Rail Freak
Engineer
How would I get from Orlando to New Orleans by Amtrak? <_<
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't CSX restore full connectivity from Florida to New Orleans in 2006?????My "source" at the Mississippi dept of transportation told me that the rail lines (for freight and the Sunset Limited) should be operational by this summer. Now if Amtrak will be operating this year is up to them. I am not sure about Alabama and Florida, although their track fared much better than ours in Mississippi during Katrina......
While this would be the easiest routing in terms of layovers, you can also take 92 to RGH, 79 to GRO, and 19 to NOL. It would cost a little less and you would have some layover time to explore the Raleigh area..The most direct route you can get is by taking Silver Service to DC and then connecting with the Crescent. Unfortunately its no longer an easy connection with the elimination of the eastern half of the Sunset Limited.
CSX reopened it's entire route, the route used by the Sunset, about 6 months after Katrina hit New Orleans. Only Amtrak is stopping Amtrak from restoring the Sunset east of NOL.Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't CSX restore full connectivity from Florida to New Orleans in 2006?????My "source" at the Mississippi dept of transportation told me that the rail lines (for freight and the Sunset Limited) should be operational by this summer. Now if Amtrak will be operating this year is up to them. I am not sure about Alabama and Florida, although their track fared much better than ours in Mississippi during Katrina......
How about at 79 mph minus east of Tallahassee and 59 mph minus west of Tallahassee??After all no one has seen the Sunset Limited in Florida for almost three years and I's like to see P42s,P32s, and if this ever happens F59PHIs flying throught the Florida panhandle at 80+ mph.
CLASS 3 & 4? (I'M RAIL ILLITERATE) or, as Ron White would say " you can't fix stupid!"As the saying goes, "No Bucks, no Buck Rogers." Given some of the lack of punctuality and operating challenges facing the Sunset along portions of its route, I could see Amtrak attempting to get the states (MS, AL, FL) to pony up the funds for restoration. Right now several states (including FL) are facing some tough financial times, so there is no funding for intercity service. I could also understand why the trains should be separated. Make the route east of NOL a separate train, like the Gulf Wind, or the Rebel. That might improve punctuality on the east end of the route.
How much is congestion an issue over this route east of NOL ? Would it be possible to get some funding to spiff up the tracks (i. e., make the tracks some of the smoothest Class 3 and 4 lines around ) ?
My understanding is that since they were rebuilt, the tracks east of NOL are now in the best shape they've ever been. I'd imagine the ride is incredibly smooth now.How much is congestion an issue over this route east of NOL ? Would it be possible to get some funding to spiff up the tracks (i. e., make the tracks some of the smoothest Class 3 and 4 lines around ) ?
Rail Freak, take a look at this thread. It's a couple pages long, but somewhere in there it talks about FRA track classifications (which have to do with the maximum speeds allowed on that track).CLASS 3 & 4? (I'M RAIL ILLITERATE) or, as Ron White would say " you can't fix stupid!"
I'm afraid that someone was pulling your leg once again, not to mention that I see that the Amtrak rumor mill is hard at work once again.From the rumors I've heard from various Amtrak employees, Orlando to LAX was just too long of a run. It was very hard on equipment to run that long, they said it got to be common for them to have to replace bad cars at New Orleans. They say Amtrak is going to return this line to service as a standard LD train but it will run from Miami to NOL and will use single level equipment. The hold up is due to various problems, mainly no food service cars, a car shortage period, and no employees at the stations. They say this train will not directly connect with the Sunset it will be timed to provide connections between all trains originating and terminating in NOL.
I'm sorry, but I continue to believe that the only snag is that Amtrak can't get someone else to pay for a train that they are legally obligated to run! :angry:When they told me about this they said there was no definite time for service to begin, they had a lot of logistics to work out, plus they are trying to get the states to pick up some of the cost and possibly purchase some of the equipment. They keep hitting snags with states paying for sleepers and food service cars. They said the way things were looking they may have to run some consists with out sleepers and therefore only have sleepers certain days of the week. As for names the two they've heard thrown around are "Gulf Breeze" and "Southern Coast Limited".
Robert,With respect to the track being opened, is it possible that there are speed restrictions at this time that make it impossible for the train to run at a speed that would be required for a reasonable schedule? Additionally, while the track was opened, was it the same type of trackage (double or triple) or is it just single trackage at this time? All possible reasons for not running the service.
The line is almost all single track and always has been. There are short sections of double track out of New Orleans, in Mobile, and around Flomaton, Alabama, and in/near Jacksonville. So far as I know, there has been no reduction in the length and number of sidings due to the hurricane. There were some long gaps between long sidings east of Pensacola, and that may or may not still be true. At one point a couple of additional long sidings were talked about, but do not know whether that has happened or not.With respect to the track being opened, is it possible that there are speed restrictions at this time that make it impossible for the train to run at a speed that would be required for a reasonable schedule? Additionally, while the track was opened, was it the same type of trackage (double or triple) or is it just single trackage at this time? All possible reasons for not running the service.
Not so much the grades as the curves that tends to go with them. Lot more wheel wear, truck rotation into and out of curves, etc.I wouldn't think climbing grades would have much effect on the cars themselves.
Alan, when/where did you hear this? It would be great if they did; it would probably take off about 2 hours of running time.I seen to recall seeing some report that one section of the line which was unsignaled was being considered for signals, but I'm not positive about that.
Enter your email address to join: