George Andrews Wrote:
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> Also, will Amtrak / WSDOT receive
> a refund for monies they spent on the new curve @
> D St in Tacoma ??? This curve relocation is a
> perfect example of BNSF putting one over on Public
> Transit officials. Tens of millions of dollars
> were spent to buy property & rebuild the curve @
> the West end ( South end timetable ) of the Amtrak
> depot to reduce curvature, all of which reduced
> running times by 2 minutes !!!

George: To say nothing of the cost of the entire third main addition project and 3 or 4 highspeed crossovers between Tacoma and Nisqually.

Tom:
I hadn't made the connection in the timing of the golf tournaments and Amtrak's rerouting to the Prairie line. I'd imagine that would make it a moot point, assuming lawsuits don't tie up the construction of the "missing mile".

I wonder what the reaction will be from the riding public. I've heard that the prairie line routing will save six minutes on the +- 2 hour trip between Tacoma and Portland. In saving six minutes passengers (and Amtrak Marketing) give up the most scenic portion of the trip between Seattle and Portland.