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On the Right Track: Railroads, Aging in Place & Dr. Seuss
Ever wondered what's actually on that two-mile-long train rolling through town? Chriss Nielsen has spent 30 years as a freight rail economist and she ended up there entirely by accident. In this episode, she breaks down how goods move across America, why your Amazon package probably crossed three states by rail, and what AI might mean for driverless trains. Then Chriss shares her other passion: At Home in Alexandria, a village-style nonprofit helping neighbors age in place, including the 92-year-old she drives to the gym every Wednesday. Oh, and she grew up trick-or-treating at Dr. Seuss's house.
00:00 Welcome to Old Town
00:56 Book Club Beginnings
03:39 From Temp to Rail
05:52 Rate Cases Explained
07:49 Rail vs Trucks
10:40 Deregulation Debate
13:05 Big Railroads Today
14:59 Future of Freight
16:53 AI and Driverless Trains
19:46 Amtrak vs Freight
21:04 Amtrak vs Freight Priority
22:46 Why US Rail Lags Europe
23:41 High Speed Rail Reality
25:38 Best Rail Systems Today
26:32 Transit Subsidies Debate
27:23 At Home in Alexandria
28:14 Village Services Explained
31:40 Volunteer Story at the Y
32:58 Dr Seuss Connection
36:38 Lightning Round Favorites
37:42 Markets and Monopoly
38:11 Seuss Railroad Rhyme
38:40 Final Thanks and Wrap
Around Old Town - places mentioned in this episode:
- Fresh Baguette: 1101 King St | freshbaguette.net | IG: @freshbaguette
- Principle Gallery: 208 King St | principlegallery.com | IG: @principlegallery
- At Home in Alexandria (AHA): 3139 Mt. Vernon Ave | athomeinalexandria.org | IG: @athomeinalexandria
Email us at [email protected]. To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Apple podcasts and Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria
The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community.
© 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.
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By Jane Khodos BeyerEver wondered what's actually on that two-mile-long train rolling through town? Chriss Nielsen has spent 30 years as a freight rail economist and she ended up there entirely by accident. In this episode, she breaks down how goods move across America, why your Amazon package probably crossed three states by rail, and what AI might mean for driverless trains. Then Chriss shares her other passion: At Home in Alexandria, a village-style nonprofit helping neighbors age in place, including the 92-year-old she drives to the gym every Wednesday. Oh, and she grew up trick-or-treating at Dr. Seuss's house.
00:00 Welcome to Old Town
00:56 Book Club Beginnings
03:39 From Temp to Rail
05:52 Rate Cases Explained
07:49 Rail vs Trucks
10:40 Deregulation Debate
13:05 Big Railroads Today
14:59 Future of Freight
16:53 AI and Driverless Trains
19:46 Amtrak vs Freight
21:04 Amtrak vs Freight Priority
22:46 Why US Rail Lags Europe
23:41 High Speed Rail Reality
25:38 Best Rail Systems Today
26:32 Transit Subsidies Debate
27:23 At Home in Alexandria
28:14 Village Services Explained
31:40 Volunteer Story at the Y
32:58 Dr Seuss Connection
36:38 Lightning Round Favorites
37:42 Markets and Monopoly
38:11 Seuss Railroad Rhyme
38:40 Final Thanks and Wrap
Around Old Town - places mentioned in this episode:
- Fresh Baguette: 1101 King St | freshbaguette.net | IG: @freshbaguette
- Principle Gallery: 208 King St | principlegallery.com | IG: @principlegallery
- At Home in Alexandria (AHA): 3139 Mt. Vernon Ave | athomeinalexandria.org | IG: @athomeinalexandria
Email us at [email protected]. To stay up to date with The People You Meet In Old Town, and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Apple podcasts and Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria
The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria is a podcast that explores the people, places, and ideas that shape the historic district. Hosted by Jane Khodos Beyer, the show features wide-ranging discussions with local leaders and experts who bring practical ideas on how to preserve our heritage and build a vibrant community.
© 2026 The People You Meet in Old Town Alexandria. All rights reserved.