Re: Coast Daylight
Author: BOB2
Date: 05-20-2017 - 11:32
Like the Corridors, this service is more about increasing and improving access from medium sized communities along the 101 corridor into and out of the major metropolitan centers SJ/SF and LA/OC, and intermediate centers SLO/SB/ not end to end markets.
The current proposed Daylight service will be running within current operating parameters (existing track speeds with "minimal" investment in speed improvements)is designed for "access".
The proposed travel times in this corridor will still, in most cases, be very competitive with current congested driving times during much of the daytime travel period, especially as you approach the metro areas.
As I have noted in previous posts, with proper investments in speed, signaling, and tilt train equipment, it would easily be possible to operate up to 8 express/limited trains daily, with up to 7 stops, in just under 7 hours. Which would be much faster than driving via the coast, and would be more time competitive than the LA-OAK bus/train, via the Valley, and likely generate significant end to end traffic, in addition to a much higher level of local travel. In today's dollars we are talking about a 1.4-1.7 billion dollar investment (half of which would also improve LOSSAN north. and shared Capitols corridor capacity and performance, and part of which is already planned for those segments). This investment would also allow for more of the local access rail services in the same corridor.
Now, just imagine that alternative Coastline scenario, and compare that to the $4 billion we are currently squandering on just the first 22 miles of the HSR between Chowchilla and Fresno.........?