RAILforum: 'Cardinal' Route Under Threat

This is topic 'Cardinal' Route Under Threat in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.

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Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :

An article in the May 5th Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch reports that CSX plans to lease 200 miles of track to the shortline Buckingham Branch Railroad.

The 200 miles in question include the 'Cardinal' route from Orange, VA to Clifton Forge, VA via Charlottesville and Staunton. The new operator would be responsible for maintenance and it is uncertain whether they will be able to keep the line up to passenger train standards.

Wonder what impact this will have on the 'Cardinal'?

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David Pressley

Posted by CG96 (Member # 1408) on :

Well, seeing as how Senator Robert Byrd has written it tinot the US Cade that there be Washington - Chicago Service via WV, the train will still run (persuant to a repael of said law) no matter how bad the track will get. Perhaps this law could be used to force the new landlord (or at least the currant one) to maintain the track at a presentable and decent standard (at least Class 3, preferably Class 4 or higher).

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :

As I noted over at another board, this could well be someone's idea of "21st Century Union Busting".

It was "groundbreaking" enough wehn Amtrak employed Train and Engine crews commenced running over roads on which they did not hold seniority, albeit they did hold seniority within an Amtrak crew district that could well involve operation over several roads' pre-existing seniority districts.

Watch out, Amtrak crews may well refuse to "cross', or at least not until some specific ruling (either judicial, but hopefully collective bargaining) is pronounced regarding the matter.

Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :

Speculation on the Carolina Association for Passenger Trains email list is that the Cardinal might be rerouted on NS via Lynchburg and Roanoke back to the current route at Keyser, WV.

This would by-pass all current station stops from Staunton, VA to Huntington, WV.

Once, 10-15 years ago, Amtrak ran a test train to look at a re-route vis NS to Lynchburg and then on the CSX James River Line back to the current route at Clifton Forge. This possibility would miss only the existing station stop at Staunton BUT would take a couple of hours (or so) longer due mostly to an awkward and time-consuming backup move in Lynchburg. The interchange track there between NS and CSX is in the 'wrong' quadrant.

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David Pressley

[This message has been edited by notelvis (edited 05-07-2004).]