This Week in Amtrak

Image via Wikipedia

Volume 7, Number 15
May 26th, 2010


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

------------------------------------------------------------------------


National Train Day

National Train Day passed uneventfully in Phoenix. Union Station, the mission-style depot turned fortress, protected by its tall prickly steel fence painted cactus green, was immune to invasion by curious passers-by. No-one rode a train through the station, except one hobo who waved from the end platform of a covered hopper -- all freight trains must now traverse the lone remaining passenger track, the bypass line having been removed a few years ago.

A man with a camera lurked in the shadow, afraid he might be asked for identity papers by Homeland Security, as a dry scrap of newsprint talking about transit cuts and tax hikes scudded across the broken concrete remnants of the platform.

Somewhere, Fred Harvey, whose ghost long ago departed the station's mahogany-and-brass news-stand with its eight-by-four-foot lead-lined humidor still scented with the ever-fainter aroma of Havana tobacco, turned in his grave. Amtrak, the nationalized passenger railroad, deserted the station for America's fifth largest city nearly fifteen years ago, with hope of its return having been repeatedly crushed.

Meanwhile at Dallas Union Station, Russ Jackson of the United Rail Passenger Alliance witnessed a healthy station in an upbeat city. North Texas is booming with new and extended programs from streetcars, light rail, commuter rail, and Amtrak intercity rail. Train Day in the Metroplex showcased all these, attracting people of all ages were to Dallas Union Station and to the Intermodal Transportation Center in Fort
Worth:

On display at Dallas Union Station were the 1931 M-180 Doodlebug in
Santa Fe colors that years ago worked the line to Carlsbad, New
Mexico, and a heritage Pullman sleeping car, both now housed at the
Museum of the American Railroad at nearby Fair Park. That museum is
now under orders from the city to vacate the property, as it is
underfunded and the land is needed for other purposes. The museum
intends to move to nearby Frisco when funding is obtained. The
successful TRE commuter line, that runs from Dallas to Ft. Worth
displayed a train set of a newly repainted F59PH locomotive and two
bi-level Bombardier (UTDC)-built coaches. Inside the historic
station were staffed displays from the successful DART system, which
is undergoing the same financial crises as in other cities, and the
new under-construction Denton County "A- Train" commuter rail line,
a model railroad club, music, face painting, etc., and the Texas
Rail Advocates who were selling souvenir t-shirts and whistles.
Where was Amtrak? They had a full staffed display table across from
their ticket window, giving away packets of information including
the timetables that would be out of date two days later. The new
ones "were in the back somewhere," but would not be available until
they go into effect. And, Amtrak 821, the southbound Texas Eagle
arrived in Dallas 30 minutes late with 3 coaches, Diner-Lounge,
Dining Car, and two sleeping cars (one of which is the crew dorm as
well). That day was not one of the thru trains that connects with
the Sunset Limited, but everyone we talked to is anxiously awaiting
news as to when daily service through the West to California will
begin. After loading and unloading, #821 quickly departed for Ft.
Worth..

Thirty miles away in Ft. Worth Amtrak had several of their cars on
display from the Heartland Flyer pool, and, like Dallas, had the
packets and drawing tickets for travel on the Texas Eagle. The BNSF
had a locomotive on display and employees there to answer
questions. The Union Pacific displayed the newly painted 2010, the
Boy Scouts of America commemorative locomotive, and North Texas
Historic Transportation displayed their NTT interurban and had
information about the proposed City of Ft. Worth Streetcar
Circulator. TRE trains came and went through the station, the
southbound Heartland Flyer arrived, the northbound and southbound
Eagles arrived and departed, there was music, face painting, and the
Texas Rail Advocates were there as well. Yes, there is a "rail
presence" in the Metroplex, and while there is much to do and
finances to do it are getting scarce, the foundation has been laid.

The Dallas station, despite its perfectly suited location, is crippled by having only three platform tracks, because city leaders who renovated the facility in the early 1980s believed Amtrak when it said that would be enough for any conceivable future needs. The station once had at least ten through tracks, an upper concourse perpendicular to the tracks with stairs to each level for quick and safe passenger flow, and a freight-and-baggage subway. DART's trolleys now serve the station, which is good, but in a way that precludes restoring platforms that would be needed for Dallas to act as a proper hub for regional trains. A little engineering and a lot of hard work could rectify the situation but it's yet another roadblock that could have been prevented. Vigilance today resolves tomorrow's problems.


Keolis moves closer to taking Virginia trains from Amtrak

The Washington Post on 11 May reported

that the company soon to "take over operation of Virginia Railway Express trains from Amtrak wrapped up its first month of nationwide recruitment efforts as it prepares for the June transition." VRE's press release says operation will begin July 1 of this year.

Keolis Rail Services America is a division of Keolis, "a significant operator of tramways as well as operating bus networks, funiculars, trolley buses and airport services" according to Wikipedia ; Keolis is owned by a group that includes SNCF, the French railway.


Coast Starlight group pushes plan for better service

The Coast Starlight Communities Network ("a coalition of various interests with the goal of protecting and improving rail service between Washington, Oregon, and California") has prepared a whitepaper describing the route, how trip times have increased by several hours since Amtrak's founding, and what can be done to improve the train's ambience and appeal, and expand the purpose of the train. A positive attitude like this is key to getting results.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are reading someone else's copy of This Week at Amtrak, you can receive your own free copy each edition by sending your e-mail address to



freetwa@unitedrail.org



You MUST include your name, preferred e-mail address, and city and state where you live. If you have filters or firewalls placed on your Internet connection, set your e-mail to receive incoming mail from twa@unitedrail.org ; we are unable to go through any approvals processes for individuals. This mailing list is kept strictly confidential and is not shared or used for any purposes other than distribution of This Week at Amtrak or related URPA materials.

Seattle, Portland, and Dallas Open new Light Rail Lines

Image by Oran Viriyincy via Flickr

While I have been away over the last couple of months two cities have opened light rail extensions and my favorite city Seattle has finally opened its first light rail line.

Both Portland and Dallas opened new light rail lines last month and ironically their both referred to as the Green Line.

In Portland the new line goes from Clackamas Town Center to downtown and shares right of way with the existing Blue and Red Lines from the Gateway station to the Rose Quarter. From Rose Quarter through downtown the Green Line shares right of way with a rerouted Yellow line along the former bus mall.

For more information check out the Tri-Met website.

Dallas also opened their new green line and more information can be found on the DART website.

Dallas, like Salt Lake City is working on several new light rail lines and extensions that were approved by the voters a few years ago.

Finally light rail has come to Seattle. Some thought it would never happened but it has finally opened. Ridership has not been what it should be but it will be extended to SEATAC by the end of the year and that should boost ridership. Work is now progressive on the extension to the University of Washington.

For more information check out the Sound Transit website.

Blog Posts of the week...

Image via Wikipedia Here are the blog posts that I found interesting this week:

From a new blog simply called Light Rail Transit comes this entry:

Economic Impact of Light Rail - Dallas, Texas

Good information on how properties appreciated around DART line at a faster rate than those not close to a DART line.

From the blog Track Twenty Nine comes this entry:

"History's Gonna Change"

The author talks about the movie Back to the Future (a favorite of mine), and how the changes in the town square from 1955 to 1985 and on to 2015. While the movie was actually shot on the Universal back lot (the entire town area burned to the ground in their recent fire, to does a good job of showing the decline of downtown and its rebirth.

From the Overhead Wire comes a story about Los Angeles Rail ridership being up:

Rail Ridership in LA Up Again

What is interesting is that Los Angeles may be voting in may for to increase taxes for more rail lines. Of course the Bus Riders Union is opposed along with the areas usually cast of transit haters. Just put things in perspective, the Blue Line between Los Angeles and Long Beach is carrying 86, 000 passengers per day.

From the Streetsblog Los Angeles Blog comes these:

Transit Stimulus Bill Needs Co-Sponsors in Senate

Wiki Wednesday: Urban Bicycling With Children

From the Smart Growth Around America Blog comes this entry:

Poor sidewalks, bikeways and transit service a barrier for older Americans seeking relief from high gas prices

Interesting post, I have several neighbors who should not be driving but do to how pedestrian unfriendly my area can be most of them have to drive.

From the Seattle Transit Blog:

Central Link Tukwila Live Wire Testing

It is nice to see something about to happen in Seattle. The company I was working for at the time temporarily had me living in Seattle when the vote for this project took place and that was 1996. Long time to wait for progress. Look what Salt Lake has done in that time!

But 100,000 hours is a lot of buses

Sound Transit in the Seattle area provides regional service while the the counties and one city in the Puget Sound region provide for local service. With a tax measure going to the voters in November, some are wanting more buses now instead of light rail in the future. The Seattle Transit Blog has some good answers to this.

From the Planetizen Blog:

Walkable Neighborhood Grocers

This is an excellent posting about how important walkable grocery stores are to making a walkable city.

From the CTA Tattler in Chicago:

Dire Straits band rides the Red Line to Wrigley for a game

What, you mean they didn't ride in their luxury motor home?

That's it from this week.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Metro's Ridership Numbers Break Records Again

DART in Dallas

Here is a promotion video off of youtube celebrating DART's 10 anniversary since opening their first rail line. While the video is a year and a half old, it does a good job of showing what is happening in the Dallas area when it comes to light rail.

It is interesting that they mention the recently opened American Airline Arena station as the beginning of a major expansion much as the Intermodal Extension here in Salt Lake is the start of TRAX's major expansion projects.



Hope you enjoy!!