First off, no, there is no ATS installation on the UP Mojave Sub., however, there is ongoing PTC installation, getting ready for January 1, 2017 when PTC is required to be in service across the country. Old target singals are not PTC Compliant, so out they come and in come the modern 3 lights signals, that are springing up everywhere, on all railroads.
Second, yes traffic is down, and has been. Also, DPU has eliminated the need for manned helper engines on the Pass, so you don't have many of the moves that once occurred on a regular basis, even 10 years ago. But BNSF, in particular, knowing that they run a majority of the traffic on the route, is primarily pushing for this, looking to the distant future, when traffic is predicted to explode. They want to be ready for it.
When Pacific Railroad Society ran their Special Passenger Train over the Pass, almost 2 years ago, the only delay taken was a meet at Marcel with a Southbound BNSF Train, that cost the Northbound Special 4 minutes of delay total. Otherwise, it was a straight shot all the way. Once the Northbound Special reached Bena, it met a total of 4 Southbounds between there and Quantico/Kern Jct. without a stop! One of the comments I kept hearing was, where are all the other trains? Well, there just weren't any, that is how down traffic is on the Pass. Plus with no Lite Helper Engines running around the pass, this opened up several slots for the Special.
The Helper Spur at Bena has been completely removed, by the way.
Thanks for listening.