Proposed schedule for the Sunset/Eagle

[NativeSon5859]

I made this up to try and see what could possibly take place as far as a new schedule goes when/if the changes to the Sunset/Eagle are implemented. I tried to keep in mind what Amtrak has already said: 90 minute connection time in SAS from stub train to connecting train...connections to/from the Starlight in LAX...better times for major cities along the route. The arrival time into LAX just seems too early to me, but there's no way around it without having excessive dwell time in some of the larger stations along the way. Read up for trains 1/21 and down for trains 2/22. Not all station codes listed are correct but I'm sure you'll be able to figure them out.

Train #1/21

Ar. LAX 6:15a

POM 4:15a

ONT 4:05a

PSP 2:25a

YUM 12:07a

Dp. MAR 9:23p

Ar. MAR 9:08p

Dp. TUC 7:42p

Ar. TUC 7:12p

BRN 4:48p

LRD 2:44p

DEM 1:50p

Dp. ELP 12:20p

Ar. ELP 11:50a

ALP 9:04a

SDN 5:45a

DRT 3:10a

Dp. SAS 12:15a

Ar. SAS 10:45p

Dp. HOS 5:45p

Ar. HOS 5:30p

BPT 3:18p

LCH 1:25p

LFT 11:54a

NEI 11:26a

SRV 10:00a

Dp. NOL 8:30a

Train #2/22

Dp. LAX 11:00p

POM 11:41p

ONT 11:54p

PSP 1:36a

YUM 4:54a

Ar. MAR 7:37a

Dp. MAR 7:47a

Ar. TUC 9:35a

Dp. TUC 10:05a

BRN 11:05a

LRD 1:05p

DEM 2:00p

Ar. ELP 4:00p

Dp. ELP 4:40p

ALP 9:55p

SDN 12:16a

DRT 2:42a

Ar. SAS 6:30a

Dp. SAS 8:00a

Ar. HOS 12:45p

Dp. HOS 1:00p

BPT 2:55p

LCH 4:19p

LFT 6:05p

NEI 6:36p

SRV 7:58p

Ar. NOL 10:15p

 

[delvyrails]

Looks good, does all the important things we would want a rescheduling to do.

Now the next thing to do would be to organize Thruway motorcoach connections between Maricopa and Phoenix (light rail line station, at least) and points beyond. Also why not a Thruway motorcoach connection between Lake Charles and Baton Rouge?

 

[had8ley]

Looks good, does all the important things we would want a rescheduling to do.
Now the next thing to do would be to organize Thruway motorcoach connections between Maricopa and Phoenix (light rail line station, at least) and points beyond. Also why not a Thruway motorcoach connection between Lake Charles and Baton Rouge?

Great idea about the bus. Now Amtrak's idea of a stub train that gets you to SAS at night, with major delays as experienced for many, many years is going to have Amtrak HQ screaming to cut the train off because of loss of revenues within 2 years. God help us but another hurricane would give them the excuse to do so. Rack up a few hundred more miles of Sunset routing down the pike !

 

[NativeSon5859]

Looks good, does all the important things we would want a rescheduling to do.
Now the next thing to do would be to organize Thruway motorcoach connections between Maricopa and Phoenix (light rail line station, at least) and points beyond. Also why not a Thruway motorcoach connection between Lake Charles and Baton Rouge?

Maricopa thruway is a must. There's really no excuse not to do this if the times end up being improved for Maricopa.

Thruway between BTR and LFT might be a better idea...stations are MUCH closer in LFT, also. Greyhound has really cut back service in NOL...the Greyhound connection to/from BTR used to be an easy thing...now, not so much.

 

[henryj]

Amtrak would never go for it because you are hitting all the major population centers at a reasonable hour. You should be stopping at them in the wee hours of the morning or late late at night. If you aren't careful the train might actually attract enought patronage to become successful.

 

[had8ley]

Amtrak would never go for it because you are hitting all the major population centers at a reasonable hour. You should be stopping at them in the wee hours of the morning or late late at night. If you aren't careful the train might actually attract enough patronage to become successful.

BINGO !!! My sentiments exactly...now if Amtrak keeps talking the talk about stub trains and daily Sunsets the economy will bounce back and the UP will take of the UP first and foremost. With 6-12 hour delays (about average for the Sunset of just three years ago) you'll be crash landing in the major hubs at ugly hours. Amtrak can surely give new meaning to "dark thirty." BTW, fellow posters don't forget that not only is the east west routing of the Chicago-LA daily Sunset UP trackage but also most of the north south is also UP.

 

[Guest]

The train would pass each other at the KCS bridge over the Neches River. KCS won't like Amtrak blocking

their tracks waiting on train 1.