U.S. Finally Legalizes Modern, European-Style Train Cars

What is your state? Very few states without any passenger trains or rail vehicles that carry passengers. Even so less money spent elsewhere means more money available.

Kentucky but if you had researched the article deeper, you would have seen that the majority of the $ to be allocated is in the areas of Southeast New York, New Jersey, Eastern PA, Delaware, East Maryland, DC and Northeast Virginia. Other areas of interest are from Buffalo NY, along the sout of lake Eire, (Cleveland) Toledo, Detroit, then over to Chicago Metro. It's all able to be found with only a couple of hours on a search engine.
Very little is being allocated (less than 25%) to the rest of the States. Hawaii (which would beeter make use use of interisland transport anyeway) gets zero. Alaska could defintely make use of an expanded rail system.
Bear in mind this is my opinion. and I disagree with where the cash is going to go.
However upgrading to high speed train standards is high on my list of improvments we need to do for the rail industry but think that freight carriers and services should get the bulk of the improved trains because thry earn money and pay taxes.
This plan is primarily for moving people in the densest populated parts of the country. I think there states should pay for their own rail systems. Buld these trains for cities and they become another multi-billion tax dollar pay out.

SFC Ralph E Kelley - OK, so what I was going to point out is currently the Midwest High Speed Compact has a large order for railcars held up because no domestic or foreign manufacturers can meet the current 800,000 lb compression standard. I think we have had two Japanese firms attempt it and go out of business already. Siemens said they could do it but only with single level cars which means taxpayers will have to pay for longer platforms. Amtrak has had numerous issues as well with startup firms attempting to fill small railcar orders and then unable to make the standards with long delivery delays. Currently Amtrak as a railcar order that is not 100% fulfilled that has been delayed several years already in New York. My guess is these two issues are what moved the Obama Administration to action. On the funding issues you raised, long story there. Absolutely true New York State is freeloading off the rest of the United States when it comes to rail passenger service. Amtrak is aware of it as are several Congress people. New York is paying no state subsidy for the NYC to Albany trains for example, is attempting to get Trump to pay $2-3 Billion for new tunnels under the Hudson, etc. All while forecasting that their economy would be devestated without these investments.......OK well we buy the excuse just find the money yourself, should be the response but it never is. Eventually Uncle Sugar will cough up there. Detroit to Toledo once had an Amtrak Train and is looking at restoring it back.......no idea why it was ever cut. The Alaska railroad which I think is profitable now but I am not sure. Anyways, Alaska Railroad was state supported by the Alaska DOT for decades, it is currently in expansion to support the U.S. Army's request for better rail access to manuever areas. Alaska railroad is landlocked. It's railcar interchange via ferry from Seattle that docks in Seward. The long-term plan by Canada and the United States was to build a rail connection via Canada to Alaska via the British Columbia Railway (now owned by Canadian National). The Canadians started on the quest but lost interest in the project and the United States never really contibuted to the project so it's at a dead stop and has been for decades. The biggest problem is the subsoil they would have to build over would make the line expensive to maintain. So the ferry connection remains. Alaska railroads passenger service is tied into the Cruise Ships that visit Alaska and they really do not care about High speed vs Luxury at the moment. Hawaii just got an infusion of Federal Money for a Light Rail system (link below). High Speed Rail construction is also shifting more over to the private sector or I should say near high speed rail as it seems that private system do not want to initially build over 125 mph systems yet. Florida's Brightline (Miami - Orlando - Tampa) is privately financed and just partnered with Virgin Trains (Virgin Atlantic Airways subsidiary). They have bought the High Speed rail rights to Los Angeles to Las Vegas and allegedly are in discussions for Dallas to Houston, TX. Their forecasted break even date for Florida is like 2024 so it will be a while before we know if they can turn a profit. So there is a chance we might see more private sector companies involved here at some point.