Re: Lessons To Learn
Author: Freericks
Date: 08-10-2013 - 08:43
Eddie Elkins Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Freericks Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I am still licking my wounds from this same
> > conversation a few years back on this same
> forum.
> >
> > The older I get the more I think the only new
> rail
> > projects that I will see get done will be in
> areas
> > of mega-population (LA to Santa Monica for
> > instance).
> >
> > Everything else will just generate lots and
> lots
> > of opinions.
>
> Well, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, they can
> actually pull off the stupendous feat of
> converting a hiking trail back into a railroad.
>
> Us civilized city-slickers could learn an awful
> lot from that!
>
> Sheesh! And all this time I naively thought that
> railfans should instinctively be supportive of
> projects related to the reopening of rail lines
> and the restoration of passenger service!
>
> Silly me!
Not going to go dredge it all up to prove it - but I'm your choir, your congregation, whatever. I also never understand that animosity to even suggesting new projects that get thrown at folks in these threads.
Whether the county board has voted to turn it into a scooter driven mag-lev for hamsters or not, in the end the best use for that line would frankly be a three to four train day (each way) line to San Francisco (essentially replicating the Santa Barbara service to Los Angeles).
Start up costs would be very high (lots of rebuilding - whether the track is there now or there is sand or a parking lot of bike path, all new rail and roadbed would have to be laid).
In a world where projects have to compete for dollars - can this one compete against some new car-pool lane connection between two freeways somewhere?