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After protests from the White House and fiscal watchdog groups, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-Miss., abandoned a bid to devote $700 million to purchase CSX Transportation's recently rebuilt Gulf Coast freight line for a new East-West coast road.
Posts: 562 | From: Beaumont Texas | Registered: Jul 2005
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Let's just hope this bad idea stays dead. This latest round was a return from the dead of the same idea that died a couple or more years ago. For a while the Mississippi Dept. of Transportation web site carried a not that they were prohibited from spending any money on this prject for any purpose including studies. And then it came back. How do we drive a holly stake through its heart, pour salt in its mouth or shoot it with a silver bullet or whatever it takes to kill this zombie, vampire, or what ever it is?
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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There DO seem to be railroad traffic volume problems that are affecting the local people in many places. When I rode the line west of Mobile 30 years ago, it went through the heart of many communities, a 30-foot right of way with 30 mph speeds because of the intimacy of the railroad, something like some light rail transit lines today.
But in the 30 years since then, the freight traffic probably has doubled to 30 or so mile-long freight trains every day. Imagine all that going through your community at grade level every day and night, more than one per hour.
In my part of the country and in Chicago and some other large metro areas, all of the main grade crossings were separated years ago; and we don't feel their problems.
That's what's driving this seemingly bizarre plan, and the argument that the railroad was there first doesn't work in these communities.
So if we ever spend large amounts of taxpayer money on increasing railroad capacity for passenger and freight trains, we must accept that a large part of those funds will go toward grade separation and even "railroad removal".
-------------------- John Pawson Posts: 137 | From: Willow Grove, PA | Registered: Dec 2005
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quote:Originally posted by BNSF 1088: Amtrak has no plans on returning the Sunset LTD east of NOL.
How do you know?
We have been through this round before. No point in repeating it.
To simply remove the railroad to somewhere else is not usually a solution. To grade seperate it as much as possible is. What happened in Chicago in the early 1900's is not going to be repeated. At that time the city simply required the railroads at their own expense to elevate their tracks. At that time it was financially possible for them to do so. That is no longer the case.
I have said before, the best way to relocate this line is about 25 feet, straight up. It could and should become a double track structure on a set of single columns and then a road could be built with the lanes on each side. There would need to be some industrial track connections at intervals, and this is also practical to do. Would also need to have a connection with the KCS at Gulfport somehow.
Then you can build the road with the lanes each side of the row of columns down the median.
The right of way is for the most part 100 feet wide, not 30 feet.
George
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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quote:Originally posted by BNSF 1088: Amtrak has no plans on returning the Sunset LTD east of NOL.
How do you know?
We have been through this round before. No point in repeating it.
To simply remove the railroad to somewhere else is not usually a solution. To grade seperate it as much as possible is. What happened in Chicago in the early 1900's is not going to be repeated. At that time the city simply required the railroads at their own expense to elevate their tracks. At that time it was financially possible for them to do so. That is no longer the case.
I have said before, the best way to relocate this line is about 25 feet, straight up. It could and should become a double track structure on a set of single columns and then a road could be built with the lanes on each side. There would need to be some industrial track connections at intervals, and this is also practical to do. Would also need to have a connection with the KCS at Gulfport somehow.
Then you can build the road with the lanes each side of the row of columns down the median.
The right of way is for the most part 100 feet wide, not 30 feet.
George
The plan to remove the tracks is dead. The tracks are in better condition now than pre-Katrina. Amtrak could return service tomorrow. We all know that won't happen. Why? Is it money? No market?
Posts: 562 | From: Beaumont Texas | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote:Originally posted by SunsetLtd: I bet they restore service....right before another hurricane.
So. That area gets hit by hurricanes all the time. Katrina type hurricanes are uncommon. Before Rita hit us, we went 14 years without a hurricane. 20 years without a strong Cat. 1. Over 35 years with only 1 Cat. 2 storm.
Posts: 562 | From: Beaumont Texas | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote:Originally posted by SunsetLtd: I bet they restore service....right before another hurricane.
So. That area gets hit by hurricanes all the time. Katrina type hurricanes are uncommon. Before Rita hit us, we went 14 years without a hurricane. 20 years without a strong Cat. 1. Over 35 years with only 1 Cat. 2 storm.
I didn't say when!! That could be in 10 years who knows!
quote:Originally posted by SunsetLtd: I bet they restore service....right before another hurricane.
So. That area gets hit by hurricanes all the time. Katrina type hurricanes are uncommon. Before Rita hit us, we went 14 years without a hurricane. 20 years without a strong Cat. 1. Over 35 years with only 1 Cat. 2 storm.
I didn't say when!! That could be in 10 years who knows!
Before They go east of NOL. I would like to see daily service. They are already running Sunset as a very short train, 2 coach 1 diner 1 sleeper. Before Katrina and Rita it was a 10 coach train. With the extra equiment from the 2 extra trainsets and extra coaches not in use, they have enough for daily service. Amtrak will be shocked at the increase in riders on a daily Sunset.
Posts: 562 | From: Beaumont Texas | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Statements by David Laney suggest that Amtrak is considering different options for New Orleans and points east. I suspect the Sunset thing is pending the outcome of their system wide route evalation, which is supposed to be done this summer.
And let's not forget that some are challenging Amtrak's failure to provide 180 day cancellation notices for the east of NOL segment, and may force Amtrak to restore it. Stay tuned.
Posts: 2649 | From: California's Monterey Peninsula | Registered: Dec 2000
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posted
Actually it's more like a Coach and a half. Since they got rid of the Lounge space on the top part of the Snack-Coach. Still waiting for Sightseers! but they are late typical Amtrak.
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