The Oregon Talgo-CASCADES Have A Lesson For Us
Author: Eddie Elkins
Date: 08-12-2013 - 08:34
Fred Wrote:
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> Nobody answered my question.
> If 43 years ago, the SP didn't have enough traffic
> to support the Delmonte, where is the traffic base
> in 2013?
Please refer to my post of 08-12-2013 - 03:41
Here's a couple of interesting statistics:
If you consider the population of Lane County in Oregon, where the Eugene-Springfield metro area lies, you will find that it has a SMALLER population than Monterey County, where the Seaside-Monterey-Carmel metro area is located.
The State of Oregon is progressive enough that it feels that the corridor between Portland and Eugene is worthy of Talgo-CASCADE regional service. Remember, too, that the route is also served by the COAST STARLIGHT, a train financed by the Federal government. Note that Oregon felt that twice-daily service by Trains 14-11 was not adequate, hence the Talgo-CASCADE service was added.
Oregon recognizes the value of passenger rail service. Oregon recognizes that there are alternatives to rubber tires and gasoline-fed internal combustion engines.
Oregon doesn't obsess whether or not the Talgo-CASCADE regional service operates at a profit.
We could learn a lot from Oregon.
As gathered from the Internet:
<>As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Lane County had a population of 351,715.
<>As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Monterey County had a population of 415,057, which has grown 3.31% since 2000.