Long before 3C+D entered the lexicon, the New York Central Railroad operated trains that tied these cities together. The most significant was the Ohio State Limited, introduced on April 27, 1924. It ran between New York City and Cincinnati, but within Ohio it effectively served as a corridor train. Cleveland, Columbus, Springfield, Dayton, and Cincinnati were linked on a daily basis. The routing differed somewhat from today’s proposal, but the core cities were the same.

As we honor Black History Month, Wells’ story reminds us that transportation is not just about infrastructure. It’s about access, equity, and the right for every person to travel safely, freely, and with dignity. At All Aboard Ohio, that belief remains at the heart of our mission today.

As a Cincinnatian, my encounters with passenger rail are limited, often to catching the streetcar that runs through downtown or the rare sight of a very delayed Cardinal crossing the Ohio River. Because of that, I’m always looking for new rail-related experiences whenever the opportunity arises. Fortunately, I got one early last summer.

In December the Federal Railroad Administration announced updates to the Corridor ID program. These updates tailor next steps of the program towards the complexity of projects to smooth the ability to receive approvals and confidence from the federal government. This impacts routes in Ohio like those through Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo.

Every December, trains circle our trees and fill our stories with wonder. But outside the glow of the season, they vanish from daily life. What do our holiday traditions reveal about longing, connection, and the future of passenger rail in Ohio?