Ignoring the entire CAHSR debacle - is there really that great of a value making LAUPT (didn't they change their official name a while back?) a run through station?

First - all trains will stop there anyway. In the case of Amtrak, it is a crew change and I haven't heard any plans to run crews through - not sure how well that would work anyway. As all the trains are running with a cab of some sort at each end, as presumably CAHSR would, is there a real advantage here?

I do realize that would be a potential capacity increase as all trains wouldn't be funneled through one yard throat, but remember back in the day they somehow ran that many trains or more, plus had switch jobs setting mail and express cars over - and dealt with three different railroad companies.

I'm just trying to figure cost vs. benefit here. The exisitng passenger infastructure should have been invested in first to build it out - two main tracks to San Diego, maybe buy coast line, etc. before worrying about CAHSR. And I agree, if they had built LA basin to Bakersfield first, while the hardest and most expensive it could have provided an immediate benefit even with conventional equipment (existing Amtrak cars but new electric locos due to grade and tunnels?), regardless if any of the rest of the system was built.