Long Distance service planning is now FRA's responsibility

[leccy]

It looks like a very comprehensive review has taken place and some of the oddities of the Amtrak Connect plans have been ironed out. They have made it pretty clear that what they are doing is making best use of what is out there and not building new lines (regular or high speed). Even given the gaps that have arisen over the years there is still the opportunity for a very nice national network. It will be interesting though to see how the various sectors can be put together to make coherent services. My little fantasy is a New York to Texas train

 

[OCL1]

I recently submitted a comment discussing restoration of service over the CSX S-Line in Florida. I don't know if it will help, but it can't hurt.

Please tell me how to do it, perhaps just a link might be enough.
I live in Ocala and remember when we were fortunate to have the Meteor, Star, and Floridian. I know it might be difficult with CSX, but it’s worth trying.

 

[Seaboarder3023]

Please tell me how to do it, perhaps just a link might be enough.
I live in Ocala and remember when we were fortunate to have the Meteor, Star, and Floridian. I know it might be difficult with CSX, but it’s worth trying.

Go to This Link and scroll down to the bottom. You will see "Contact Us" with text boxes to input your name, email, and the comment. I'd recommend writing your comment in Google Docs/Word and copy-pasting it into the comment box, but that's just me. Glad to see someone else that shares my view; this is a no-brainer IMO

 

[OCL1]

Thanks for the link! I think resuming passenger service on the S line would benefit not only Gainesville/Waldo and Ocala but also The Villages, as well as providing better service for Tampa.

 

[jis]

At this stage they are not considering additional segments, but are looking for comments on who the selected segments can be best structured into routes. Other comments about additional segments will be reviewed but will probably not be acted upon. That did not stop me for suggesting an overlooked one. but remember, it has to address some unique travel demand flow that is not already addressed.

What has been suggested by the RPA Reps on the committee is to start at Map on slide 80 in the slide set found at:

https://fralongdistancerailstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Overview_Presentation_2.pdf

and share your thoughts based on that map so as to have a common foundation for all comments.

I just sent in several regarding route choices from among the dashed lines. It is necessary to give cogent argument for the choice suggested, not just saying "I think it would be great".

The sort of thing that they are looking for is characterized nicely by Jim Matthews in the following paragraph excerpted from the latest RPA Hot line (Aug 4, 2023):

When you do this, you’ll want to start at Slide 80 in the list of slides available for review. That slide is the final draft of the collection of segments that would make up the Enhanced Network. From there, you can consider particular routings that you believe would make the most sense. For example, would you recommend a route starting in Duluth through Minneapolis-St. Paul to Sioux Falls and Omaha and then on to Kansas City and points south? Or would you connect the segments as Duluth to MSP to Des Moines, Kansas City, Tulsa and beyond? Once you’ve connected a few dots, compose some narratives to explain your choice of routing. That would be the sort of input that will really help the study team move ahead with the Enhanced Network.

Hope this helps....

 

[tgstubbs1]

The sort of thing that they are looking for is characterized nicely by Jim Matthews in the following paragraph excerpted from the latest RPA Hot line (Aug 4, 2023):

I just sent in several regarding route choices from among the dashed lines.

The map doesn't show the segments very clearly, especially those with the dashed lines. Too bad the map doesn't have better detail.

 

[jis]

The map doesn't show the segments very clearly, especially those with the dashed lines. Too bad the map doesn't have better detail.

Those are conceptual lines anyway, between the marked end points. But if you dig a little deeper you can tell where they come from since they represent currently existing rail routes and not routes yet to be built.

 

[tgstubbs1]

They had this one someplace, which was from a number of years ago. It has more detail, but only shows one route from Casper to Billings.
I know they only want to route on existing track.

 

[jis]

They had this one someplace, which was from a number of years ago. It has more detail, but only shows one route from Casper to Billings.
I know they only want to route on existing track.
View attachment 33462

That is from the RPA

 

[jis]

A thought provoking article fro Railway Age written by William Vantuno, the Editor in Chief...

Welcome to Amtrak Study Hall (UPDATED Aug. 14 with Additional Commentary) - Railway Age

The Federal Railroad Administration’s Congressionally mandated Long-Distance Service Study, launched in late October 2022, is roughly 50% complete. An interim, 120-page report (download below) was recently posted to the study’s website. It

www.railwayage.com

 

[Bostontoallpoints]

They had this one someplace, which was from a number of years ago. It has more detail, but only shows one route from Casper to Billings.
I know they only want to route on existing track.
View attachment 33462

I like the route ending in Naples Florida. Not sure that is possible today. Rail now ends in North Naples and everything south has been developed.

 

[jis]

I like the route ending in Naples Florida. Not sure that is possible today. Rail now ends in North Naples and everything south has been developed.

You are right. Realstically the farthest they can get to is probably Vanderbilt Beach. A more logical southern terminus would possibly be Bonita Springs. but I would be ecstatic even if they manage tor restore service to Fort Meyers.

However, I suspect no Long Distance train would be involved. It would be a regional service out of Orlando/Tampa.

 

[west point]

A wild idea. CPAC and CSX is planning for the future to make ~160 mile Meridian - Montgomery a freight CTC 60 MPH line. If so why not run the new Meridian <> DFW train along that route then Mongomery to ATL as planned. Taking in present Crescent times that route will be quicker than the Crescent.

 

[Willbridge]

A thought provoking article fro Railway Age written by William Vantuno, the Editor in Chief...

Welcome to Amtrak Study Hall (UPDATED Aug. 14 with Additional Commentary) - Railway Age

The Federal Railroad Administration’s Congressionally mandated Long-Distance Service Study, launched in late October 2022, is roughly 50% complete. An interim, 120-page report (download below) was recently posted to the study’s website. It

www.railwayage.com

Their expert from DOT goes back to the Railpax plan and other schemes that left the Pacific Northwest out entirely, except for running the Empire Builder via Stampede Pass. They ignored the fact that the region was growing, and they ignored the fact that ridership was struggling to remain on the rails, unlike in some other regions. Political intervention, not Harvard graduates, saved the region's popular services.