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Re: Amtrak - Desert Wind demise and resurrection via Palmdale, yes....
Author: mook
Date: 08-26-2016 - 09:40
X-Train thought they could resurrect the DW by waving hands, blowing smoke, and saying they would rebuilt some worn-out Chicago commuter cars into a luxury train. Nothing happened.
Xpress West has done their due environmental and economic diligence, and has permission to use some of the I-15 right of way which minimizes tortoise troubles, but Republicans in Congress killed the potential for them getting a DOT construction loan. Apparently the Chinese connection didn't work either. So they're out looking for money again, and given the delays they probably will have to freshen the EISs once something does firm up. Frankly, they would be a much better bet than anything trying to squeeze between stack trains on UP and BNSF for actually carrying a useful load of passengers. Bob2 is correct in that once they get to Palmdale they could enter LA and have a competitive run time, even without CAHSR tracks to run on into downtown. The starter line from Victorville to Vegas is likely to shave off a useful bit of traffic on weekends, but they really need the Palmdale connection to make it all work well.
Xpress West has done their due environmental and economic diligence, and has permission to use some of the I-15 right of way which minimizes tortoise troubles, but Republicans in Congress killed the potential for them getting a DOT construction loan. Apparently the Chinese connection didn't work either. So they're out looking for money again, and given the delays they probably will have to freshen the EISs once something does firm up. Frankly, they would be a much better bet than anything trying to squeeze between stack trains on UP and BNSF for actually carrying a useful load of passengers. Bob2 is correct in that once they get to Palmdale they could enter LA and have a competitive run time, even without CAHSR tracks to run on into downtown. The starter line from Victorville to Vegas is likely to shave off a useful bit of traffic on weekends, but they really need the Palmdale connection to make it all work well.
