ron,

There is some preliminary planning looking at electrifying ML and LOSSAM going on. It is in a very preliminary stage, and there are some significant issues. And, there are some significant costs involved.

There is also a major set of recommendations I saw, just this week, on proposed line improvements on the AV line, to cut travel times, and possibly facilitate both new LOSSAN, and Virgin services.

I'm waiting for the bit in the CAHSRA's site about LAUPT run through being fully funded to become an actual documented "fact". I'm more concerned with getting one of the best performing and longest stalled projects we can do, done in time for the 2028 Olympics, which I might still be around for... We first did the first analysis, design, and cost benefit on this back in '93... These sensible things have taken far too long to get done.

I notice that one of our "rail advocacy" groups is holding a summit soon. It's too bad they seem more focused on the pipe dreams like getting the Sunset back to PHX and daily.... I think reconciling dueling, as well as, somewhat conflicting and competing visions for Altamont would be something more productive to focus on.


ron Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well Bob,
>
> Sounds like if they "get it right" ACE might be
> able to be the link between Caltrain and CAHSR for
> a crippled Bakersfield to San Francisco "high
> speed" electric service...
>
> Why isnt Los Angeles METRO doing ANYTHING to
> electrify Metrolink? then you still have to build
> those pricey tunnels over the
> Grapevine/Tehachapi...
>
> BOB2 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Look!
> >
> > People looking at doing some things we might
> > actually could use...?
> >
> > What a concept in planning....? Who was it
> that
> > said we need a longer tunnel under Altamont and
> > that it was way more cost effective than
> > Pacheco...
> >
> > You will probably be informed shortly that mere
> > 125 mph. trains, that might be affordably built
> in
> > the life span remaining for our grandchildren,
> > that actually meet our real travel needs, is
> not
> > "real" high speed rail... It will then be time
> > for our usual suspects to chime in with some
> > gainsay about how this doesn't do what was
> > "promised" to the trusting and well meaning
> voters
> > they lied to when putting this measure
> together,
> > so that we can only "legally" continue to build
> > their version of "runaway money train", no
> matter
> > the costs or actual benefits to the taxpayers.
>
> >
> > If a majority of folks in a democracy, were
> > hoodwinked, with false promises, through
> > ignorance, and/or by fear, into voting for
> > something stupid, don't they deserve a chance
> to
> > correct it?
> >
> > There is an odd viewpoint in the world today,
> that
> > is also being used to justify this bloated
> fiasco,
> > that seems to say, that if people foolishly
> voted
> > to jump off of a cliff, that it is a mandate
> all
> > of us must follow, for all of eternity...?
> >
> > Now I know, it's probably just me again...
> But,
> > I'd probably much prefer to let the folks who
> > thought it was a good idea to vote to jump off
> of
> > the cliff, go first, while I circulate the
> > petition to repeal it. And, I figure, that by
> the
> > time I get enough signatures, we "no" voters
> > should be the "new" majority....
> >
> > When folks do stupid things, or vote for
> idiots,
> > or get hoodwinked with nonsense, even if it was
> > the will of the "majority" (of that moment...),
> > maybe they're allowed to a do-over, or course
> > correction, especially when they have better
> > information, and know better the consequences
> of
> > their previous vote....