Isn't cheap, fast travel always more attractive?
Generally. But, if it were the only preference, no one would ride bicycles, take cruises, or own sailboats.
Generally. But, if it were the only preference, no one would ride bicycles, take cruises, or own sailboats.
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Some good news concerning ridership in Illinois, including Chicago-St. Louis......
http://www.chicagob reakingnews. com/2008/ 10/amtrak- reports-illinois -rider-spike. html
Amtrak reports Illinois rider spike
October 13, 2008 at 3:17 PM | Comments (10)
Amtrak ridership topped 1 million passengers in the past year for the first time in at least three decades on routes between Chicago and Downstate cities, the railroad reported today.
In addition, Amtrak trains between Chicago and Milwaukee carried about 750,000 riders, a 25 percent increase from a year earlier.
The surging ridership numbers, the product of high gasoline prices and drivers' frustration with traffic congestion, leave little guesswork as to why Amtrak trains are often sold out, especially on weekends.
"What stands between us and even higher numbers are infrastructure improvements on the routes and the need for more rail equipment,'' said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari.
The Illinois Department of Transportation substantially boosted funding several years ago for Amtrak to increase the number of runs operated on state routes. The funding totals about $28 million this year. The state-supported routes have added almost 300,000 passengers in the last fiscal year, Amtrak said.
About 1.1 million tickets were sold in the past year on Amtrak lines from Chicago serving Bloomington/ Normal, Carbondale, Champaign, Galesburg, Macomb, Mattoon, Springfield, St. Louis and Quincy. It reflected a 15 percent ridership increase, Amtrak said.
With ridership going strong, there is equally strong pressure on Amtrak to improve its on-time performance. Increased interference from freight trains is a major cause of delays, costing Amtrak more than $100 million annually. Amtrak trains serving Illinois arrived late 50 percent of the time on average in August, according to Amtrak.
Track improvements on the freight railroads where Amtrak operates is also a high priority. The Federal Railroad Administration last month awarded Illinois $3.4 million to upgrade signaling systems to improve reliability on the 284-mile Chicago-to-St. Louis route, which is designated as a future high-speed corridor.
Meanwhile, ridership across the entire Amtrak system increased 11 percent in the last year, totaling 28.7 million passengers. Total ticket revenue reached $1.7 billion.
Legislation passed by Congress this month would give $13.1 billion to Amtrak over five years to enhance existing routes and develop new corridors across the country. The funding could help stimulate high-speed rail plans in the Midwest, of which Chicago would be a major hub.
Jon Hilkevitch, Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagob reakingnews. com/2008/ 10/amtrak- reports-illinois -rider-spike. html
Amtrak reports Illinois rider spike
October 13, 2008 at 3:17 PM | Comments (10)
Amtrak ridership topped 1 million passengers in the past year for the first time in at least three decades on routes between Chicago and Downstate cities, the railroad reported today.
In addition, Amtrak trains between Chicago and Milwaukee carried about 750,000 riders, a 25 percent increase from a year earlier.
The surging ridership numbers, the product of high gasoline prices and drivers' frustration with traffic congestion, leave little guesswork as to why Amtrak trains are often sold out, especially on weekends.
"What stands between us and even higher numbers are infrastructure improvements on the routes and the need for more rail equipment,'' said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari.
The Illinois Department of Transportation substantially boosted funding several years ago for Amtrak to increase the number of runs operated on state routes. The funding totals about $28 million this year. The state-supported routes have added almost 300,000 passengers in the last fiscal year, Amtrak said.
About 1.1 million tickets were sold in the past year on Amtrak lines from Chicago serving Bloomington/ Normal, Carbondale, Champaign, Galesburg, Macomb, Mattoon, Springfield, St. Louis and Quincy. It reflected a 15 percent ridership increase, Amtrak said.
With ridership going strong, there is equally strong pressure on Amtrak to improve its on-time performance. Increased interference from freight trains is a major cause of delays, costing Amtrak more than $100 million annually. Amtrak trains serving Illinois arrived late 50 percent of the time on average in August, according to Amtrak.
Track improvements on the freight railroads where Amtrak operates is also a high priority. The Federal Railroad Administration last month awarded Illinois $3.4 million to upgrade signaling systems to improve reliability on the 284-mile Chicago-to-St. Louis route, which is designated as a future high-speed corridor.
Meanwhile, ridership across the entire Amtrak system increased 11 percent in the last year, totaling 28.7 million passengers. Total ticket revenue reached $1.7 billion.
Legislation passed by Congress this month would give $13.1 billion to Amtrak over five years to enhance existing routes and develop new corridors across the country. The funding could help stimulate high-speed rail plans in the Midwest, of which Chicago would be a major hub.
Jon Hilkevitch, Chicago Tribune
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Illinois looking to buy more Amtrak cars for southern routes
08:56 AM CST on Thursday, November 13, 2008
CHICAGO (AP) -- Illinois transportation officials are considering buying more Amtrak passenger cars for popular routes in southern parts of the state.
Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Milt Sees says he's looking for ways to pay for train cars that would increase capacity on southern Illinois Amtrak lines.
Authorities say southern Illinois ridership has increased 15 percent from fiscal 2007. In the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 1.1 million tickets were sold on local routes.
That's a 30-year record high.
more here
http://www.kmov.com/localnews/stories/k ... 2412d.html
08:56 AM CST on Thursday, November 13, 2008
CHICAGO (AP) -- Illinois transportation officials are considering buying more Amtrak passenger cars for popular routes in southern parts of the state.
Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Milt Sees says he's looking for ways to pay for train cars that would increase capacity on southern Illinois Amtrak lines.
Authorities say southern Illinois ridership has increased 15 percent from fiscal 2007. In the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 1.1 million tickets were sold on local routes.
That's a 30-year record high.
more here
http://www.kmov.com/localnews/stories/k ... 2412d.html
- 923
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/high_speed_spending
Just looking at them map, and I know it's not to scale BUT -
Why not connect Atlanta to STL via Memphis and Nashville? Also, why not connect ATL to Miami via Jacksonville? Seems silly to have massive gaps like that in the network. Again in the southwest, from Dallas to Little rock up to either KC or STL. Some of this just doesn't make much sense logically.
Just looking at them map, and I know it's not to scale BUT -
Why not connect Atlanta to STL via Memphis and Nashville? Also, why not connect ATL to Miami via Jacksonville? Seems silly to have massive gaps like that in the network. Again in the southwest, from Dallas to Little rock up to either KC or STL. Some of this just doesn't make much sense logically.
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While there are certainly large gaps, I suppose at this point that makes sense. We can't (even though in my mind should) build out the entire country at one time. These regional hubs seem like a logical starting place. Once these corridors get built, it won't be difficult to connect the gaps. But you've got to start somewhere.
And how is the map not to scale?
It's a map of the US. Seems perfectly to scale to me. Maybe we're looking at different maps?
And how is the map not to scale?
It's a map of the US. Seems perfectly to scale to me. Maybe we're looking at different maps?
Just remember that that rail map is wildly out of date: it was last updated in 2002. Given that, I wouldn't worry much about the obvious gaps it contains.
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I hate how everything goes through CHI, but I guess when you're the "2nd city," you get that right.
St. Louis having better Amtrak service for the most relies on Chicago and Illinois getting a good chunk of the Transit, Amtrak, and High Speed rail stimulus funding. In that respect, I hope it happens and some way much more. St. Louis, in my opinion, will benefit just as much as Chicago with 110 mph trains. Getting a reliable and somewhat timely rail service up and running (current service doesn't count) will provide long term support for additional service to KC, new service to Springfield, MO and maybe Indianapolis or Louisiville one (really think long term but railroads used to provide a host of destinations out of Union Station, so It can be done again)
Moorlander wrote:I hate how everything goes through CHI, but I guess when you're the "2nd city," you get that right.
Chicago IS the "2nd city" because everything goes through it.
migueltejada wrote:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/high_speed_spending
Just looking at them map, and I know it's not to scale BUT -
Why not connect Atlanta to STL via Memphis and Nashville? Also, why not connect ATL to Miami via Jacksonville? Seems silly to have massive gaps like that in the network. Again in the southwest, from Dallas to Little rock up to either KC or STL. Some of this just doesn't make much sense logically.
IIRC, there is no existing rail connection between STL and ATL but between CHI (Nashville) ATL. The railroads, built in the 1800s, follow the easiest grade--mainly rivers and plains. That's why our railroad system is so circuitous and doesn't connect cities 'as the crow flies.' And that's because most (eastern) US cities were settled according to rivers. (Long before the RR.)
To build a high-speed, straight-as-an-arrow, connection today would be a right-of-way nightmare. We could print enough money for that!
- 11K
^ Yep - I think you can get nearly everywhere using an existing rail right-of-way in our country. It's a matter of who owns them and whether they would be allowed to put a train line back there. Many old rail corridors are being reverted back to local land owners or converted to bike paths.
- 277
If you go through some popular rail forums, you'll find the occasional inquiry into routes east from St. Louis, not via Chicago. As you can see, the L&N was the "popular" southern route; as well, the National Limited went east via Effingham and Evansville. Like Shadrach said, circuitous, to say the least. It wouldn't make a great candidate for high speed rail, but there probably exists some kind of potential for a corridor to Ohio from STL.
Earlier in this thread we've discussed (sadly) that MoDOT deemed the existing STL to Springfield line unfeasible.
And that's a heavily traveled, Class 1 railroad corridor (BNSF.) But the grade and meandering track through the Ozark foothills causes the trains to travel at such a slow pace.
It's hard enough to drive from Nashville to Chattanooga to Atlanta. Imagine There's a spot where the rail line crosses the Tennessee River (Knickajack) just north of Chattanooga. When I've seen trains they're going maybe 30 mph.
Sadly enough, no one wants a 5-6 hour train ride from Nashville to ATL.
And that's a heavily traveled, Class 1 railroad corridor (BNSF.) But the grade and meandering track through the Ozark foothills causes the trains to travel at such a slow pace.
It's hard enough to drive from Nashville to Chattanooga to Atlanta. Imagine There's a spot where the rail line crosses the Tennessee River (Knickajack) just north of Chattanooga. When I've seen trains they're going maybe 30 mph.
Sadly enough, no one wants a 5-6 hour train ride from Nashville to ATL.
Please find a bit based on Obama's 2010 budget proposal.
http://www.railwayage.com//index.php?op ... Itemid=121
The Obama Administration Thursday unveiled a budget plan that identifies $5 billion in funding for “high speed” passenger rail projects in the U.S., supplementing the $8 billion it provided in its stimulus package for a two-year period.
I'm optimistic that we will see an investment in better rail service to and from Chicago within the next two years.
http://www.railwayage.com//index.php?op ... Itemid=121
The Obama Administration Thursday unveiled a budget plan that identifies $5 billion in funding for “high speed” passenger rail projects in the U.S., supplementing the $8 billion it provided in its stimulus package for a two-year period.
I'm optimistic that we will see an investment in better rail service to and from Chicago within the next two years.
- 46
It's virtual certainty that Chicago-St. Louis will be at the top of the list for stimulus money. That will mean new equipment, greater frequencies, higher speeds, better reliability to name a few. We probably will see at least eight daily round trips with a four hour endpoint to endpoint running time.
Yes, Chicago gets early consideration. It's the railroad hub of North America. but consider what happens next. The introduction of this type of service will be met with a public demand for more of the same elsewhere. I will say however, that we do need a truly national system, not a series of corridors and that should include not only the high speed stuff, but medium and long distance services.
The Obama Administration is making high speed rail a centerpiece of their vision for the country. First $9.3 billion in stimulus money, then $5 billion more over thje next five years for HSR, THEN talk of developing six corridors around the country with funding above and beyond what we already have!
Things have turned on a dime. At last, rail will be an equal to other modes and not an afterthought. Advocates such as myself feel like moles dragged into the sunlight, squinting our eyes in wonder. "Huh? What happened?? Is this for real???"
Yes, Chicago gets early consideration. It's the railroad hub of North America. but consider what happens next. The introduction of this type of service will be met with a public demand for more of the same elsewhere. I will say however, that we do need a truly national system, not a series of corridors and that should include not only the high speed stuff, but medium and long distance services.
The Obama Administration is making high speed rail a centerpiece of their vision for the country. First $9.3 billion in stimulus money, then $5 billion more over thje next five years for HSR, THEN talk of developing six corridors around the country with funding above and beyond what we already have!
Things have turned on a dime. At last, rail will be an equal to other modes and not an afterthought. Advocates such as myself feel like moles dragged into the sunlight, squinting our eyes in wonder. "Huh? What happened?? Is this for real???"
- 11K
It will have really turned on a dime when federal money is no longer simply tied to Interstate highways. When it's codified that DOT's, by law, must make mass transit, bikes and pedestrians a equal or greater priority than cars we will have made progress. If not, then we can plan high speed rail, but a state DOT will say, "you'll have to move a couple miles this way and then that way because you're going to interupt a very busy intersection." or something of the like. Then the rail becomes too expensive and goes over budget and everyone declares a . . . BOONDOGLE!
- 46
The federal transportation reuthorization is coming up soon and there may be more changes there. I'd bet on it. Still, most of us would agree that this is a sea change, compared to the dark days of the Bush Administration.
It's still pretty amazing to me. Rail gets $9 billion within 30 days after Obama took office? That's a great start!
It's still pretty amazing to me. Rail gets $9 billion within 30 days after Obama took office? That's a great start!
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A minor update on the effort to improve rail service between Saint Louis and Chicago:
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.as ... 57&catid=3
A speed of 110 mph is still pretty tame by comparison with systems in other parts of the world - the usual definition of "high speed rail" specifies a speed of at least 200 km/h (~ 124 mph). The Acela between Washington and Boston reaches 150 mph on a couple of stretches, and even this is quite modest compared with the most advanced European rail systems. Unfortunately, it seems that sustained high speeds require a dedicated track that isn't shared with ordinary rail traffic.
(The Urban St. Louis site apparently automatically bowdlerizes Senator Durbin's name!)
Edit: A slightly more detailed account has now been added to KSDK's site:
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.as ... 91&catid=3
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.as ... 57&catid=3
Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin say the priority is to upgrade Amtrak's existing service between the cities so trains can travel at up to 110 miles per hour. That could cut travel times to under 4 hours from the current 5.
Quinn and Durbin met with other officials Monday at Chicago's Union Station to discuss an Illinois request for some of the $8 billion set aside for high-speed rail in the federal stimulus bill.
A speed of 110 mph is still pretty tame by comparison with systems in other parts of the world - the usual definition of "high speed rail" specifies a speed of at least 200 km/h (~ 124 mph). The Acela between Washington and Boston reaches 150 mph on a couple of stretches, and even this is quite modest compared with the most advanced European rail systems. Unfortunately, it seems that sustained high speeds require a dedicated track that isn't shared with ordinary rail traffic.
(The Urban St. Louis site apparently automatically bowdlerizes Senator Durbin's name!)
Edit: A slightly more detailed account has now been added to KSDK's site:
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.as ... 91&catid=3
The state has three main Amtrak routes, but Durbin said the one running nearly 300 miles through Springfield, called The Lincoln, seems especially well qualified for stimulus money.
The NARP Regional meeting is this Saturday Mar, 14, at the Sheraton City Center Hotel. I'm sure there will be a lot of excitement about the HSR stimulus money. $25
http://www.tempo-rail.org/NARP.htm
http://www.tempo-rail.org/NARP.htm
- 542
Why are people in Illinois so bad at keeping their vehicles out of the path of oncoming trains? Isn't this the third or fourth one of these this winter?
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument
I'm not sure if anyone posted this: Ridership on the Missouri River Runner went up 16% in the last year, from 164,817 riders to 190,628. In the previous year it went up 14.4%. The line now averages 522 passengers daily. It looks like the track investments and associated on-time improvements continue to bring riders to the system.
Missouri River Runner ridership was up just 1% this fiscal year to 192,335. The number is deceptively low considering flooding caused a 28% drop in July. If acts of God aren't an issue ridership could easily surpass 200,000 this year.
Missouri River Runner doesn't include ridership from the Poplar Bluff or La Plata stations, which have about 16,000 passengers per year (combined).
Missouri River Runner doesn't include ridership from the Poplar Bluff or La Plata stations, which have about 16,000 passengers per year (combined).