The crash of the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train injured 32 people, although none seriously, according to Chicago Fire officials.
The eight-car train failed to stop at the end of the line when it arrived at the airport station at 2:52 a.m., a Chicago Fire official said. The lead car appeared to have climbed an escalator adjacent to the passenger platform.
     Photos: Chicago train derailment Photos: Chicago train derailment    "I've investigated many accidents and trains do different things," National Transportation Safety Board investigator Tim DePaepe told reporters. "It's all about kinetic force. I have not seen an accident like this personally."
NTSB experts will examine video from station cameras and one on the front of the train for clues to the cause of the crash, DePaepe said.
Almost all of the 32 people taken to four hospitals had been released by the afternoon, he said.
Investigators are still waiting for the train operator to be released from the hospital so that they can talk to her, he said.
The wrecked train will not be moved at least until Tuesday so that investigators can examine it, DePaepe said.
Shuttle buses are carrying airport passengers to and from a nearby Blue Line station until then, a CTA official said.
#3
The Blender / Shuttle Bus drivers wanted
March 18, 2014, 01:06:04 AM
An advertisement in the March 12, 2014 edition of THE GAZETTE newspaper is seeking shuttle bus drivers for Dulles Airport.  Class B CDL with passenger and air brake endorsements, current DOT physical and 3 years of passenger driving experience required.  Full time positions, 24 hour operation, must be able to work all shifts.
Contact Sehon Ross from 10:00am to 3:00pm at 703-572-7621703-572-7621.
You'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype
#4
Greenberg's Train and Toy Show, a huge hobby marketplace will take place at Show Place Arena, 14900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro MD 20772 on Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, 2014 from 10:00am - 4:00pm.  Admission: $8 for adults good for both days, kids under 12 are free. 
#5
Beyond the Beltway / More human error on Metro-North
January 30, 2014, 01:14:44 AM
Metro-North system shutdown caused by human error  (TRAINS Magazine)
Published: January 24, 2014Metro North Michael T Burkhart Photo by Michael T. BurkhartNEW YORK – Human error is blamed for a computer problem that shut down three Metro-North commuter lines Thursday evening, WCBS-TV reports. Trains were stopped about 7:45 p.m. due to a failure in the dispatchers' computer system. The outage lasted almost two hours, but delays continued into the night.

The signal outage was caused when one of two main power supplies was removed from service for replacement, according to the report.

"Last night's failure was unacceptable, pure and simple," MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast says. "The project should have been analyzed for risks and redundancy before it began and it should not have been performed when thousands of customers were trying to get home in cold weather."

The shutdown only affected the signal system. Stopped trains still had power for heat and lights. Trains were instructed to proceed to the next station at restricted speed to wait for the restart of the signal system.

The Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines were unaffected as they are dispatched by NJ Transit under contract.

The state-owned commuter railroad faces increased federal oversight following a year of missteps that includes a fatal derailment.
#6
Greenberg's Train and Toy Show hobby marketplace will take place at the Fredericksburg Expo Center, 2371 Carl D. Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg  VA  22401, Saturday and Sunday February 8-9, 2014 from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  There will be 250+ tables, 60+ vendors and many operating scale model railroads.
Admission: $8 for adults, good for both days, children under 12 are free. 
#7
"The largest selection of scale model railroad items and accessories in the Mid-Atlantic!  See over 20 exciting operating layouts."
In the Cow Palace at Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium MD.
Admission: Saturday $9, kids under 15 free, Family $18 -- covers both days
Admission: Sunday $8, kids under 15 free, Family $15.
#8
 (By Joel Grover and Chris Henao, NBCLosAngeles.com) Feds shut down five bus companies; action follows series of LA-area crashes. The federal government is stepping up its crackdown on unsafe buses in California, issuing an order that puts  five "unsafe" bus companies out of business.
This latest move comes seven weeks after the NBC4 I-Team began airing reports exposing widespread safety problems with LA area bus companies, and a week after three major bus crashes on Southern California highways.

The Federal Motor Carrier Administration has ordered the LA-based bus company called "It's Good Promotion" to stop doing business immediately. The company, based in East Los Angeles, ran buses from LA to Mexico.


  The feds say on Dec. 1, they inspected a bus with the "It's Good Promotion" name crossing the border into the U.S., and found 17 serious safety defects. They ordered the bus "out of service," and opened an investigation into the company.
Investigators uncovered something even bigger: they say It's Good Promotion was illegally allowing at least four other "unsafe bus companies," that had previously been shut down by the government, to continue operating, by using the It's Good Promotion name and federal registration number to evade authorities.
"Rogue bus companies that compromise public safety are being shut down in California and nationwide," said Federal Motor Carrier Safety (FMCSA) Administrator  Anne Ferro.
The NBC4 I-Team went to the offices of Its Good Promotion and Holy Spirit Tours, but no was available for comment.
In their investigation, the FMCSA found serious violations from It's Good Promotions bus operations, including:

       
  • Allowing a driver who tested positive for illegal drugs to continue driving
  • Using drivers that didn't have valid U.S. commercial driver's licenses
  • Failing to make sure its buses were properly repaired and maintained
The investigation found companies like Holy Spirit Tours of Los Angeles operating under It's Good Promotion's federal registration number. Holy Spirt Tours was shutdown by the feds in October 2012 after they found serious problems, including  the "fitness" of the company's drivers.
The FMCSA also found two Phoenix-based bus companies that were previously shutdown, were back in business because they were using Its Good Promotion's registration.
#9
13 hurt as tour bus crashes on California freewayThe Associated Press8 hours ago

       
  • Firefighters help as a tour bus is towed out of a drainage ditch after the bus went off the shoulder of an Interstate 10 off-ramp in Baldwin Park, Calif. on Monday Dec. 23, 2013. The tour bus heading back from a Southern California casino crashed on a freeway east of Los Angeles early Monday, injuring 13 people, authorities said. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
BALDWIN PARK, Calif. (AP) — A tour bus heading back from a Southern California casino crashed on a freeway east of Los Angeles early Monday, injuring 13 people, authorities said.
The bus went off the shoulder of an Interstate 10 off-ramp in Baldwin Park shortly after 4:30 a.m., California Highway Patrol Officer Christian Cracraft said.
The bus wheels went into a small drainage ditch and it came to rest against a fence and light pole but remain upright.
"The bus tried to get on the ramp to exit, but he come too fast. He can't control the bus," passenger Eduardo Magana told KCBS-TV (http://cbsloc.al/18HLrbP ).
Eleven people received minor injuries and two received moderate injuries, the station reported, citing the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
KNX-Am reported that one person had a broken arm.
Nearly 40 people were on board the bus, which was returning from the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio. They were briefly trapped by a blocked door before rescuers freed them.
The freeway remained open.
The accident came four days after three bus crashes on rain-slick Southern California freeways killed two people and injured dozens more.
Khang Tieu of Midway City, 91, died Thursday night, eight hours after a bus returning from a San Diego County casino overturned on Interstate 15 in Corona.
Some two dozen people were hurt. The CHP said the bus was doing 65 mph — an unsafe speed for the rain-slick roadway.
At about the same time as that crash but about 50 miles away, a bus heading to another San Diego County casino overturned on the freeway near Fallbrook.
Tayde Murguia, 64, of Los Angeles was killed and 19 others were hurt.
At least 14 people were hurt Thursday morning near Perris in Riverside County. A county Riverside Transit Agency bus on State Route 74 slid sideways and hit a car traveling in the opposite direction, which then was hit by a tow truck, the CHP said.2013 AP
#10
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Drivers at one passenger bus company routinely worked more than 800 miles without rest. Maintenance at another company was so shoddy that one bus drove despite glaring evidence of brake problems.
Federal bus safety regulators said Thursday they shut down those two and 50 other motor coach companies in a major nationwide crackdown on unsafe outfits.
The 52 companies aren't just low-cost, fly-by-night carriers — some have transported school bands, Boy Scouts or senior citizens, according to Anne S. Ferro, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Overall, the motor coach industry carries about 700 million passengers a year in the U.S., roughly the same as domestic airlines.
In April, the agency began scrutinizing 250 companies with poor safety records out of the approximately 4,000 interstate bus lines it regulates. "Operation Quick Strike" came partly in response to major crashes of carriers that, despite dismal safety records, the agency allowed to continue operating.
The agency said that for the campaign, it trained more than 50 inspectors to look more closely at motor coach companies. As a result, investigations that in the past might have been done in a few days in some cases took a few weeks.
The 52 companies that were shut down "put safety by the wayside in order to compete in a very tight market," Ferro said. Three companies have been allowed to reopen after making improvements, her agency said. Several other companies told The Associated Press that they were in that process.
The agency said that of more than 1,300 buses inspected, 340 were taken off the road at least temporarily.
Just one of the companies — Kansas-based Midnight Express LLC — was shut down following a death. A representative of Midnight Express could not be reached for comment.  (Associated Press, 12/12/13)
#11
Beyond the Beltway / Metro North train crash
December 02, 2013, 05:12:46 PM
"YONKERS, N.Y. — The National Transportation Safety Board says a train that derailed in New York City was traveling 82 mph as it approached a 30 mph zone." "The Metro-North Railroad commuter train jumped the tracks Sunday morning along a sharp curve where the speed limit drops from 70 mph to 30 mph. Four passengers died."  (From The Associated Press).
#12
MTA to Offer Holiday Season Nostalgia Train & Bus Rides Select Language??                                          November 14th, 2013           MTA to Offer Holiday Season Nostalgia Train & Bus RidesVintage R1 Subway CarThe holiday season is here again and you know what that means.  It's time for MTA New York City Transit to dust off the vintage equipment and roll out the historic buses and subway cars that served as the foundation for the largest mass transit system in North America.
The MTA's subways and buses are the most efficient and economical ways of getting around the City, but if you're looking for another great reason to ride the train on Sundays in December, try this: take a trip back into time onboard the 1930s-era Nostalgia Special, which will run along the M Subway Line Icon Line between Long Island City, Queens and Lower Manhattan during the first four Sundays in December.
"For the first four Sundays, subway riders will be able to catch a ride on this classic subway train at stations along the line between Queens Plaza and Second Avenue," said Joseph Leader, MTA New York City Transit's Senior Vice President of the Department of Subways.  "They aren't the first subway cars, but these R 1/9 cars served for five decades and are historically significant as the rolling stock that originally served the IND."
The Nostalgia Special is made up of subway cars in service from the 1930s to the 1970s, running along the lettered lines from the Grand Concourse to Coney Island.  They were also the cars that originally operated along the A Subway Line Icon Line.  Their ceiling fans, padded seats, and incandescent light bulbs were state-of-the-art when these cars were first placed in service.  The last of the cars were removed from service more than 35 years ago and replaced by the stainless steel, climate-controlled trains that our customers have become accustomed to today.
The holiday "Nostalgia Special" will operate on Sundays only, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., on December 1, 8, 15 and 22.  New Yorkers bear fond memories of these cars, many of which are usually housed at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn Heights, where they have honored positions as static displays reflecting a time before automated voice announcements, air conditioning, or bright fluorescent lighting.  Of course, you can always catch more examples of NYC Transit's vintage subway cars on display there, too.
During the week, weather depending, bus customers along Manhattan's 42nd Street crosstown corridor will be able to ride examples of NYC Transit's vintage fleet.  It's an annual opportunity to catch a vintage bus and everything will be original except the bus operator and the fare box.  Ralph Kramden is no longer with us and the fare boxes accept MetroCards.
Buses representing models that operated from the 1950s through the 1980s will roll across 42nd Street along the M42, allowing bus customers to take a nostalgic river to river ride.  Built by manufacturers that either no longer exist or have just stopped building transit buses, these classic vehicles represent the newest of technology in operation during their eras.
The buses, which are not wheelchair accessible, will operate between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday from December 2 to 20.  However, they will not run in the event of rain and snow.  They are old and catch cold easily.
"Riding the old equipment is a great way to celebrate the holiday season in New York and it has been a tradition for the past few years," explained Darryl Irick, Senior Vice President New York City Transit Department of Buses/President MTA Bus Company.  "It gives our customers the opportunity to see just how far bus technology has come over the past several decades."   
And, don't forget to catch the 12th Annual Holiday Train Show at the Museum's Gallery Annex at Grand Central Terminal featuring a working layout and a selection of vintage model trains dating from the 1800s.  The layout, featuring Lionel trains will be on display from November 16 to February 23.  The 34` O-Gauge layout features a limited-edition model of Grand Central Terminal (only 250 created) and eight separate loop tracks traveling through New York City, out into the countryside  and even up to the North Pole (Not on MTA Map).
With vintage trains rumbling down the tracks and tiny pedestrians strolling down exquisitely-detailed miniature streets, the Train Show is a delight for young and old and a perfect treat after taking a ride on the real thing.
For hours and directions, visit: www.mta.info/museum.
NOSTALGIA TRAIN HIGHLIGHTS:
Car No. 100 – Manufactured by American Car and Foundry, this R1-type car was the first car in the initial order of 300 cars placed in service for the opening of the IND subway.
Car No. 484 – Part of a 500-car order of R4 cars manufactured by American Car & Foundry.  In 1946, this car received a retrofit of bulls-eye lighting and a public address system.
Car No. 1575 – Originally manufactured as an R7, this car was involved in a wreck in 1946.  Sent to the American Car & Foundry factory, the car was rebuilt as prototype of the next generation R10 subway car.
NOSTALGIA BUS HIGHLIGHTS:
Bus No. 2969 – Manufactured by General Motors, this Model TDH 5101 was specifically designed for New York City in 1949, which featured the double-width front door to expedite the loading and unloading of customers.  This bus is known as the Jackie Gleason bus, which the comedian portrayed as the bus driver "Ralph Kramden" in the classic television show "The Honeymooners."
Bus No. 3100 – Manufactured by General Motors in 1956, this Model TDH 5106 was the first air conditioned transit bus to operate in New York City.  The bus was designed and built to demonstrate updated features.  Other features introduced in the 1950's were the push-type rear exit doors, wrap-around rear soft seating, fluorescent lighting, and the air-ride suspension that is still the standard today on today's transit buses.
Bus No. 6259 - Manufactured by Mack Truck and Bus Company, Model C49DT first arrived to the fleet in 1956 and was in operation until 1969 in Staten Island and Brooklyn routes.  The "DT' in the model number stand for "Diesel Transit," this model was delivered with cushioned seating but converted to hard plastic in the mid-1960s because of vandalism.
Bus No. 9098 - Manufactured by General Motors, this Model TDH 5106, introduced the two-tone green color scheme (the era's standard) and was the first NYC bus equipped with sliding windows.  These were the last order of "Old Look" style buses from GM to NYCTA.
Bus No. 8466 - Manufactured by General Motors, this Model TDH 5303 were ordered in 1966 for MaBSTOA & NYCT to replace 1940s and 1950s vintage buses acquired by the City after the Fifth Avenue Coach Company takeover in 1962.  This series was the first new fleet of NYC buses designed and built with air-conditioning and also featured large illuminated advertising signs on each side.  These buses proved to be so reliable and durable that several were selected to be rebuilt in 1984 to extend their useful life.
Bus No. 8928 - Manufactured by General Motors, this Model TDH 5305A was purchased by NYCT in 1968 to begin replacement of its 1956 vintage Mack C-49 fleet.  Thirteen of the new buses were equipped with high-back upholstered, forward-facing seats for the new Staten Island to Manhattan express service, which debuted in late 1968.  Furthermore, this bus with modifications made to accommodate luggage, was chosen to be utilized as the connecting JFK Express bus service for "The Train to the Plane," which began operating in 1978.
#13
The 36th Annual Gaithersburg Railroad, Steamship, Transportation Artifacts Show & Sale will take place on Sunday, November 3, 2013 from 9:00am-4:00pm at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg MD.
Admission $8, children under 12 free.  "The Premier Railroad Transportation Show in the United States." 
Show information at www.gserr.com.
#14
The Great Scale Model Train Show and Railroad Marketplace will take place on October 26-27, 2013 in the Cow Palace at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium MD.  "The largest selection of scale model railroad items and accessories in the Mid- Atlantic!"  "See 26 exciting operating layouts." 
Saturday 9-4, admission $9, kids under 15 free, family $18 -- covers both days.
Sunday 10-4, admission $8, kids under 15 free, family $15. 
More information at www.gsmts.com.
#15
The Blender / Amtrak Fall Foliage Excursion on 11/3/2013
September 18, 2013, 12:16:41 AM
Experience Fall Foliage aboard the Autumn ExpressA Second Opportunity at a Trip Like None Other on Sunday, November 3, 2013 
Due to popular demand, a second trip has been added to the Autumn Express excursion. Come along for this historic train ride, departing from and returning to Philadelphia 30th Street Station on Sunday, November 3. See key landmarks and other significant sites along the route, such as Rockville Bridge, Shocks Mill Bridge and Enola Yard.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 18 at 10:00 am ET, and are sure to go fast. Reserve your seats quickly.$89 per Adult. Many Benefits.Travel the Northeast Corridor to Perryville, MD, and then make a rare trip up the historic Port Road Branch (which is usually off limits to passenger traffic) along the Susquehanna River. Pass through Enola Yard, cross the Shocks Mill and Rockville bridges and make a brief stop in Harrisburg, PA, before continuing over the Columbia Secondary and ultimately back to Philadelphia via scenic Lancaster County.

       
  • The train departs Philadelphia at 9 am and returns at 4:30 pm.
  • Tickets are $89 for adults and include a boxed lunch and souvenir tote bag.
  • Children 2 - 15 ride for half price and receive a boxed lunch and tote bag.
  • Seating is limited for this unique opportunity to experience the splendor of fall in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.
  • passengers requiring special services (e.g., wheelchair assistance, etc.) must call  1-800-USA-Rail and speak to a customer service representative.
How to Book this TripFrom the 'Buy Tickets' tab:

       
  • Select One-Way.
  • Enter Philadelphia, PA (PHL) in the From box.
  • Enter Autumn Express Train, PA (AXP) in the To box.
  • Select November 3, 2013 as the Depart date.
  • Select the number passengers. Maximum of 8.
What You'll See :Rockville Bridge is the world's longest stone masonry arch railroad bridge. It was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad between 1900 and 1902 at a cost of just under $1 million, opening 3/30/1902. It replaced an earlier span connecting Rockville on the east shore of the Susquehanna River to Marysville on the western shore just west of Enola Yard. The 48-arch span is 3820' long, 52 feet wide, and stands 52 feet above river low water. Construction required 220,000 tons of stone and 600,000 barrels of cement. It was built for 4 tracks, presently carrying two. Ownership passed to Penn Central in 1968, Conrail in 1976, then to Norfolk Southern in 1999. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.Shocks Mill BridgeShocks Mill Bridge between Codorus Furnace and Marietta, PA, was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad between 1902 and 1904, opening on January 1, 1905. As built it was a slightly smaller version of Rockville Bridge, 2209 feet long with 28 stone masonry arches, carrying two tracks at a height of 61 feet above river low water. The bridge was electrified by the PRR in 1938. Ownership passed to Penn Central in 1968, Conrail in 1976, then to Norfolk Southern in 1999. Floodwaters from Hurricane Agnes in late June 1972 undermined the bridge and caused the center 6 arches to collapse on July 2, 1972. The bankrupt Penn Central received permission from the bankruptcy court for emergency repairs. Debris was removed, nine new reinforced concrete piers were built and steel deck girder spans were put in place. The repaired bridged reopened on August 2, 1973.Enola YardEnola Yard located along the Susquehanna River just west of Harrisburg, PA, was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1905. It was the world's largest freight yard through 1956. It featured east and westbound receiving and classification (hump) yards, a roundhouse with over 40 stalls, a containerized freight yard, and outer bypass tracks for through trains. Originally built for steam-era operations, it was electrified in 1938 and modernized including new hump yard equipment and the addition of a diesel shop. Record traffic level was achieved in June 1943, 20,660 cars in one day. Ownership passed to Penn Central in 1968, Conrail in 1976, then to Norfolk Southern in 1999.Terms & Conditions

       
  • Valid for sale August 19 - November 3, 2013.
  • Valid for travel on November 2 & 3, 2013 only.
  • Valid between Philadelphia, PA (PHL) - Amtrak Autumn Express, PA (AXP).
  • Flat price of $89 for adults and includes a boxed lunch and souvenir tote bag.
  • Up to 2 children ages 2 - 15 may accompany each adult at half the adult fare.
  • Children and infants must travel with an adult who is at least 18 years or older.
  • Special excursion trains are eligible to earn Amtrak Guest Rewards points, but not available for redemption travel.
  • Not combinable with any other discount offer or passenger type.
#16
THE WASHINGTON POST reported on 9/5/2013 that Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley announced the weekend service "during an afternoon event at a MARC station in Baltimore."  "Wednesday marked the first time O'Malley has provided details of the $46 million expansion, an aide said.  Plans call for nine round trips on Saturdays and six round trips on Sundays." 
#17
 
Gaithersburg's Baltimore & Ohio station to be renovated Published: August 9, 2013  (Train Wire/TRAINS Magazine)
GAITHERSBURG, Md. – The former Baltimore & Ohio station in Gaithersburg will soon be renovated to comply with accessibility laws and improve its structure.

Renovation plans include updating two bathrooms to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, replacing parts of the wood floors, and wall renovations. Exterior work will be limited to minor roof restoration and removing lead paint found in the roof overhang outside of the building. Project planners aim to only make necessary updates to the station while preserving the building's historic architecture and appearance.

Construction is to begin in late September with completion of the renovations in eight to 12 weeks.

Built in 1884, the station serves passengers on MARC commuter trains and also houses a coffee shop. Gaithersburg is on MARC's Brunswick Line, which operates between Washington and Martinsburg, W.Va., with a branch to Frederick, Md. The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Buffalo Creek & Gauley 2-8-0 No. 14 and an ex-B&O Budd-RDC are on display in front of the freight shed next to the station.
#18
"A HUGE Hobby Marketplace!"  There will be 400+ tables, 100+ vendors, operating railroads in N, O, HO & S gauges.  Saturday & Sunday, August 24-25, 2013 from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the Dulles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly VA  20151.  Adult Admission is $7 for both days and children under 12 are free.  For more information visit GreenbergShows.com.   
"This will be the last train show in Chantilly, VA until summer 2014."   
#19
On August 9, 2013, Atlantic Coast Charters (operator of MTA Route 201 service) posted on its Facebook Page a notice that it is recruiting for "a select number of openings for part time charter drivers.  Successful candidate should have a CDL with P endorsement, DOT physical, drug free and be dependable with a focus on customer service and safety.  Send (them) a message with your email address and (they) will send you an application package." 
#20
Beyond the Beltway / Chinese Railways
August 07, 2013, 08:30:00 PM
The August 7, 2013 edition of THE WASHINGTON POST contained a section called CHINA WATCH, a supplement prepared by China Daily, People's Republic of China.  This supplement contained a marvelous exposition of the railway system in China with graphic representations. 

The following fact demonstrates how deficient is the passenger rail system in the United States.  On Decenber 26, 2012, The Chinese opened the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway which is "the world's longest high speed railway."  It covers 2,350 kilometers (1460 miles) with 36 stops in 8 hours.  Consider this - the distance between Washington DC and Denver CO is 1491 miles and by rail that would require you to take two trains and at least two days!  We have so much work to do on our rail infrastructure while Congress and local and state governments sit in political gridlock.  Can you imagine boarding a train in Washington DC at 9:00am and arriving in Denver at 5:00pm the same day?   Who would fly?
The first class fare on the Chinese train is $268!!!!!