Caesar La Rock
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http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wear_vid_20268.shtml
And let the discussion begin.
And let the discussion begin.
They're talking about the Sunset East, which:
a) Isn't going to happen unless the states involved come up with some cash (which isn't going to happen).
b) Been discussed to death.
That's what happens when a train gets cut back. People ignored this route when it ran three times a week in either direction and now all of the sudden they want it back.Way too much talking, no reality!
Part of the problem is that it was cut-but-not-cut...it was "suspended" and never withdrawn. As to traffic on the route...three-times-weekly routes tend to have that problem because of inconsistent service, and IIRC the Sunset always had OTP problems because of its sheer length.They're talking about the Sunset East, which:
a) Isn't going to happen unless the states involved come up with some cash (which isn't going to happen).
b) Been discussed to death.
That's what happens when a train gets cut back. People ignored this route when it ran three times a week in either direction and now all of the sudden they want it back.Way too much talking, no reality!
I would hardly call the request to restore the service "all of the sudden". The service was suspended in August 2005, so it has been 6 and a half years.That's what happens when a train gets cut back. People ignored this route when it ran three times a week in either direction and now all of the sudden they want it back.
With Governor Scott? Agreed, not likely. On the other hand, he decided not to block SunRail and the FL DOT has put $118 million of state funding towards starting service on the FEC. Not a pro-rail or pro-transit Governor, but he got a lot of grief and took hits from more mainstream Republicans on his decision to kill the Tampa to Orlando HSR project. Got burned for it.With the current governor there? Pffffft. I don't see it. Even if there was major outcry for it, it wouldn't happen under that guy.
Those were put into play long before he got into office, I still worked for FDOT when those were being discussed (not my office but I recall it), Scott wasn't around way back then and they were so far along I doubt if there was much he could do about them. The way he's killing state offices off now is the only way he could kill those, too.With Governor Scott? Agreed, not likely. On the other hand, he decided not to block SunRail and the FL DOT has put $118 million of state funding towards starting service on the FEC. Not a pro-rail or pro-transit Governor, but he got a lot of grief and took hits from more mainstream Republicans on his decision to kill the Tampa to Orlando HSR project. Got burned for it.With the current governor there? Pffffft. I don't see it. Even if there was major outcry for it, it wouldn't happen under that guy.
Any plan or proposal to provide corridor service across Northern Florida would be a long term effort, taking years and years to build support. Scott is either a one or two term Governor. Given his current poll numbers, odds are leaning to being a one term Governor. Have to take the long view with service restoration or expansion such as this.
My guess is that the original poster was being sarcastic/tongue-in-cheek, given that it seems like there's another "city along the suspended portion of the Sunset Limited route wants the service back" news article every month.The thread subtitle isn't correct at all. In the second paragraph of the article, it mention that the Sunset Limited used to run between New Orleans and Orlando, which 99.9% of all people would infer what train it was talking about.
I would hardly call the request to restore the service "all of the sudden". The service was suspended in August 2005, so it has been 6 and a half years.That's what happens when a train gets cut back. People ignored this route when it ran three times a week in either direction and now all of the sudden they want it back.
As for restoring the service, Amtrak wrote a Gulf Coast Service Plan Report on what it would take to restore the service in July, 2009. The basic problem is that it will take money and equipment that Amtrak does not have
Actually, poeple in Pensacola were well aware of the route. The service times and reliability hurt significantly, but that was another story from not kning the train existed. By the way, much of the reliability problem related to issues west of New Orleans now resolved.As for restoring the service, Amtrak wrote a Gulf Coast Service Plan Report on what it would take to restore the service in July, 2009. The basic problem is that it will take money and equipment that Amtrak does not have, especially with the cuts to the operating grant subsidy. Difficult to line up and justify capital funding for a slow 3 day a week train service.That's what happens when a train gets cut back. People ignored this route when it ran three times a week in either direction and now all of the sudden they want it back.
According to the 2009 report, the 247 mile segment from Flomaton, AL to Tallahassee is non-signaled dark territory which means max passenger train speeds of 59 mph with max track speeds ranging from 40 to 59 mph. There is a 7 mile long section with a 20 mph limit at CSX Chattahoochee Yard west of Tallahassee. Not good for decent trip times.
. . . .
Then Amtrak would just have to deal with the segment from Pensacola to New Orleans which might be manageable with limited LD funds. But this would take many years to happen, although sustained high oil prices could change the situation sooner than that.
Meanwhile, keeping the Sunset Limited running from New Orleans to LA just 3 days a week is going to be a challenge.
True, but the PTC zealots have scared people.The 59 mph speed limit Flomaton to Tallahassee is not a recent event.
I have to wonder if any of the Mobile area tracks suffered damage after Katrina, too. I know there were a lot of unused tracks in the area, and maybe no one bothered checking them afterwards.A real problem has alwasy been the round about route between Mobile and Pensacola which would require 50 miles of new railroad to cure.
So far the Sunset is still alive. The real question is how long does it have or is Amtrak even going to attempt to improve it. Right now Pensacola's talk about this is just that. Talk, but currently no action as of yet. When I hear more about where this is going I will post back here on this thread ASAP.I would hardly call the request to restore the service "all of the sudden". The service was suspended in August 2005, so it has been 6 and a half years.That's what happens when a train gets cut back. People ignored this route when it ran three times a week in either direction and now all of the sudden they want it back.
As for restoring the service, Amtrak wrote a Gulf Coast Service Plan Report on what it would take to restore the service in July, 2009. The basic problem is that it will take money and equipment that Amtrak does not have
This often quoted statement about equipment is totally wrong as the equipment to run to Orlando now just sits in New Orleans for three days doing nothing before it heads back west. I assume the crews sit there too. If you look at the schedule there are times when New Orleans has two Sunsets sitting there overnight. Amtrak has four sets of equipment assigned to this train. Another set sits in LA overnight as they are unable to turn the train same day. some days there are times when there is no train out on the UP tracks as all four sets are waiting in LA and NOL for their next departure. The east bound schedule is an abomination that resulted from the UP meltdown and has never been restored to the pre-Katrina times. It hits most major terminals in the wee hours of the night or morning. This train is so badly managed it is no wonder that it loses so much money. If you read the study done by Amtrak on this train, almost all the improvements they site could be made to the existing train, yet they do nothing. Amtrak has set it up to fail and I am sure it will be first on their chopping block. It will be just one more LD train axed by Amtrak following the many others that have preceeded it. It's a sad tale of gross mis-management by Amtrak. And sadly, I have ridden the train many times and the crews are gracious and friendly and the on board service is excellent.
All the tracks that were damaged by Katrina were repaired within six months and CSX gave Amtrak the ok to resume service at that time. My understanding from reading various 'boards' is that recently CSX downgraded the track between NOL and Mobile to 40mph and is routing most traffic via Montgomery vs the coast route. Anyone have any news regarding this change? If true, it is getting more and more unlikely that any type of service can be restored to this route without major expenditures of money.I have to wonder if any of the Mobile area tracks suffered damage after Katrina, too. I know there were a lot of unused tracks in the area, and maybe no one bothered checking them afterwards.A real problem has alwasy been the round about route between Mobile and Pensacola which would require 50 miles of new railroad to cure.
" . . . between NOL and Mobile . . ."All the tracks that were damaged by Katrina were repaired within six months and CSX gave Amtrak the ok to resume service at that time. My understanding from reading various 'boards' is that recently CSX downgraded the track between NOL and Mobile to 40mph and is routing most traffic via Montgomery vs the coast route. Anyone have any news regarding this change? If true, it is getting more and more unlikely that any type of service can be restored to this route without major expenditures of money.I have to wonder if any of the Mobile area tracks suffered damage after Katrina, too. I know there were a lot of unused tracks in the area, and maybe no one bothered checking them afterwards.A real problem has always been the round about route between Mobile and Pensacola which would require 50 miles of new railroad to cure.
Aren't they working on changing this?This often quoted statement about equipment is totally wrong as the equipment to run to Orlando now just sits in New Orleans for three days doing nothing before it heads back west. I assume the crews sit there too. If you look at the schedule there are times when New Orleans has two Sunsets sitting there overnight. Amtrak has four sets of equipment assigned to this train. Another set sits in LA overnight as they are unable to turn the train same day. some days there are times when there is no train out on the UP tracks as all four sets are waiting in LA and NOL for their next departure.
" . . . between NOL and Mobile . . ."All the tracks that were damaged by Katrina were repaired within six months and CSX gave Amtrak the ok to resume service at that time. My understanding from reading various 'boards' is that recently CSX downgraded the track between NOL and Mobile to 40mph and is routing most traffic via Montgomery vs the coast route. Anyone have any news regarding this change? If true, it is getting more and more unlikely that any type of service can be restored to this route without major expenditures of money.I have to wonder if any of the Mobile area tracks suffered damage after Katrina, too. I know there were a lot of unused tracks in the area, and maybe no one bothered checking them afterwards.A real problem has always been the round about route between Mobile and Pensacola which would require 50 miles of new railroad to cure.
Wrong piece of railroad. The part downgraded, if it has been, would be Flomaton to the east, either to Tallahassee, or all the way to Jacksonville. Flomaton to Mobile to New Orleans would be used by trains to/from Jacksonville and points beyond whether they go through Tallahassee or through Montgomery.
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