The federal government has the chance to rebuild the nation's passenger rail service by upgrading Amtrak's aging fleet of locomotives. We must seize that opportunity. The idea is for Amtrak to secure loan guarantees under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program to revitalize its fleet with higher-speed, diesel-electric locomotives that would reach speeds between 110 and 124 mph. Up to $35 billion is available under the program, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's website. If it happens, GE Transportation, as the top locomotive manufacturer in the United States, would be poised perfectly to compete for the Amtrak contract....