The Chicago Tribune says it's from the Florida money. It's for Dwight to Joliet.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... ?track=rss
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... ?track=rss
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You guys didn't say anything about this,
"Illinois has more applications pending, including $263 million for new rail cars and $1 million for preliminary engineering for a new rail station in East St. Louis."
"Illinois has more applications pending, including $263 million for new rail cars and $1 million for preliminary engineering for a new rail station in East St. Louis."
^Yeah, I noticed that too. Where do you think it would go on the east side? I would hope it would be right across the river from downtown somewhere. I would rather it not be way up in Alton.
I oppose such a station. Last thing we need is another stop when people can take Metrolink to the downtown station. You can't put a station in East St Louis if you're going to use the Merchants Bridge either (MO applied for $150M to redo its main spans). Now if you put it up a little ways in Madison, Granite City, or at I-270 and closed Alton then that might get me on board. I fear this is also an attempt to build a big new station on the east side so that if one day we get real HSR that it will terminate their won't cross the Mississippi.
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^We'll this is quite an interesting qaundry, isn't it?
On one hand, having current and future HSR terminate directly in downtown STL should certainly help to spur growth.
HOWEVER...
Everyone has been looking for a turnaround for ESL for a LONG time. This could be just the thing to spur meaningful development if located directly across from downtown StL.
Which brings us to the next question...would a stronger ESL (possibly with high rise buildings and nightlife across the river from downtown StL) create a stronger STL?
(My take - Terminate in downtown StL. If we can grow actual StL enough the surrounding areas will follow)
On one hand, having current and future HSR terminate directly in downtown STL should certainly help to spur growth.
HOWEVER...
Everyone has been looking for a turnaround for ESL for a LONG time. This could be just the thing to spur meaningful development if located directly across from downtown StL.
Which brings us to the next question...would a stronger ESL (possibly with high rise buildings and nightlife across the river from downtown StL) create a stronger STL?
(My take - Terminate in downtown StL. If we can grow actual StL enough the surrounding areas will follow)
^^BUT, IL is spending the $$ here, not MO. You would have to think it would be in their best interest to try to spur development on their side of the river. Although it would create an extremely stupid system should StL to KC HSR ever come to fruition. Long term views seem to be ignored lately, however. Maybe the Feds should step in to direct development considering the funds are coming from them... Ray La Hood in Da Hood.
If Metrolink isn't helping development in ESL then how will an Amtrak station do better
If Madison County wants better access to transit they should join Bi-State and build a Metrolink line up to Edwardsville.
All this station will be is a building and a platform with a huge parking lot no where near downtown ESL. While IL has made extraordinary investments here, most of the money comes from all of us and thus USDOT should take into account a longer-range view.
If Madison County wants better access to transit they should join Bi-State and build a Metrolink line up to Edwardsville.
All this station will be is a building and a platform with a huge parking lot no where near downtown ESL. While IL has made extraordinary investments here, most of the money comes from all of us and thus USDOT should take into account a longer-range view.
Well the quote did only say "rail station". Nothing about it being the station for Saint Louis in place of our current downtown one. Maybe they're just considering adding a station in addition to the current downtown one.
You're right and for the regular service the trains will still cross the river. My worry is that if we ever get a true HSR line this'll be the station because no one wants to pay for a new bridge.
I would really be surprised if a grant to study as ESL train station gets very high on the priority, cost benefit list with DOT.quincunx wrote:All this station will be is a building and a platform with a huge parking lot no where near downtown ESL. While IL has made extraordinary investments here, most of the money comes from all of us and thus USDOT should take into account a longer-range view.
At the end of day, agree whole heartedly with your comments. An ESL station does little to advance transportation for the region and the state. Madison joining Bit-state and building a second metrolink line to Edwardsville/SIEU makes a lot more sense.
At the end of the day, I think it was an easy grant to put in on behalf of politicians
Looks like Amtrak/NEC might be the big winners on Monday based on where LaHood is going to announce HSR funds as reported by Transportation Nation. Missouri River Runner has made some strides in ridership and performance, it would be nice to see some of Missouri's grant application for continued rail upgrades get awarded.
http://transportationnation.org/2011/05 ... peed-rail/
Andrea Bernstein, Transportation Nation) U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is making a “major announcement” on high-speed rail on Monday in New York and Detroit, according to an advisory his office sent out today. He’ll be in NY’s Penn Station and Detroit Station later in the day.
Yesterday, he told Transportation Nation on a conference call he’d be announcing where the $2.4 billion in money from the Florida project would be going.
http://transportationnation.org/2011/05 ... peed-rail/
Andrea Bernstein, Transportation Nation) U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is making a “major announcement” on high-speed rail on Monday in New York and Detroit, according to an advisory his office sent out today. He’ll be in NY’s Penn Station and Detroit Station later in the day.
Yesterday, he told Transportation Nation on a conference call he’d be announcing where the $2.4 billion in money from the Florida project would be going.
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^Detroit is sort of interesting, as Ohio was one of the states to reject funding. Wouldn't be announcing a Detroit-to-NYC line. Maybe he will announce the NEC in NYC & then announce a Detroit-Chicago HSR line as the start of the Midwest HSR network?
Here it is:
Midwest Corridors – $268.2 million to purchase 48 high-performance passenger rail cars and 7 quick-acceleration locomotives for 8 corridors in the Midwestern States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri.
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2011/dot5711.htmlMissouri – Merchant’s Bridge Replacement – $13.5 million to advance the design of a new bridge over the Mississippi River on the Chicago to St. Louis Corridor, replacing a bridge built in the 1890s.
Curious to see how quick they can solicitate bids/procurement? Thinking of Talgo who closed up shop or will be shortly in Wisconsin. I understand Illinois was trying to get them to open back up on their side of the border. Would be ideal if Missouri could make a play by setting up in St Louis/Old Chrysler site/maybe even old Ford site where their is also good rail access. The next question, will Missouri River Runner actually see one of the new trainsets? or is the being envisioned for Chi-Stl and Chi-Detriot?quincunx wrote:Here it is:
Midwest Corridors – $268.2 million to purchase 48 high-performance passenger rail cars and 7 quick-acceleration locomotives for 8 corridors in the Midwestern States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri.
Weren't there passenger cars and locos to be ordered as a part of the first $1.1B that Illinois got? I wonder how far along that is and whether the announcement today will be an extension of that order.
This is awesome! A friend very involved in the Chicago-St. Louis high speed rail line sent this to me:
Check out the video of high speed rail being laid down between STL and Chicago...'we' were a little ahead of 'our' time, evidently.
Chicago to St. Louis High Speed Rail System
Ever see a yellow gandy dancer? This is how it now works and what is happening from Chicago to St. Louis for the high speed rail. They are now working around Springfield.
This is amazing to watch. They won't let you close enough to watch. So watching the video is even better and warmer.
They just did this operation through Sherman for the high speed rail. People were stopping along the highway taking pictures.
For those who live in the Springfield area and have seen all the machines running up and down the tracks, here is a link to a video that shows you how the concrete ties and rail are put in place. The road bed was raised 13 inches to accommodate for the new high speed rail line between St. Louis and Chicago. There are only two of these track laying machines in the world; this one here, and one in Europe.
THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH. The train actually lays its own tracks.
http://www.wimp.com/traintrack/
Check out the video of high speed rail being laid down between STL and Chicago...'we' were a little ahead of 'our' time, evidently.
Chicago to St. Louis High Speed Rail System
Ever see a yellow gandy dancer? This is how it now works and what is happening from Chicago to St. Louis for the high speed rail. They are now working around Springfield.
This is amazing to watch. They won't let you close enough to watch. So watching the video is even better and warmer.
They just did this operation through Sherman for the high speed rail. People were stopping along the highway taking pictures.
For those who live in the Springfield area and have seen all the machines running up and down the tracks, here is a link to a video that shows you how the concrete ties and rail are put in place. The road bed was raised 13 inches to accommodate for the new high speed rail line between St. Louis and Chicago. There are only two of these track laying machines in the world; this one here, and one in Europe.
THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH. The train actually lays its own tracks.
http://www.wimp.com/traintrack/
What a sweet video! I could watch that all day.stlgasm wrote:This is awesome! A friend very involved in the Chicago-St. Louis high speed rail line sent this to me:
Check out the video of high speed rail being laid down between STL and Chicago...'we' were a little ahead of 'our' time, evidently.
Chicago to St. Louis High Speed Rail System
Ever see a yellow gandy dancer? This is how it now works and what is happening from Chicago to St. Louis for the high speed rail. They are now working around Springfield.
This is amazing to watch. They won't let you close enough to watch. So watching the video is even better and warmer.
They just did this operation through Sherman for the high speed rail. People were stopping along the highway taking pictures.
For those who live in the Springfield area and have seen all the machines running up and down the tracks, here is a link to a video that shows you how the concrete ties and rail are put in place. The road bed was raised 13 inches to accommodate for the new high speed rail line between St. Louis and Chicago. There are only two of these track laying machines in the world; this one here, and one in Europe.
THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH. The train actually lays its own tracks.
http://www.wimp.com/traintrack/
You can find a link to the actual grant application below. For some reason couldn't copy text off the pdf format provided. Its pretty interesting to note that the application was for equipment on 8 corridors total - One in Wisconsin (CHI to Milwaukee), One in Missouri (River Runner), Three in Michigan (including CHI to Pontiac), and Two in Illinois, and One for the proposed CHI to Iowa City Corridor. The proposal did not include Chicago to STL.quincunx wrote:Weren't there passenger cars and locos to be ordered as a part of the first $1.1B that Illinois got? I wonder how far along that is and whether the announcement today will be an extension of that order.
The Missouri River Runner request included three non electric locomotives (Diesel) and 12 coaches - 9 bi-levels and 3 business/cafe cars for estimated cost of $91,065,000.
What wasn't clear is the priority of corridors other then Il DOT was lead on grant application. It would be nice to see Missouri get at least one new trainset out of this grant, bi-level would giver the River Runner some more capacity. Another note, rather long timeline with actual award to build engines and cars not til 2013 and completion of ful order until 2017. I'm sure that timeline can be improved upon.
http://www.idothsr.org/pdf/IL_Nxt_Gen_E ... cation.pdf
http://www.wimp.com/traintrack/
For the record: that video is actually from Belgium. I am sure they're using similar equipment here.
For the record: that video is actually from Belgium. I am sure they're using similar equipment here.
I'm not sure if this has already been announced, or if it's in conjunction with other investments in the River Runner corridor, but it looks like Union Pacific will be spending $29 million on maintenance/upgrades between Morrison (near Gasconade) and St. Louis.
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/n ... p?id=26471
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/n ... p?id=26471
It is part of the River Runner corridor or you could say River Runner is on UP's freight corrider between KC and STL. However, its not in conjunction with planned River Runner investments even though it helps to have new welded rail to maintain or improve train speeds.wabash wrote:I'm not sure if this has already been announced, or if it's in conjunction with other investments in the River Runner corridor, but it looks like Union Pacific will be spending $29 million on maintenance/upgrades between Morrison (near Gasconade) and St. Louis.
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/n ... p?id=26471
I believe the planned investments and what was submitted inclued siding extensions, third lead track through Jeff City (much like a new lead track out the STL intermodal station to avoid River Runner going through the downtown yard), and grade extensions. In other word, double tracking and grade separation. Both pig pluses for UP and Amtrak as any chance for 110 mph speeds with freight trains on the same line requires both.
The other planned investment, which was a new twist, was the request to the replace Merchant Bridge spans to re-route Amtrak full time and relieve congestion on the favored route across the Mississippi. With the engineering funding I think this might be a possibility in the future if more FED money can ever be appropriated.
A new study is out from the Midwest High Speed Rail Association. Some interesting stuff.
http://www.midwesthsr.org/2011-economic-study
They estimate it would cost $15.9 billion for 220mph rail between here and Chicago. They would like to expand the study next to see the economic benefits for others cities than Chicago.
http://www.midwesthsr.org/2011-economic-study
They estimate it would cost $15.9 billion for 220mph rail between here and Chicago. They would like to expand the study next to see the economic benefits for others cities than Chicago.
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Driving to and from Chicago last weekend, I saw one of the track-laying trains while driving along 55. Heading up, I saw a train with a few dozen flat-bed cars carrying cement beams/trusses (on which the actual track is laid), and with that funky mini-crane on top of them. The beams/trusses were stacked in rows of about a dozen, four or five layers high. Sunday afternoon on the way back, I saw the same train further down their line, only with most all of the cars now empty of beams/trusses.
Progress.
For the curious, it was about two hours (at a good speed) outside of the Loop in Downtown Chicago, somewhere past Dwight, and amidst one of the many windmill farms right along the highway.
Progress.
For the curious, it was about two hours (at a good speed) outside of the Loop in Downtown Chicago, somewhere past Dwight, and amidst one of the many windmill farms right along the highway.
