posted
The latest news from North Carolina, as reported in the Raleigh News & Observer, centers on the anticipated presentation of plans for a new Raleigh Union Station incorporating Amtrak, possible light rail and/or commuter rail, buses from two or three local transit agencies and Greyhound.
Additionally, the new midday Raleigh-Charlotte train which begins June 5th is now available for booking on the Amtrak website.
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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I've only had time to briefly scan it (ie: look at the pictures) and my initial reaction is mixed. Appears that the waiting area will be nearly two blocks from the actual Amtrak platform.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by notelvis: Appears that the waiting area will be nearly two blocks from the actual Amtrak platform.
Integrated transport hub, American style! Only one mention of an airport connection, and that in a list of other needs.
But in fairness, the problem is the track configuration in the area which is not easy to change without reconfiguring (ie bulldozing) lots of buildings. On page 51 (PDF; labelled page 46) the passenger facility building would be located between the two platforms - still a 2-block walk from one to the other, but only 1 if entering at the "passenger focal point".
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
Is the Durham Station still a trailer? Durham has such a rich rail history they need to do something.
Posts: 516 | From: New Haven, CT USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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No....the Durham Union Trailer is gone.....totally hauled off down the track somewhere until the next temporary station opens.
Amtrak's station is now directly across the track from where the trailer was. It's located in the southern third of a renovated 100-year old tobacco warehouse and includes a covered platform long enough to accomodate a 7 or 8 car train. A link to the announcement is below...
Geoff - two thoughts about Raleigh.
1) If the Southeast High Speed Rail project ever gets off the ground and rebuilds the former Seaboard Railroad between Raleigh and Richmond, Amtrak could shift back to that route (they used it prior to 1985) and would use the platforms north of the wye rather than operating through the bottom of the wye as they do now.
2) I have thought for at least 15 years that a new Raleigh station would make more sense if it were located above track level west of the wye. The tracks here....both the NCRR and NS line which crosses on a diamond.... are in a small natural trench. A station at, say Boylan Street level..... would be above the tracks with maybe a platform the tracks. The plans from Raleigh call for a platform serving a single track making it impossible to have two passenger trains in the station at the same time.
The initial reaction from members of the Carolina Association for Passenger Trains has mostly been one of "These professional consultants couldn't come up with anything better than this!!????"
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Though west of the wye moves the station further away from downtown and nearer to a historic residential neighborhood.....and to the state's central prison. I doubt it would go over putting a railroad ststion within sight of death row. My 'best idea' will never gain traction with anyone in a position to do anything other than shoot it down.
The ideal, I think, would be reconstructing the former Seaboard Railroad from Raleigh to Richmond so that the Amtrak trains would all move around the northwestern leg of the wye and stop at platforms north of the wye.
Regardless, I would imagine that this plan will be debated and argued about for years. I doubt that a single shovel of dirt will be turned for at least 5 years...... and more likely 10.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Durham has done a great job with its old tobacco warehouses, especially the American Tobacco Plaza (No Smoking Permitted) by the new Durham Ballpark. I have to wonder though if North Carolina indeed wants to expand rail service shouldn't they set up a system like Maryland, NY and Massachusetts rather then relaying on Amtrak and limited service schedules.
Posts: 516 | From: New Haven, CT USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
Bear in mind that North Carolina has no history of commuter rail operations whatsoever....unlike in Maryland and points further north.
North Carolina's hopes are pinned to primarily getting the Southeast High Speed Rail project going between the northeast and Charlotte. The biggest component of that is going to be relaying the old Seaboard mainline between Raleigh and Petersburg, VA which CSX abandoned (north of Norlina anyway) in the 1980's.
That component is proposed but unfunded. For now and likely the next decade the approach will be incremental - a third roundtrip RAL-CLT in June, a fourth planned in 2012. These new intrastate trains are operated with consists owned by the state DOT and presumably NC could go looking for a new operator (much as the Virginia Railway Express has) should things go sour with Amtrak.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Thanks for the link, David. It's quite encouraging that this much work has already been done. The 108 page draft is quite detailed, but many questions still. With a projected cost of $150-$212 million, the state had better get it's hand out for some Federal money.
From our standpoint the main question is the location of the Amtrak platform. The report gives two locations on the south leg (one of them being squeezed next to the east leg) - some distance from the main lobby, as you point out. But certainly walkable.
Interestingly, there is also mention of a NCDOT alternative as well. It suggests a "1000 foot long center island platform with a dedicated passenger track on each side, within the south leg of the Wye." They envision this sooner rather than later (presumably while SEHSR continues to be 'studied").
Good idea but I'm somewhat skeptical about their suggestion of "a temporary station constructed in the ground level (of the new initial phase parking garage), adjacent to the new platform on the opposite side of the tracks from the current platform". Sounds like the potential for a 'temporary' AmShack.
I gather NCDOT is not quite in synch with the official planners of the project - but I do hope someone listens to their ideas - they know what it takes to operate passenger trains.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
It is encouraging that the various parties are talking, no doubt.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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