Hopefully CSX won't want Amtrak to rebuild its entire railroad from Chicago to Washington as UP is demanding with the Sunset.
At least they would not be able to ask for rebuilding the Orange to CP AF segment since that belongs to NS. :lol: And fortunately CSX does not have an enormous amount of traffic on much of the route used by the Card, which has its pluses and minuses of course, but at least they cannot carp about train inteference as much.
IIRC, the CSXT received millions to upgrade crossings and expand sidings BEFORE the Sunset could leave NOL heading eastward.The irony of the whole situation was there was little 79 mph territory as most of it is dark territory; I can distinctly remember swaying back and forth on many stretches at 40 mph or less. I'm sure the CSXT is using those expanded sidings and improved grade crossing signals on a daily basis but I haven't heard of the CSXT compensating Amtrak for them...sounds like another CCC blunder. I know~ Sunset East~ forget about it! :angry2:
As nice as that would be, the hundreds of Scouts that take the SWC to Philmont every summer don't seem to be much of a consideration in the much talked about reroute of that train.
As stated in the Amtrak Cardinal report: "Buckingham Branch Railroad is doing a major crosstie replacement and track-surfacing
100% of the sleepers are sold out, because the Cardinal only operates 3 days a week, but there is only ONE sleeper! That means on each train, there are
I believe normally there are only 8 Roomettes available for commercial use. Well maybe 9 if it is running real short on the Coach side.100% of the sleepers are sold out, because the Cardinal only operates 3 days a week, but there is only ONE sleeper! That means on each train, there are
- 1 H-Room
- 2 Bedrooms, and
- 12 bedrooms
In addition to paying passengers, some of those rooms are also used by the OBS crew!
The last time I rode the Cardinal we were stopped at a siding, so a "BB local could run from Clifton Forge to Staunton, have lunch, then turn around and come back" That's EXACTLY how it was announced to the passengers... all while we sat just east of Clifton Forge twiddling our thumbs. We had been early into Clifton Forge, we ended up 2 hours late to Charlottesville, where I connected to Richmond. I despise Buckingham Branch with a holy passion nowdays.
Unless things have changed, the Cardinal would be one of the most difficult routes to shut down, because it is the only Amtrak route specifically mandated by law. Terminating the Cardinal requires an act of Congress.
I get your point but in the real world more customers and higher revenue is usually good news. By the logic that you present there is also a case to be made about forbidding and eliminating more vehicles on the highways and more flights at the airport to save money. It should be pointed out that airline, bus and car passengers are also recipients of the transportation budget subsidy.
Because "Nobody rides trains anymore"!
If Amtrak growth continues on its present course; in two years you won't even be able to get a seat. Some routes like the NE corridor are already so full during the week that you can hardly find a seat and at times its standing room only.Because "Nobody rides trains anymore"!
