 |
Re: They're at 17 billion by next year???? LMAO.... You are working overtime aren't you?
Author: FUD
Date: 07-28-2021 - 22:32
One thing I'm not clear on is whether stations are included in the cost of the Valley line. I.E Fresno, Kings Co., maybe Wasco or (if a miracle occurs) Bakersfield? Amtrak won't use it if there's no place to stop.
As for money, I think the Valley line will get a little more, but not what they want. So they'll have somewhere between 8 and 10 for the whole affair, which isn't really enough to do more than connect what they've got to BNSF for Amtrak to use.
I do find myself wondering why we're not looking at more basic mainline electrification in places like the SJV and LA Basin where the air quality is so horrible. Sure, only passenger trains would use it at first, and it would have to be genuine mainline electrification with ample clearance for double-stacks and other high/wide stuff. Building another track for it might encourage BNSF or UP (depending on where/what) to accept it, as a capacity increase with doodads. But it could be done, and as with electrifying Caltrain (and maybe, in a dream world, lots of Metrolink) it would allow faster schedules without necessarily running much faster because electrics (even locomotive-hauled, not MU) accelerate better than diesels. After all, for the Euro-lovers, even before HSR there were conventional electric trains there running more than 125 mph.
As for money, I think the Valley line will get a little more, but not what they want. So they'll have somewhere between 8 and 10 for the whole affair, which isn't really enough to do more than connect what they've got to BNSF for Amtrak to use.
I do find myself wondering why we're not looking at more basic mainline electrification in places like the SJV and LA Basin where the air quality is so horrible. Sure, only passenger trains would use it at first, and it would have to be genuine mainline electrification with ample clearance for double-stacks and other high/wide stuff. Building another track for it might encourage BNSF or UP (depending on where/what) to accept it, as a capacity increase with doodads. But it could be done, and as with electrifying Caltrain (and maybe, in a dream world, lots of Metrolink) it would allow faster schedules without necessarily running much faster because electrics (even locomotive-hauled, not MU) accelerate better than diesels. After all, for the Euro-lovers, even before HSR there were conventional electric trains there running more than 125 mph.
