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Re: Trump Administration wants to cut service south of Eugene
Author: BOB2
Date: 08-28-2019 - 10:07
Of course, I, and the most of the "research" do support "frequent", fast (at least comparable to drive times), affordable, and reliable rail passenger services. When did I ever say I didn't?
But, the Coast Starlight, despite its many problems with speed, reliability, and being an overnight train on the segment through Nor Cal and Oregon, is a well patronized train, like a number of the East Coast "corridor" Long Distance trains from the NE to Florida.
California and Oregon may need to look at a "takeover" of this long distance service in the Starlight Corridor from Amtrak, due to our dysfunctional national politics, and because Amtrak may be going through its death throws, as a functioning national rail passenger "system".
As I have said in the past, I'd run at least 8 through Coast Daylights, and at least 4 "filler" trains (am peak starts out of SLO, SB, Salinas, and pm "fillers" back) to create a 12 train a day coast line service. I would look at incorporating the Starlight into that. And, I have proposed, with a State takeover, that we run a new Shasta Daylight service, from San Jose to Portland, with more Seattle Portland Service filling in on that end, and extending daylight Capitols to Chico and Redding.
I would consider running a Shasta Daylight via Davis up the west side line, and over a rebuilt Corp through Ashland and up the I-5 corridor in OR. These shorter segment trains would have better schedule adherence, (reliability), and with daylight operation would likely serve many more locally generated "daylight" trip in NorCal and OR (more demand), and avoid UP running (it is longer, but given UPee's delays, probably no slower....?).
Breaking up the service like this, actually creates two corridors in the "750 mile" range that is specified in the rail act... making it legally and politically easier for the states to do, under existing statute.
But, the Coast Starlight, despite its many problems with speed, reliability, and being an overnight train on the segment through Nor Cal and Oregon, is a well patronized train, like a number of the East Coast "corridor" Long Distance trains from the NE to Florida.
California and Oregon may need to look at a "takeover" of this long distance service in the Starlight Corridor from Amtrak, due to our dysfunctional national politics, and because Amtrak may be going through its death throws, as a functioning national rail passenger "system".
As I have said in the past, I'd run at least 8 through Coast Daylights, and at least 4 "filler" trains (am peak starts out of SLO, SB, Salinas, and pm "fillers" back) to create a 12 train a day coast line service. I would look at incorporating the Starlight into that. And, I have proposed, with a State takeover, that we run a new Shasta Daylight service, from San Jose to Portland, with more Seattle Portland Service filling in on that end, and extending daylight Capitols to Chico and Redding.
I would consider running a Shasta Daylight via Davis up the west side line, and over a rebuilt Corp through Ashland and up the I-5 corridor in OR. These shorter segment trains would have better schedule adherence, (reliability), and with daylight operation would likely serve many more locally generated "daylight" trip in NorCal and OR (more demand), and avoid UP running (it is longer, but given UPee's delays, probably no slower....?).
Breaking up the service like this, actually creates two corridors in the "750 mile" range that is specified in the rail act... making it legally and politically easier for the states to do, under existing statute.
