Washington, D.C. Nevada Senator Harry Reid today made the following statement in celebration of National Train Day Saturday, May 8, 2010.

“During the 19th century, trains became the major mode of transportation that made America's development possible. The use of trains played an integral role in the boom of Nevada’s mining and tourism industries. Today, railways remain an important part of our economy and will contribute to our future success. Evidence of that impact will be seen later this year, when the DesertXpress high-speed rail project will break ground and connect Las Vegas with California's high-speed rail system. The construction and maintenance of this project will help put more Nevadans back to work, strengthen our economy and speed our economy into the future.”

The 2nd annual National Train Day marks the 140th anniversary of the completion of America’s first transcontinental railroad and celebrates the importance of trains as an efficient, affordable, environmentally friendly means of transportation. The events are held nationwide in some of America’s major cities and feature model train displays, museum exhibits and educational programs for visitors.

National Train Day 2010 will be celebrated with events in Reno. Please visit: National Train Dayfor details.

WASHINGTON, DC Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a bipartisan resolution to celebrate Amtrak’s first annual National Train Day. The resolution, joined by 20 co-sponsors, raises awareness about the critical and growing role that passenger rail plays in serving America’s daily travel needs.

“With skyrocketing gas prices and long lines at the airports, record numbers of passengers are choosing to travel by train,” Sen. Lautenberg said. “Train travel is not just easy and convenient, it’s energy-efficient, protects our environment and reduces our reliance on foreign oil. I hope Americans from across the country celebrate National Train Day and learn more about the benefits of passenger rail.”

For fiscal year 2007, a record 25.8 million passengers rode Amtrak, an increase of 1.5 million passengers over fiscal year 2006. With the increased congestion in the nation’s airports and on its highways, passenger rail is a vital alternative for intercity travel throughout the country. Amtrak trains are also more 17 percent more energy-efficient than airlines and 21 percent more than cars and truck, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, which helps preserve our environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“The vital role rail plays in our nation’s transportation system is becoming increasingly more evident with ridership at record levels,” said Amtrak President & CEO Alex Kummant. “From our nation’s smallest towns to its largest cities, more and more Americans are choosing to travel by train.”

Amtrak designed National Train Day to inform more Americans about the vital role of passenger rail in our nation’s transportation system. Six weeks of events, promotions and advertising are culminating on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at the railroad’s largest stations—Washington, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles—along with events in more than eighty communities.

Last October, the Senate overwhelmingly passed an $11.4 billion bill introduced by Sen. Lautenberg and former Senator Trent Lott to fully fund Amtrak and modernize and expand the U.S. passenger rail system. The bipartisan Lautenberg-Lott plan would authorize infrastructure improvements and the expansion of rail routes into new American towns and cities over the next six years. The bill is now being considered by the House of Representatives.

WHEREAS, On May 10, 1869, in Promontory Summit, Utah, the “goldenspike" was driven into the final tie that joined 1,776 miles of the CentralPacific and Union Pacific railways, ceremonially creating the nation’s first transcontinental railroad and America was then transformed;

WHEREAS, Suddenly, the country was united in a way it never had been and train travel sparked imaginations in small towns and cities, among folks who desired adventure and businessmen who saw fortunes to be made.It heralded the arrival of mail, supplies and change;

WHEREAS, The train station became a focal point of every community,from New York City's Pennsylvania Station to the tiny stations that dotted rural America;

WHEREAS, The train became more than the go»to mode of transportation for people and goods. It was a proud achievement of engineering vision,technical ingenuity' and sweat; railways provided. jobs for thousands ofAmericans;

WHEREAS, Now, 139 years after the golden spike connected east and west, there's never been a better time to take the train. At a time when we all share the same pressing concerns about ecology and energy conservation, trains are a more energy~efficient mode oftradesmannvehicless or airplanes;

WHEREAS, Riding the rails is a great way to meet interesting people and see breathtaking scenery; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, The Rensselaer County Legislature does hereby recognize May 8, 2010 as the third annual National Train Day.Resolution

States for Passenger Rail Coalition Chairman and Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Frank Busalacchi today applauded the 3rd annual celebration of National Train Day on May 8, 2010.

“Passenger trains are widely regarded as an efficient way to move people in all parts of America. Trains are energy-efficient, pollute less than other transportation modes, and help ease highway and airline congestion.” .“National Train Day is an important opportunity to mark the valuable role trains play in our national transportation system,” Busalacchi said. “Passenger trains are widely regarded as an efficient way to move people in all parts of America. Trains are energy-efficient, pollute less than other transportation modes, and help ease highway and airline congestion.”

Busalacchi noted the demand for passenger rail is growing with people boarding trains in record numbers. Amtrak recently announced it is on pace to break its annual ridership record carrying over 13.6 million passengers during the first six months of fiscal year 2010 with the busy summer travel season still ahead.

“While we celebrate National Train Day, we must also remember that the future of passenger rail service in America depends on stable and strong funding from Washington,” Busalacchi said. “President Obama and Congressional leaders have made great progress in stepping up the federal commitment to passenger rail. The challenge now is to make sure that commitment continues into the future.”

Busalacchi said the members of the States of Passenger Rail Coalition, representing transportation agencies in 31 states, will continue their bi-partisan effort to support intercity passenger rail initiatives and work to achieve sustained and dedicated funding for projects.

National Train Day commemorates the day the “golden spike” was driven into the final railroad tie that joined 1,776 miles of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways, creating the nation’s first transcontinental railroad. That spike was driven in 1869 in Promontory Summit, Utah.