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I'm working on my new maps of this route now. The Auburn station on the Capitol Corridor is located on the "north track" of a diverging section of track on the UP, which is generally used for eastbound trains only (specifically, the CZ, plus freights). Obviously, to travel back to SAC and SJC, the westbound Capitols need to use what is typically a track reserved for eastbound trains only.
There is another divergence of tracks between Rocklin and Newcastle, and eastbound trains use the "north track" on this segment too. Since this segment is entirely between 2 Capitol Corridor stations (Rocklin and Auburn), do the westbound Capitols use the "westbound track" (the south track) here and and do the eastbound trains use the "north track," or do both directions of the Capitol trains use the same segment?
Note both of these segments run together for a mile or so in Newcastle, and, according to Google Earth, there is a westbound turnout from the north track to the south track, but there is no eastbound turnout that I can find (unless it is in the Newcastle Tunnel, which I doubt!).
mr williams Member # 1928
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Are UP still blocking plans to extend passenger service to Reno?
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Yes, they are. As I understand things, UP is considering going back to double-tracking the Sierra mountain range. Should they do this, that will allow for more capacity and then they would consider allowing that to happen. But for now, I think the latest is that the answer is a solid "no" because the capacity is not there.
mr williams Member # 1928
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I see in the news section that the powers-that-be in the Roseville area are considering seventeen miles of new track to be able to increase service to Sacramento by an additional ten roundtrips a day.
yukon11 Member # 2997
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I hope that UP does double-track the Sierras.
The Capitol Corridor train did extend to Colfax starting in 1998. However, due to low ridership they discontinued the stop in 2000. The most eastern terminus remains at Auburn.
One of the reasons for the low ridership to Colfax may have been the late arriving time, about 8:50 PM. However, if a Corridor train would go to Truckee and Reno and at a reasonable time schedule, I have to think there might be much greater interest.
Richard
mr williams Member # 1928
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As I posted further up the thread (nearly two years ago now!) the plans to extend to Reno were being blocked by UP and by now are probably abandoned.
However, the Reno trains wouldn't have helped any prospective commuter passengers as they were intended to bring casino/vacationers from the Bay area on weekends, so would have been arriving in Reno late afternoon and departing in the mornings.
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