This Week In Amtrak

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This Week at Amtrak; August 28, 2009



A weekly digest of events, opinions, and forecasts from



United Rail Passenger Alliance, Inc.

America’s foremost passenger rail policy institute



1526 University Boulevard, West, PMB 203 • Jacksonville, Florida 32217-2006 USA

Telephone 904-636-7739, Electronic Mail info@unitedrail.org • http://www.unitedrail.org





Volume 6, Number 33



Founded over three decades ago in 1976, URPA is a nationally known policy institute which focuses on solutions and plans for passenger rail systems in North America. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, URPA has professional associates in Minnesota, California, Arizona, New Mexico, the District of Columbia, Texas, New York, and other cities. For more detailed information, along with a variety of position papers and other documents, visit the URPA web site at http://www.unitedrail.org.



URPA is not a membership organization, and does not accept funding from any outside sources.



1) Good ideas never go bad, they just sometimes are put on a shelf.



Over a full decade ago in 1998, the late Adrian Herzog, Ph.D., one of the original bright lights of United Rail Passenger Alliance, compiled a long term plan for the expansion of Amtrak.



Dr. Herzog, who by profession was a rocket scientist and university physics department chair professor, died far too young of a heart attack at his home in Northridge, California in February of 2001 at the age of 52.



Outside of the classroom, Dr. Herzog was a business partner with the late Byron Nordberg, also an original bright light of URPA. Dr. Herzog and retired United States Marine Corps Colonel Nordberg were the proprietors of NHA, Inc., a highly successful rail consulting firm based in Oceanside, California. NHA was the engine which brought the UTDC (now Bombardier) bi-level commuter passenger cars to Southern California for both Metrolink and the Coaster services. A very young Noel Braymer, now editor of the Western Rail Passenger Review and luminary in California passenger rail circles, and also an early associate of URPA, worked with Colonel Nordberg and Dr. Herzog.



The amount of work coming from Dr. Herzog was nearly unparalleled. He was one of the first, using early desktop computers, to create computer modeling for Amtrak passenger trains to measure performance and successfully predict future needs. Much of Dr. Herzog’s work has been featured on URPA’s web site, www.unitedrail.org and remains today as relevant as when it was created. Perhaps one of Dr. Herzog’s greatest accomplishments was the creation of the matrix theory, demonstrating how hubbing and end point connections are critical to the success of any passenger rail system.



2) One of the documents left by the untimely death of Dr. Herzog in this writer’s care was his plan of how a successful Amtrak would look in 2010, based on several presumptions made for 2000. Alas, those presumptions were not to be at that time, but it is fascinating to see Dr. Herzog’s vision for the future of Amtrak.



Dr. Herzog believed passenger rail was viable on three levels: as a carrier of leisure travelers, as a carrier of regional travelers moving about for any number of reasons, and as a carrier of business travelers seeking an efficient way to travel making the best use of their time in trips under five hours. Remember, in 1998 when this plan was conceived, things like Wi-Fi connections were not yet common, laptop computers were still bulky and heavy, and cellular telephones were in use by a far smaller percentage of the population.



Dr. Herzog and Colonel Nordberg also believed in two basic principles. First, every route should have at least three frequencies, and more if viable. One frequency would be as existing, a second frequency would follow six to 12 hours later so every city or town would have service at marketable times, and a third frequency mimicking the old milk run local trains, where every station had a stop. As you look at Dr. Herzog’s plan below, and see a train with a route name such as the North Coast Limited, imagine a flip schedule train such as the Mainstreeter providing the second frequency, and perhaps another named train for the local.



In some instances, the local train may better serve the route by being a series of shorter trains, such as on the Southern Crescent route between Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, where two separate day trains may provide the best level of service versus one longer train, by providing one train operating between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, and a second day train operating between Atlanta and New Orleans. The first two trains, the Southern Crescent and the (to pick a name) Peach Queen would run the entire route, and the two day trains serve as the “local” option on two separate ends of the route.



Second, they believed passenger train routes did not always have to be in a straight line. They both favored “L” shaped routes where possible, such as taking the Lake Shore Limited from New York City to Chicago, and extending the western terminus of this train south to Memphis, Tennessee to make maximum use of equipment, and build as many city pair combinations as possible into the matrix theory.



Dr. Herzog’s plan focused primarily on a robust long distance network. Some of today’s short distance trains would be replaced by long distance trains (more efficient in many ways), but some regional services as we know them today would continue. Since this was a broad blueprint, many of the minor, regional services were not mentioned, but Dr. Herzog implied each would be retained based on productivity and cost.



3) Here is Dr. Herzog’s plan, with some updates for changes which have taken place in the last 11 years.



[Begin quote]



Strategic Routes for Amtrak



A Planning Document



October 25, 1998 • Updated 2008



Prepared by Dr. Adrian Herzog, URPA • Northridge, California



Strategic Goal: Output equal to five times the revenue passenger miles produced in FY 2000, achieved by Year 7 of the strategic plan.



This document was originally prepared by the late Adrian Herzog, Ph.D. in October 1998, and updated a decade later in 2008. The breadth of the document demonstrates the foresight of Dr. Herzog in his quest to make passenger rail in his adopted country subsidy-free.



The planning concepts for this document came from several sources, including historic successful passenger train routes and connectivity points, current travel patterns in the United States for both leisure and business travel, and travel to and from major vacation destinations. As an example, more travelers come to New Orleans from Houston, Texas than any other location.



Other factors taken into consideration are population shifts and population growth in new areas, military installations, and locations of major colleges and universities. Additional factors, such as cruise ship terminals were also considered.



Tactical Goal: Maximize network density of flow by maximizing route inter-connectivity, and multiple frequency (2 to 4) trains per route, per day.



National Corridors

• Southern Transcontinental Corridor

• Southwest Transcontinental Corridor

• Central Transcontinental Corridor

• Northern Transcontinental Corridor

• Atlantic Coast Corridor

• Pacific Coast Corridor

• Southwest Corridor

• Central California Corridor

• Pacific Northwest Corridor

• Chicago-Midwest Corridors

• Florida Corridor

• Gulf Coast Corridor

• Texas Triangle

• International links to Canada and Mexico

• Northeast Corridor low level long distance trains



Equipment Types

• Superliner Service

• California Car Service — Use of the successful daylight California Car/Superliner compatible bi-level equipment for non-overnight trains

• Talgo Service

• Viewliner Service — Conversion of existing fleet single level cars. This Includes: Viewliner, Amfleet, and Horizon



Power Types

• Genesis (Long distance trains)

• F59PH (Corridors)

• AEM-7 (NEC Long distance trains)



Crew Bases

• Seattle

• San Jose

• Los Angeles

• San Diego

• Denver

• Fort Worth

• Chicago

• New Orleans

• Tampa

• Sanford (Auto Train T&E only)

• Miami

• Charlotte

• Newport News

• Norfolk

• Philadelphia

• Boston

• Vancouver/VIA Rail Canada



Maintenance Bases and Principal Commissaries

• Vancouver, British Columbia/VIA Rail Canada

• Seattle

• Eugene, Oregon

• San Jose

• Los Angeles

• San Diego

• Denver

• Fort Worth

• Chicago

• New Orleans

• Tampa

• Sanford (Auto Train/racks only)

• Miami

• Charlotte

• Newport News

• Philadelphia

• Boston



Turn Maintenance and Commissary Support

• Vancouver, British Columbia/VIA Rail Canada

• Toronto/VIA Rail Canada

• Montreal/VIA Rail Canada

• Boston

• Washington

• Lorton

• Newport News

• Norfolk

• Cleveland

• Detroit

• Chicago

• Eugene, Oregon

• Seattle

• San Francisco

• Lancaster, California

• Redding, California

• Reno

• Santa Barbara

• Las Vegas

• Nogales

• Duluth

• Kansas City

• St. Louis

• Memphis

• Birmingham

• Charleston, South Carolina



Southern Transcontinental Corridor



Sunset Limited – Los Angeles, Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Jacksonville Orlando, Tampa

Superliner Service



Golden State – Los Angeles, Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Abilene, Fort Worth, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto

Superliner Service



Southern Crescent – New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington, DC

Superliner Service



Gulf Breeze – New Orleans, Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York, Boston

Viewliner Service



Gulf Wind – Houston, New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa

Superliner Service



Continental – Los Angeles, Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Abilene, Fort Worth, Dallas, Atlanta, Washington, DC

Superliner Service



Southwest Transcontinental Corridor



Southwest Chief/Capitol Limited – Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Kansas City, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Newport News

Superliner Service



San Francisco Chief – San Jose, Oakland, Bakersfield, Albuquerque, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago

Superliner Service



Grand Canyon Limited – Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Denver

Superliner Service



Zia – Denver, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, El Paso

Superliner Service



El Capitan – Chicago, Kansas City, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson

Superliner Service



Central Transcontinental Corridor



California Zephyr – Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Reno, Salt Lake City, Provo, Denver, Chicago

Superliner Service



Overland Limited – Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Provo, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Laramie, Denver, Omaha, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston

Superliner Service

Pioneer Zephyr – Vancouver BC, Seattle, Portland, Ogden, Salt Lake City, Provo, Denver, Newton, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans

Superliner Service



George Washington – Kansas City, St. Louis, Louisville, Cincinnati, Charleston WV, Charlottesville, Richmond, Newport News

Superliner Service



Cavalier – Fort Worth, Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Washington

Superliner Service



The Memphian – Fort Worth, Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati, Charleston WV, Charlottesville, Richmond, Newport News

Superliner Service



Northern Transcontinental Corridor



Empire Builder – Vancouver BC, Seattle, Yakima, Spokane, Minneapolis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Newport News

Superliner Service



North Coast Limited – Seattle, Spokane, Missoula, Butte, Bozeman, Billings, Bismarck, Minneapolis, Chicago

Superliner Service



Hiawatha – Eugene, Portland, Spokane, Minneapolis, Chicago

Superliner Service



Broadway Limited/Three Rivers – Duluth, Minneapolis, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Boston

Viewliner Service



Pennsylvanian – Kansas City, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia

Viewliner Service



New England States – St. Louis, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, Springfield, Boston

Viewliner Service



Pacemaker – Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, New York, Philadelphia

Viewliner Service



Lake Shore Limited – Memphis, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, New York, Boston

Viewliner Service



Steeler – St. Louis, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia

Viewliner Service; Crew Base: Philadelphia



Columbian – Denver, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Newport News

Viewliner Service



Oriental – Vancouver BC, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto (Seasonal)

Viewliner Service



Atlantic Seaboard Corridor



Silver Meteor – Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Charleston, Rocky Mount, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, St. Albans, Montreal

Viewliner Service



Silver Star – Miami, Ocala, Jacksonville, Columbia, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston

Viewliner Service



The Sunland – Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Columbia, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston

Viewliner Service



Everglades – Miami, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Columbia, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Buffalo, Toronto

Viewliner Service



Auto Train, (Passenger section) – Tampa, Orlando, Sanford, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Rocky Mount, Richmond, Lorton, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland (All station stops)

Superliner Service



Auto Train, (Car carrier section) – Sanford, Lorton



City of New Orleans – Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Mobile, New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto

Superliner Service



City of Miami – Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Charleston SC, Rocky Mount, Richmond, Charlottesville, Charleston WV, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago

Superliner Service



Flamingo – Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Savannah, Macon, Atlanta

California Car Service



Silver Comet – Miami, West Palm Beach, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Savannah, Macon. Atlanta, Birmingham

Superliner Service



The Resort Special – Miami, West Palm Beach, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Savannah, Columbia, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston

Viewliner Service



Champion – Miami, West Palm Beach, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Rocky Mount, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Long Island

Viewliner Service



Gulf Coast Special – Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Rocky Mount, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Long Island



Tidewater – Charleston, Florence, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Franklin, Suffolk, Norfolk

California Car Service



Piedmont – Charlotte, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Franklin, Suffolk, Norfolk

California Car Service



Southern States – Tampa, Ocala, Jacksonville, Savannah, Columbia, Hamlet, Charlotte

California Car Service



Palmland – Miami, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Jacksonville, Savannah, Columbia, Hamlet, Charlotte, High Point, Greensboro, Danville, Charlottesville, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston

Viewliner Service



Rue Orleans – New Orleans, Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Buffalo, Syracuse, Montreal

Superliner Service



Southwind – Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Savannah, Columbia, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit

Superliner Service



Pacific Coast Corridor



Coast Starlight – Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Eugene, Portland, Seattle

Superliner Service



Shasta Daylight – Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, Eugene, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver BC

Superliner Service



Columbia Starlight – Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Provo, Salt Lake, Ogden, Pocatello, Portland, Seattle

Superliner Service



Southwest Corridor



Pacific Surfliners – San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Jose, San Francisco

Joint Talgo and California Car Service



High Desert – San Diego, Los Angeles, Palmdale, Lancaster

California Car Service



Las Vegans/South – San Diego, Santa Ana, Riverside, San Bernardino, Barstow, Las Vegas

Talgo Service



Las Vegans/North – Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, El Monte, San Bernardino, Las Vegas

Talgo Service



Arizonan – Los Angeles, Riverside, Palm Springs, Indio, Yuma, Phoenix, Tucson, Nogales

Talgo Service



Grand Canyon – Nogales, Tucson, Phoenix, Williams Junction, Grand Canyon

Talgo Service



Central California Corridor



San Joaquins I – San Jose, Oakland, Fresno, Bakersfield, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, San Diego

California Car Service



San Joaquins II – Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, Redding

California Car Service



Capitols – San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Reno

Joint Talgo and California Car Service



Pacific Northwest Corridor



Cascades — Eugene, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver BC

Talgo Service



Chicago-Midwest Corridors



Train of the Saints — St. Paul (Minneapolis), La Crosse, Galesburg, Fort Madison, St. Louis

California Car Service



The Motor City — Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit

California Car Service



The Midwesterner — Omaha, Chicago, Cleveland

California Car Service



The Brewer — Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit

California Car Service



The City of Nashville — Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville

California Car Service



Florida Corridor



Seminole – Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville

California Car Service



Tampa Bay – Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa

California Car Service



Henry Flagler – Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, Miami

California Car Service



Citrus State – Jacksonville, Ocala, West Palm Beach, Miami

California Car Service



Florida Palm – Tampa, West Palm Beach, Miami

California Car Service



Gulf Coast Corridor



Gulf Coast Limited – Houston, New Orleans, Mobile

California Car Service



Iron Mountain – New Orleans, Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham

California Car Service



Louisiana Eagle – New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Dallas, Fort Worth

California Car Service



Texas Triangle



Texan – Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas

California Car Service



Northeast Corridor (Extended Service Area, in addition to NEC Acela and Regional Service)



Mid Atlantic – Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Richmond, Newport News (Viewliner Service)



Maple Leaf/Montrealer – Boston, Albany, Toronto, and New York, Albany, Montreal (Cross Platform at Albany)

Viewliner Service



Royal Blue – Newport News, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Long Island (Viewliner Service)



Bostonian – Boston, New York, Allentown, Harrisburg

Viewliner Service



Shenandoan – Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Charlottesville, Cincinnati Viewliner Service



∙ Note: (Viewliner Service) implies any low level conventional long distance and intermediate distance trains including Amfleet, Horizon, and Viewliner

[End quote]





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J. Bruce Richardson

President

United Rail Passenger Alliance, Inc.

1526 University Boulevard, West, PMB 203

Jacksonville, Florida 32217-2006 USA

Telephone 904-636-7739

brucerichardson@unitedrail.org

http://www.unitedrail.org