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Re: Coast Starlight revival? There's a lack of much real analysis... Although others have worked with the actual data..
Author: DJ Russell
Date: 12-13-2019 - 11:09
Bob2 as usual makes some excellent points.
I believe the backers of this proposal are floating this idea because they have owned all those old Santa Fe passenger cars for many years.
They've also proposed rebuilding those cars as a faster and cheaper replacement for the current Capitol Corridor. San Joaquin, Pacific Surfliner fleet that needs to be replaced as well as offering them to other state supported passenger corridors but no one seems interested.
They apparently believe there is a market for a more deluxe service that includes better food service and business class/ club car/parlor car single seat class of service that would appeal to high end Americans and foreigners who are not time sensitive and would pay more for the experience.
It would also appeal to cruise ship passengers who dock in LA or SF and would end a one way trip with a flight home just like people who take a cruise to Alaska and then ride the private cars attached to Alaska Railroad regular train.
Just because Iowa Pacific and AOE failed doesn't mean this will also fail. A day trip might be more desirable than a longer overnight Pullman Journeys type of trip.
The Corridor Capitol people apparently believe The Daylight they propose would complement rather than compete with an expanded state supported service on the Coast line.
The proposal was apparently made before Caltrain electrification became a realty so I don't know if the Hi Levels are too tall or if obtaining UP trackkage rights south of San Jose is possible.
Also I doubt Caltrain's expanded schedule under an electric system would allow room for the diesel powered Daylight.
I believe the backers of this proposal are floating this idea because they have owned all those old Santa Fe passenger cars for many years.
They've also proposed rebuilding those cars as a faster and cheaper replacement for the current Capitol Corridor. San Joaquin, Pacific Surfliner fleet that needs to be replaced as well as offering them to other state supported passenger corridors but no one seems interested.
They apparently believe there is a market for a more deluxe service that includes better food service and business class/ club car/parlor car single seat class of service that would appeal to high end Americans and foreigners who are not time sensitive and would pay more for the experience.
It would also appeal to cruise ship passengers who dock in LA or SF and would end a one way trip with a flight home just like people who take a cruise to Alaska and then ride the private cars attached to Alaska Railroad regular train.
Just because Iowa Pacific and AOE failed doesn't mean this will also fail. A day trip might be more desirable than a longer overnight Pullman Journeys type of trip.
The Corridor Capitol people apparently believe The Daylight they propose would complement rather than compete with an expanded state supported service on the Coast line.
The proposal was apparently made before Caltrain electrification became a realty so I don't know if the Hi Levels are too tall or if obtaining UP trackkage rights south of San Jose is possible.
Also I doubt Caltrain's expanded schedule under an electric system would allow room for the diesel powered Daylight.
