George,

The world doesn't always suck. And, not every proposed rail project is a foamer fantasy, or dubious pipe dream......

Reopening Carrizo has been the subject of several well done and very realistic studies (unlike the dubious analysis of Eureka, or even HSR?). I know this because I was involved with, and reviewed several of these studies. These studies clearly identified a number of options and cost ranges to reopen Carrizo for various levels of proposed freight volumes and service classes that were realistic and doable.

San Diego is a real, highly functional, easily accessible, port. Eureka is not. San Diego is presently accessible to auto ships, with a real population base, and good highway and rail connections. As opposed to Eureka, which has none of that. The Port of San Diego is now the preferred auto port, since UP systematically screws Port Hueneme with very limited Coast line service and poor connections for their auto traffic, requiring trucking to San Berdo to get to a competitors connection.

In contrast, BNSF runs daily service to the Port of San Diego, and gives the daily service required for auto and other higher value traffic. UP would be able to more profitably take transfers of auto's directly from a connection to El Centro-Niland, which could offer an alternative to compete with BNSF. The auto shippers would prefer that.

A long term shift of auto's from LA-LB has been occurring, due to lack of present and long term land side port capacity. Competitive rail access to the Port of San Diego would improve the position of San Diego to capture more such traffic, and they have the capacity to handle much higher auto volumes, than is presently being handled.

The movement of final auto assembly to the "low" labor cost US from some traditional Asian manufacturers may negate that need, and indecision in San Diego politics, are two limiting factors. The long term movement of final auto assembly back to the "low" labor cost US from some traditional Asian manufacturers which may negate that need for import capacity, and indecision in San Diego politics, are two limiting factors.


The reopening of Carrizo is, therefore, a far more realistic option. Also, unlike the NWP, most of the SDAE is in place, and much of it relatively undamaged. And, the SDAE can be reopened and upgraded at much more reasonable costs. So reopening Carrizo is a realistic possibility near term, while reopening Eureka is probably not. A long term financing plan and a proper business plan with a real potential traffic base for long term use could make the Carrizo restoration a very realistic option.

BOB2