27 replies to this topic

[saxman]

The only case in the current schedule, where you can't run through trains is if you're connecting to the Hiawatha. Otherwise, yes, you could technically have a through for all the rest of the Midwest trains that use the south end of the concourse. So you could have a Detroit-St. Louis train that reverses direction at CUS. As to weather it makes sense? I'm not sure. Some through trains could make sense, I reckon.

[PerRock]

Isn't there a couple thru tracks in CUS, but only one with a platform? If I recall from back when I boarded the EB on that track there were two other thru tracks that were non-stop. While it's still not really that workable of a situation. A train could pull into a terminal track, back out then run up one of the non-stop thru tracks to get to the other direction. I believe the other thru tracks are primarily used for AMTK & METX to get cars from their yards on the south side to the platforms on the north side.

peter

[AlanB]

There are two through tracks, only one of which can stop at a boarding platform on both the north & south side. The other through track only has platforms on the north side. And getting to that platform requires crossing the other active through track that runs right next to the Met Lounge rear door.

[Swadian Hardcore]

On reflection it seems the only route that has potential for development into a corridor is Michigan-Chicago-St. Louis. That also happens to combine the two Midwest medium-distance routes that are seeing the most significant upgrades. I imagine if they could get the train time down to 9 hours, from the current 11, there might be enough traffic for a few through trains (probably not all that much end-to-end but there are intermediate markets not currently being served). But obviously you would have to do a market analysis etc. to see if it made sense. Or at least ask someone who knows something about the Midwest.

I don't think a route like that would be very good. After all, right now people go in to CHI and just backtrack out, not that much of a problem. I would like to keep it the way it is. The complications would be too much.

BTW, why don't you just join the forum as a member, I've seen you post a lot.

[Steve4031]

If its fast enough, it will work. The train just hast to equal or beat the driving time from Detroit to stl. With the new bi levels that have automatic doors, the dwell time on Chicago would be less.

[Eric S]

Unless and until Chicago is moved 20 or so miles south, I cannot imagine a DET-STL train that includes a stop in CHI will beat driving times, even with additional 110mph trackage in MI & IL. Too much of a time penalty is incurred with heading north into and out of Chicago.

The recently released Chicago Union Station Master Plan has an interesting proposal to replace the former mail/express tracks on the south side of CUS with 4 tracks/2 platforms. This would enable run-through services to be much more practical, in addition to providing additional tracks/platforms. Then, MKE-DET and MKE-STL and similar services would be more doable.

[PerRock]

I know that when Talgo first got the job to make the WI Talgos they stated that they envisioned a service that would run from the Twin Cities thru Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, and terminating in Detroit.

peter