Judy: #1 I am not going to go tit for tat on this but the NWP ROW in most cases 120 feet wide which is more then wide enough for double track when frequency and traffic warrants.
#2 CTC on the NWP will allow the SMART dispatchers to have freights meet opposing passenger trains on the existing sidings at Burdell (120 car capacity and 6200 ft. long) Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Windsor, Healdsburg and Geyersville (120 car capacity, 6200 ft. long.) You need to do your homework and take a ride up 101 and see the infrastructure. The "San Diego Trolley" was mostly single track when it started back in the early 1980's and over the years was double tracked to meet demands. Freight there runs after the evening commute runs. With the ribbon rail that will be installed on the NWP by SMART, the trains will be VERY quiet except for the whistle. May I SUGGEST that you go to a crossing on the Peninsula or on Capitol Corridor route (Gilroy to Sacramento) and listen as a train goes by....then go between crossings so you are not influence by the whistle and see how much noise the train makes. Finally, I live along the Capitol Corridor and go to the CCJPB meetings and there are never any NO COMPLAINTS noise from the trains. Folks up here are glad to have them and thats why the Capitol Corridor has seen double digit increases in ridership every year since its inception as is now owns the 3rd highest ridership of any commute operation in the U.S. ( Northeast corridor is #1 and the Surfliner is #2.)