Amtrak Expansion

[evan E]

They should bring back the Desert Wind and the Pioneer.

Desert Wind Proposed stops:

Salt Lake City-Las Vegas-Los Angeles

dpSalt Lake City, UT (California Zephyr Connection)

Tooele, UT

Delta, UT

Milford, UT

Caliente, NV

ar-dpLas Vegas, NV

Barstow, CA (Southwest Chief Connection)

Victorville, CA

San Bernadino, CA (Southwest Chief Connection)

Ontario, CA (Sunset Limited Connection)

Pomona, CA

arLos Angeles, CA (Union Station)

Pioneer proposed stops:

Seattle-Boise-Salt Lake City

dpSeattle, WA (King St. Station) (Coast Starlight, Cascades, and Empire Builder Connections)

Auburn, WA

Ellensburg, WA

Yakima, WA

Pasco-Kenniwick, WA (Empire Builder Connection)

Hermiston, OR

Pendleton, OR

La Grande, OR

Ontario, OR

Nampa-Caldwell, ID

ar-dpBoise, ID

Mountain Home, ID

Pocatello, ID

Ogden, UT

arSalt Lake City, UT (California Zephyr Conncetion)

There should also be some trains in Florida

Proposed Floridian stops:

Jacksonville-Tampa-Miami

dpJacksonville, FL

Palatka, FL

DeLand, FL

Sanford, FL

Winter Park, FL

ar-dpOrlando, FL

Kissimmee, FL

Lakeland, FL-twice

ar-dpTampa, FL

Sebing, FL

Okeechobee, FL

W. Palm Beach, FL

Boynton Beach, FL

Delray Beach, FL

Deerfield Beach, FL

Pompano Beach, FL

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Hollywood, FL

arMiami, FL

Seminole Proposed stops:

Tampa-Punta Gorda-Ft. Myers

dpTampa, FL

Brandon, FL

Arcadia, FL

Punta Gorda-Pt. Charlotte, FL

ar-dpFt. Myers, FL

San Carlos Park, FL

arBonita Springs, FL

Central Coast Limited proposed stops

Santa Cruz-San Luis Obispo-Santa Barbara

dpSanta Cruz, CA

Capitola, CA

Watsonville, CA

ar-dpSalinas, CA (Coast Starlight Connection)

Soledad, CA

King City, CA

ar-dpPaso Robles, CA

Atascadero, CA

ar-dpSan Luis Obispo, CA (Pacific Surfliner)

Grover Beach, CA

Guadelupe, CA

Lompoc-Surf, CA

Goleta, CA

arSanta Barbara, CA

 

[JayPea]

If only Amtrak had the money and equipment to make those expansions! On your Pioneer proposal, you'd have to fight the Oregon politicians who would want to see the Pioneer resume its route along the Oregon side of the Columbia River. So to make them happy, you might consider a train splitting at Hermiston-Hinkle and running on the Oregon side, with stops at The Dalles and Hood River. I like the idea of resuming service from Pasco-Kennewick through Yakima, too, over Stampede Pass into Seattle.

Ahh, the dreams, the dreams!!!! :lol:

 

[evan E]

I just looked at the current tracks on Google Maps.

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

Good, now enter into multi-million negotiations with the companies that own those tracks.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

:blink: hboy: :wacko: :giggle:

 

[Guest]

There are several other routes ahead of your dream due to larger populations/potential ridership .(Does anyone actually live out in that god foresaken desert?)CHI-FLA/Daily CHI-LAX trains/Daily Cardinal/Added consist for the EB sections/Extension of the Heartland Flyer

etc. etc. Unfortunately Amtrak is short of equipment, especially Sleepers and Superliner cars so I wouldnt try to book any trips on your poposed trains no matter how nice it might be! We all want "our route" enhanced and ghosts brought back from the old train graveyard!

 

[pinehurst]

Toronto-Washington (an alternative to the Maple Leaf and NEC)

Toronto

Oakville

Aldershot

Grimsby

St. Catherines

Niagara Falls (ONT)

Niagara Falls (NY)

Buffalo (Exchange)

Dunkirk

Erie

Greenville/Pymatuning SP

Sharon

Youngstown

New Castle

Rochester

Pittsburgh

McKeesport

Connelsville

Cumberland

Martinsburg

Harpers Ferry

Rockville

Washington Union Station

No idea who owns the tracks from Erie to Pittsburgh

 

[dlagrua]

This is all very nice discussion but IMO its just wishful thinking. One thing we do know is that if the current growth rate keeps steady, ridership could be up 50% in 10 years. That growth rate is unsustainable without capital investment.

Past and current administrations do not seem to understand the importance of improving the passenger rail infrastructure in the USA. We do hear some discussion from DC that something will be done but its just discussion not action.

 

[the_traveler]

There should also be some trains in Florida

Proposed Floridian stops:

Jacksonville-Tampa-Miami

dpJacksonville, FL

Palatka, FL

DeLand, FL

Sanford, FL

Winter Park, FL

ar-dpOrlando, FL

Kissimmee, FL

Lakeland, FL-twice

ar-dpTampa, FL

Sebing, FL

Okeechobee, FL

W. Palm Beach, FL

Boynton Beach, FL

Delray Beach, FL

Deerfield Beach, FL

Pompano Beach, FL

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Hollywood, FL

arMiami, FL

Maybe I'm wrong!

But all (or most of those) current stops on the Silver trains?

 

[Rob_C]

Anybody remember this one?

 

[JayPea]

Anybody remember this one?

Yeah, didn't that route start on April 1st?? :lol:

 

[jphjaxfl]

Realistically, the only route expansion will happen where states agree to help fund the expansion. This has happened during the past year in Virginia and North Carolina. It happened several years ago when Illinois helped fund expanded service on existing routes. I would not foresee any expansion of long distance trains. If new equipment is not ordered soon, Amtrak will have little choice but to cut back capicity or eliminate service on the existing network.

 

[evan E]

you are correct

 

[evan E]

Coast Starlight: 5 times. SW Chief: twice. Capitol Corridor: at least 10. California zephyr: twice. Empire Builder: once. Hiawatha: twice. Acela/NEC: about 10 times. Vermonter: twice. Lake Shore Limitednce. Silver Star: once. silver Meteor: once. Wolverine: once

 

[leemell]

Coast Starlight: 5 times. SW Chief: twice. Capitol Corridor: at least 10. California zephyr: twice. Empire Builder: once. Hiawatha: twice. Acela/NEC: about 10 times. Vermonter: twice. Lake Shore Limitednce. Silver Star: once. silver Meteor: once. Wolverine: once

So? :unsure:

 

[Jambo Bound]

Why not expand in another way, twice a day Capitol Limited service, I keep reading it's often full and when successful should help leverage some badly needed new equipment and a more aggressive refurbishment of the old. Pie in the sky would be for 3 trains a day, but they have to run on time and a little faster would not hurt a bit. Maybe with all that new equip even the Cardinal would get to be a daily train.

 

[evan E]

Coast Starlight: 5 times. SW Chief: twice. Capitol Corridor: at least 10. California zephyr: twice. Empire Builder: once. Hiawatha: twice. Acela/NEC: about 10 times. Vermonter: twice. Lake Shore Limitednce. Silver Star: once. silver Meteor: once. Wolverine: once

So? :unsure:

Someone else showed how many times they have ridden Amtrak trains