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Re: News Item -- Passenger Service over Stampede Pass
Author: mistertower
Date: 10-18-2008 - 08:57
Kyle,
What was amazing about this is, after the Pioneer was discontinued, UP continued to retain the Passenger Train Speeds in this Timetable for the previous 3 issues, even though the train had been discontinued before Portland Area Timetable #1 took effect in October 1998. I was told at that time that it didn't hurt UP to keep the Passenger Train Speeds in the Timetable if Amtrak was to resume service at a later date. A prime example of this is when the San Francisco Zyphr was permanently re-routed via the old DRGW in April 1983, UP took out the Passenger Train Speeds where the old S.F.Z used to operate. When the Pioneer was extended in June 1992 from Ogden to Denver via this same routing, UP issued a new Timetable, putting the Passenger Train Speeds back in it. In, I belive it was 1996 or 1997, when the Pioneer was discontinued, UP did NOT remove the passenger train speeds from the Timetable, until NOW, in the sense that why take them out if we just have to put them back in a few years from now when service might possibly be resumed. I have heard RUMOR that one reason UP took the Passenger Speeds out of the Timetable is to discourage the Pioneer from being put back on & if it is, to try to get taxpayer's money to make improvements to this route to accomodate the train. If that is the case, then I, for 1, am all for it!
What was amazing about this is, after the Pioneer was discontinued, UP continued to retain the Passenger Train Speeds in this Timetable for the previous 3 issues, even though the train had been discontinued before Portland Area Timetable #1 took effect in October 1998. I was told at that time that it didn't hurt UP to keep the Passenger Train Speeds in the Timetable if Amtrak was to resume service at a later date. A prime example of this is when the San Francisco Zyphr was permanently re-routed via the old DRGW in April 1983, UP took out the Passenger Train Speeds where the old S.F.Z used to operate. When the Pioneer was extended in June 1992 from Ogden to Denver via this same routing, UP issued a new Timetable, putting the Passenger Train Speeds back in it. In, I belive it was 1996 or 1997, when the Pioneer was discontinued, UP did NOT remove the passenger train speeds from the Timetable, until NOW, in the sense that why take them out if we just have to put them back in a few years from now when service might possibly be resumed. I have heard RUMOR that one reason UP took the Passenger Speeds out of the Timetable is to discourage the Pioneer from being put back on & if it is, to try to get taxpayer's money to make improvements to this route to accomodate the train. If that is the case, then I, for 1, am all for it!
