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Re: Restored Amtrak Service To Vegas? Don't Hold Your Breath!
Author: Bobby Johnson
Date: 06-28-2010 - 08:25
"A lot of people think they can run a railroad” (including yourself)
People seem to hear the word railroad and see dollar signs without realizing the amount of money it costs to run one. This service could not start next week. Amtrak does not have the available equipment, budget, stations, insurance, and labor for any of the services you mentioned above. Sorry to say it but Amtrak is a money looser and always will be. Amtrak is barley going to have enough money for the mandated PTC udgrades. UP has stated in the past that significant upgrades need to be performed on that line before passenger service is restored. That isn't going to change regardless of how low traffic levels are. Amtrak doesn't own that line, UP does. Amtrak doesn't have the money to pay for new UP sidings and buy new equipment. If service was ever restored on that line it would most likely be from state contributions. Vegas doesn't need Amtrak service, it has a large airport and a major freeway running from Salt Lake to Los Angeles. It would be faster and cheaper to drive there by car. Passenger rail to Vegas would not be feasable without a service that competed with the airlines both cost and time wise. The New Orleans - Jacksonville service never had good ridership, was costly, and put a lot of strain on equipment availablity. Who wants to ride a train from Chicago to Florida other than a foamer? That trip would probably take about two days.
People seem to hear the word railroad and see dollar signs without realizing the amount of money it costs to run one. This service could not start next week. Amtrak does not have the available equipment, budget, stations, insurance, and labor for any of the services you mentioned above. Sorry to say it but Amtrak is a money looser and always will be. Amtrak is barley going to have enough money for the mandated PTC udgrades. UP has stated in the past that significant upgrades need to be performed on that line before passenger service is restored. That isn't going to change regardless of how low traffic levels are. Amtrak doesn't own that line, UP does. Amtrak doesn't have the money to pay for new UP sidings and buy new equipment. If service was ever restored on that line it would most likely be from state contributions. Vegas doesn't need Amtrak service, it has a large airport and a major freeway running from Salt Lake to Los Angeles. It would be faster and cheaper to drive there by car. Passenger rail to Vegas would not be feasable without a service that competed with the airlines both cost and time wise. The New Orleans - Jacksonville service never had good ridership, was costly, and put a lot of strain on equipment availablity. Who wants to ride a train from Chicago to Florida other than a foamer? That trip would probably take about two days.
