Re: The numbers are much larger, and the distance traveled are hellacious...
Author: FUD
Date: 12-09-2020 - 22:38
>UP would likely require separate passenger tracks over the corridor.
Absolutely. Same thing in N Cal with extending Cap Corridor service to Roseville. One train (to Auburn) goes through there now. Extending a couple more to a Roseville layover facility == UP insists on a 3rd track throughout. The budget for doing that (including replacing or modifying a number of existing grade separations, and possibly another American River bridge) hasn't completely put the kibosh on the project, but definitely has delayed it.
Difference apparently is: Cap Corridor (before Covid anyway) is very popular, with a bunch of people (again, pre-Covid) riding the connecting buses and the Auburn train, so there's support for finding the money. Coachella Valley may make as much or more sense, but it's longer than the 20ish miles of the Roseville extension and the support so far seems to be diffuse.