"California Night Train" gaining interest

[jis]

It's in the 15 year ConnectUs plan. Probably is on Caltrans part.

15 year ConnectUS Plan is simply based on an analysis of population patterns and urban affinity mapped to some extent where tracks or ROWs exist. There is no plan beyond that at this moment. We were told as much during the presentation to RPA. This is to be used as a guidance on what to work on in Amtrak's view in order to provide it with some large number of millions of dollars to cover the first five years, only to have them foist the entire thing onto the States after that.

There is a different 30 or 35 year analysis done on a per zone basis by the FRA, that has some overlaps. But that is a more comprehensive plan covering all potential rail operators, not just Amtrak. It does have a 15 - 25 year window part, which is very different from Amtrak's additions of a few proposed corridors.

 

[west point]

A few years ago I would have thought an overnight rain would not work. Now however the way both LAX and SFO have embraced rail that opinion has completely changed. The biggest problem is the same every where for Amtrak. Lack of equipment especially sleepers. Unless CAL DOT was to buy sleepers it would be 5 - 8 years before Amtrak will have any to spare for the call it the Lark route.

How many sleepers to start? 5 just to go LAX - SFO. 2 each direction except weekends just one ? Spare in LAX for maintenance rotation. will have to use Amtrak locos as CalTrain will not have any diesel trains available to attach as Gilroy trains do not meet Lark's schedule. Unless AEMs still around. The need for an electric to Transbay terminal when it is in service is a question?
Another 4 sleepers once train splits at San Jose for Sacramento. Attach car(s) to next Capitol. San Jose would require a mid station connection track so Lark drop cars and Capitol back onto Car(s) by way of switch. Opposite for Lark to attach for train to LAX

San Diego car can be part of this if there is enough demand. Biggest problem is rotating car thru LAX maintenance. have to change car O & D at SAC and SFO.

Have not considered how the coaches would be placed once Lark splits in San Jose ? schedules can probably tightened from 1/2 - 1 Hour once improvements mainly to UP tracks are implemented. AWWs will need provisions to detour over Central corridor before service even starts.

 

[Mailliw]

The lack of sleeping cars is a huge stumbling block to an new overnight train in North America. It's not like Europe where there's a large inventory of reasonable aged equipment that can be leased and/or refurbished.

 

[SanDiegan]

It's been tried. I rode the "The Spirit," aka "The Medfly," a couple of times and found the overnight schedule quite useful. The overnight Thruway Bus 4785, that connects with Train 785, runs on a similar schedule and is still very popular.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_of_California
The best way to revive the train, with minimal impact, would be to extend a Pacific Surfliner north from SLO to SAC and a Capitol Corridor train south from SJC to LAX (or SAN). If operated like a European "Night Train," the 12 hr. overnight running time is not a problem.

 

[George Harris]

The thought of a south connection into LAUS which would allow San Diego to points north of LA trains to continue without reversing direction, among other things has been in the plans for some time. Of course given the usual California bureaucratic system and the pseudo environmentalists screaming dodge every tree, bush, building, and last known habitat of the dry land snail darter, we have thousands of pages of studies and a final proposed alignment that is deadly slow. For more information, the project is called Link Union Station. There is the 1,562 page Final Environmental Impact Statement at https://media.metro.net/projects_studies/regionalrail/LINKUS_FEIR/LinkUSFinalEIR.pdf or if you don't hate yourself that much you can get most of the worthwhile information and a flavor of what happens in these things in the Project Description; https://media.metro.net/projects_studies/regionalrail/LINKUS_FEIR/LINKUS_FEIR_02.pdf
Or an even shorter document with plans, but fuzzy ones, and in reproduction, not concept (How can you spend millions on reports and not get clearly reproduced plans in it:
https://media.metro.net/projects_st...inkUSDetailedConstructionPhasingScenarios.pdfAnd if you want to see a discussion that has schedules for all trains into it at the time of the report, there is
https://media.metro.net/projects_st...ixB_LinkUSRailPlanningTechnicalMemorandum.pdfWhen I see these things and their outcome, I feel like shaking some of these people and say, think about what you are trying to do. Buy a few more buildings, make a straighter alignment with larger radius curves and you can double the speed of trains through here. Chances are 20 years from now the whole area will have changed and all the complainers will have moved off to other things to whine about and you will be stuck with your slow speed railroad forever. (Remember, the Roman roads are exactly where they were built 2,000 years ago and entire civilizations have come and gone multiple time since then.)