Philly Amtrak Fan
Engineer
I believe I suggested this a while ago but couldn't find my post.
Right now the last stop on the CZ is Emeryville. I believe it used to reach Oakland but they moved it back to Emeryville. I also think San Jose/ Santa Clara County would gain from the direct access to SLC/DEN/CHI. San Jose is now the largest city in the Bay Area, bigger than San Fran. In 2014, they estimated the population of the city to be over one million (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0668000.html).%C2 Clara County has more people than Alameda County (http://www.us-places.com/California/population-by-County.htm). In any event, why stop an LD train at some small suburb of a major city? I didn't even know where Emeryville was until I arrived there this summer. I seem to remember a fairly small station.
I believe this is by far my shortest "extend a route" proposal I have. It would be 36 miles and less than two hours, according to the Coast Starlight schedule. So you are looking at around a 6pm arrival into SJC and a 7am departure from there. It would "save another transfer" as I always say.
Right now Jack London Square and San Jose Diridon would be the natural two stops as they are the two served by the CS. I'm think maybe Fremont-Centerville and/or Santa Clara-Great America would be the next ideal stop for either the extended CZ or the CS between Oakland and San Jose.
Right now the last stop on the CZ is Emeryville. I believe it used to reach Oakland but they moved it back to Emeryville. I also think San Jose/ Santa Clara County would gain from the direct access to SLC/DEN/CHI. San Jose is now the largest city in the Bay Area, bigger than San Fran. In 2014, they estimated the population of the city to be over one million (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0668000.html).%C2 Clara County has more people than Alameda County (http://www.us-places.com/California/population-by-County.htm). In any event, why stop an LD train at some small suburb of a major city? I didn't even know where Emeryville was until I arrived there this summer. I seem to remember a fairly small station.
I believe this is by far my shortest "extend a route" proposal I have. It would be 36 miles and less than two hours, according to the Coast Starlight schedule. So you are looking at around a 6pm arrival into SJC and a 7am departure from there. It would "save another transfer" as I always say.
Right now Jack London Square and San Jose Diridon would be the natural two stops as they are the two served by the CS. I'm think maybe Fremont-Centerville and/or Santa Clara-Great America would be the next ideal stop for either the extended CZ or the CS between Oakland and San Jose.