Recent content by eldomtom2

BW is planning to break ground next week, apparently. https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/brightline-west-to-break-ground-on-las-vegas-high-speed-rail-project-3037071/

An interesting report from Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/biden-kishida-likely-discuss-texas-bullet-train-project-sources-say-2024-04-09/?utm_source=reddit.com

Also in news regarding the South Shore Line, a few days ago it was announced that busing will end and full rail service resume on April 9th, with the new schedule taking advantage of the double-tracking starting on May 14th...

Not sure if this is the right place to put this, but this is probably of interest: https://idot.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idot/documents/transportation-system/fact-sheets/2023%20Illinois%20State%20Rail%20Plan%20Main%20Document.pdf

One of the primary motives seems to be that this gets them out of having to make every car accessible.

I've done some asking around and you should be in the clear to share it if they've given it to you.

I am considering a transcontinental trip via Amtrak in either May or September. Is there any reason to prefer one month over the other?

I think Amtrak withdrawing would be worse for other route proposals, not better...

Always said I'll believe Brightline West is happening when it starts construction and not a moment before. Hopefully construction actually will begin soon.

The NYT reports that computer modelling is finally finished and testing of the trainsets on the NEC will begin: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/13/us/politics/acela-amtrak-avelia.html

I asked Alon Levy for a response and they gave a typically combative reply:

Mike Christensen, Executive Director of the Utah RPA and involved in the study, says that instead of a revival of the Desert Wind or Pioneer what is likely to be proposed is a LA-Vegas-SLC-Boise-Portland-Seattle train.

And now it's official - two new round trips between Seattle-Portland starting December 11th:

Maybe there was some confusion with the 50Kv AC iron ore railway in South Africa, which does indeed have a much longer distance between substations than other AC lines? (Historically their solution to the problems caused by this was to run mixed electric/diesel consists, but that has apparently...

Which of course is also the case in Europe.