Re: Why does'nt Amtrak run along the west valley line
Author: Q
Date: 12-30-2012 - 23:32
> but trains from portland to Oakland and vice versa would make sense
Except that the big stUPid gave away virtually all of that traffic to the truckers - claiming they can't make money on mere 650-800 mile shipments. But in reality, they lost it all during one of their more infamous meltdowns. Cascade line traffic is now a mere ghost of what it once was, as is the whole railroad - and most of its parts.
A pure waste of perfectly good track. The "happy" result for the public? just try to drive on I-5 without being run over by a big rig!
Another reason the west valley line is dead as a through route - the ex WP Sacramento to Binney Jct line - already affords a direct and decently maintained bypass around the Roseville spaghetti bowl, and even that place is nowhere as choked as it once was. Also, this route has easy connections to any route into the San Joaquin Valley. Also, I believe that Amtrak's Starlight already uses the Old WP line (hence no stop in Roseville) as well. At least, it has been seen there from time to time.