With the upcoming Sunset Limited schedule change (
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/66564-sunset-limitedtexas-eagle-schedule-change/), I excitedly thought that would set up for a better transfer in NOL between the SL and Crescent. Then I got the NOL times backward.
My goal is to create a more friendly SL-Crescent transfer opportunity. Currently it is
19-1: 7:32pm to 9:00am
2-20: 9:40pm to 7:00am
Also, they recently proposed a new extension of the CONO to Florida.
http://www.newsherald.com/assets/pdf/DA2111216.PDF
Assuming the SL is not extended to Florida, here are the transfers from the CONO-SL between LAX/Texas and Florida
19-58: 9:40pm to 1:45pm
59-2: 9:30am to 9:00am next day
Not only would 59-2 be an overnight, it would be as close to a full day as you can get!
My goal now would be to shift the SL schedules to better connect not only with the Crescent but with the CONO.
The westbound SL (1) would have to leave NOL after 7:32pm (19 arrival). It would still be a lousy layover for the CONO but anything is better than a 23 hr 30 min layover. The eastbound SL (2) would have to arrive in NOL before 7:00am (20 departure). When I did this before with a previous schedule, it required an arrival in NOL in the graveyard shift. This will not change unless the Crescent eastbound/northbound would be pushed back from 7am.
Using straight hour shifts on the current SL:
1 (back 10 hrs): NOL 11:00pm, HOU 8:18/8:55am, SAS 2:05/4:45pm, El Paso 3:22/3:47am, Tucson 8:45/9:35am, Maricopa 10:52/11:02am, Palm Springs 4:02pm, LAX 7:35pm
2 (forward 8 hrs): LAX 6:00am, Palm Springs 8:36am, Maricopa 1:30/1:40pm, Tucson 3:28/4:15pm, El Paso 11:10/11:35pm, SAS 12:50/2:25pm, HOU 7:10/8:10pm, NOL 5:40am
The connection between the 2 and 20 is just 1:20. I would hope Amtrak would guarantee it. Maybe they can move the Crescent back. A 3 hr shift back leaves NOL at 10:00am, ATL at 11:04pm, and arrives in NYP at 4:46pm, barely beating the rush hour. The WAS arrival would be 12:53pm, which would still leave plenty of time for a transfer to the CL. 3 hours may not be necessary, maybe 1-2 would be OK. You can't arrive in NOL any earlier than 5:40am without pushing the LAX departure before 6am.
The eastbound LAX departure goes from 10:00pm to 6:00am which could be worse but the arrival time is way better. The SAS times are way better. El Paso would be the biggest loser, at least westbound (eastbound barely is before midnight).
By now I can hear most of you yelling about the Texas Eagle connection. My thought is the TE/SL connection is really just for Texas. No normal person would take the TE/SL from CHI to LAX. STL can use Missouri River Runner to SWC. Even if you couldn't do 313-3 and 4-314 as shown in the timetable, 311-3 would be 9:15am to 8:15am two days later with approximately an 8 hr layover in KCY while 316-4 would be 6:15pm to 9:40pm two days later with approximately a 9 hr layover in KCY. Both are still way quicker than STL-LAX on the TE (8:00pm to 5:35am three days later, 10:00pm to 7:19am three days later). Aside: They should really reschedule 313 and 314 to allow more leeway with the SWC.
So here's what I would do with Texas:
Use my SL schedule above.
Establish through cars or a shuttle requiring a transfer between DAL and SAS using the TE route. This is counter to the PRIIA which had the shuttle between NOL and SAS.
Return the TE to CHI-SAS only.
This would increase expenses but the added benefit would then be that DAL-SAS would now be twice daily (or at least on the SL days if you didn't want to run these trains on days the SL doesn't run).
New 401 (6 hr shift from 21): DAL 5:50am, Ft. Worth 7:25/8:10am, Austin 12:30pm, SAS 3:55pm
New 402 (9 hr shift from 22): SAS 4:00pm, Austin 6:31pm, Ft. Worth 10:58/11:20pm, DAL 12:20am
Current DAL-LAX times: 11:50am-5:35am 2 days later
New DAL-LAX times: 5:50am-7:35pm 2 days later
Current LAX-DAL times: 10:00pm-3:20pm 2 days later
New LAX-DAL times: 6:00am-12:20am 2 days later
I have cut 4 hrs from the schedule due to not having a nearly 6 hr layover in SAS although the eastbound schedule is 1 hr longer although if the layover in Ft. Worth is reduced that might be less.
The southbound 21 takes 10 hrs (1.5 hr layover in Ft. Worth but the northbound takes 8 hrs (1 hr layover in Ft. Worth). If we can do that train in 8 hrs each way with a minimal layover in Ft. Worth, you can run approx. 6am-2pm south and 4pm-midnight north. If you could get the southbound train to SAS by 1:30pm you not only could transfer in SAS west to LAX but possibly east to HOU/NOL (and connect in NOL for both the Crescent to the NEC and the proposed CONO extension to Florida). I think 4pm will allow enough time for a transfer from both the east/west SL.
Certainly there would be added expense for a new DAL to SAS train to either connect with the SL or allow for a transfer in SAS but you add a second frequency to the route. Another possibility for a shuttle would be instead of DAL to SAS but DAL to HOU. This would allow quicker service for DAL eastbound but longer westbound (plus Austin would be left out and you would have to find a DAL to HOU route).
So obviously there will be winners and losers but I feel the winners outweigh the losers. All of a sudden, NOL becomes a decent transfer point and there would be two ways to go from the NEC to LAX (via CHI or via NOL). Florida to LAX (assuming CONO extension to Florida) requires a long layover in NOL but it would be shorter than what it would be now.
What I find interesting is that the LD network that remains differs very little from the corresponding routes and timings of Pre-Amtrak days. Tis is in huge contrast to development in say Asia and Europe. I suppose it is a result of what is essentially a stagnant system that is just puttering along somehow.
