Folks,

The off again, on again proposed Punta Colonet container port in Baja is back in the news: [signonsandiego.com]. My interest ITT is in the engineering and operation of this proposed new rail line (and not the usual tiring politically correct nonsense about Mexico in general).

Interesting quotes...

Quote:

Punta Colonet was first conceived as trade boomed in 2004, and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were becoming overwhelmed. [...] But container traffic is down 20 percent to 30 percent at U.S. Pacific ports, analysts say. Last week, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the largest container ports in the United States, reported the lowest September import figures since 2000.

Since Punta Colonet is farther by sea to Asia, ships literally must go right by POLA/POLB then about another 300 miles to Punta Colonet, would be farther from the US midwest markets than POLA/POLB by about the same distance, and POLA/POLB isn't crowded anymore, what purpose does this port serve? Anything besides screwing the ILWU?

Quote:

The newly released bid guidelines are similar to the original version but are vague on timing. They do not set a deadline for submissions or say when the final decision on the winning bid will be determined.

Like maybe never?

Quote:

Four groups have expressed interest in the project, and the Mexican government this week invited other “interested parties” to sign up by Nov. 3 [...] Ernesto Ruffo, a former Baja California governor who is participating in the bidding process. Ruffo's group, Consortium Seaport Services, is led by a Spanish company, Globalvia, with participation of Watco, a subsidiary of Union Pacific Railroad, and a terminal operator, TraPac. [...] The initial challenge will be building the rail line to the border. “That investment doesn't change, whether the port is big or whether it's small,” said Ruffo, whose group's plan is to have the rail crossing near Mexicali, across from Calexico.

This is the interesting part. Where do the other three groups want to cross the border? Any experts around know how these guys might get to Mexicali. Like I said before, I sure would be nice, from a railfan persective, if they built to Tecate and the reopened Carrizo Gorge. But rebuilding the Inter-California from Mexicali to Algondones, then up to Araz [Junction] would be cool too, and might actually make sense. Maybe Amtrak can bring back the Imperial?

Any comments, folks?