Something is shifting in Ohio. For decades, passenger rail has lived in conversation, in planning documents, in long-term strategies, and in “someday” language that felt important but distant. The ideas were sound, the case was strong, but the momentum often felt just out of reach.

All Aboard Ohio today announced the launch of the Inaugural Ohio Rail Summit. This statewide convening will bring together public officials, transportation professionals, advocates, and regional partners to discuss the future of passenger rail in Ohio and the Midwest.

We had the privilege of speaking with Michelle Tortolani, Amtrak’s Vice President of Project Delivery, Fleet & Facilities. Michelle oversees a massive portfolio responsible for modernizing the trains and facilities that keep America moving. She discussed Amtrak's new Acela high speed trains, new Airo trains, and the long-distance fleet trains.

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.