Starting with this edition for the first month of 2017, RailPAC introduces this new series on our blog to highlight the best rail-related stories over the last month.

In between editions on this space, you can also subscribe to our weekly emails sent out every Monday, featuring rail-related news articles from California and beyond. Subscribe to this free e-newsletter by sending your name and email address to Noel Braymer.

That being said, here are some of the best stories selected from the RailPAC team from January 2017:

NYC’s brand new subway is the most expensive in the world — that’s a problem
Vox

Republicans embrace Amtrak’s Gulf Coast rebirth
Politico

A passenger puzzle: Why did Amtrak draw fewer [San Joaquin] Valley riders in 2015-16?
Fresno Bee

Union Pacific accepts electrification; plans to open bids for Peninsula freight service
Green Caltrain

Wine Train willing to explore employee commuter service
Napa Valley Register

California is a no-show – State officials cancel bilevel presentation at conference, send statement instead
TRAINS Magazine (repost on Corridor Capital)

Anticipating a Big Year for Transit Expansion in 2017
Streetsblog USA

Will L.A. Times’ Irresponsible Coverage of High Speed Rail Doom the Project?
Streetsblog Cal

The Anaheim Streetcar Project Is Officially Dead
Voice of OC

Joe Biden leaves D.C. on — what else? — Amtrak
USA Today

Transit Overflow from the Women’s March Demonstrates Need for Better Transit
Streetsblog