urbanSTL

I know that there is the slim chance of the Feds, or even a majority of the states doing this, but France announced an ambitious 100 Billion Euro (about $118 Billion USD) post coronavirus infrastructure plan. $30 Billion of this will go towards sustainable energy and transport. 11 Billion Euros go to transport expansion 4.7 Billion to rail improvements) in their country.

I would think that if the US could do something like this, only on a much larger level, that we could finally start improving the train networks. Like create high speed rail or something like that by providing Amtrak, or new operators, the money to build rail lines between major cities. Instead of bailing out companies with hundreds of billions of dollars in a stimulus, I think it would be wise to pass an infrastructure stimulus that maintains what we have and sets our sights on a high speed rail network. 

I know, I'm crazy for thinking this will happen in our country. Both the Republican and Democratic parties clearly don't give a sh*t because if they did, we would be talking about an infrastructure stimulus than the one that bailed out large companies and are still laying people off. But I do think that this would be a good way to get people back to work on rebuilding the infrastructure that connects and built America.

https://www.theb1m.com/article/france-a ... cture-plan

^ Sad to say but US could easily spend a trillion or two just getting its current infrastructure back to par with rest of Europe and Southeast Asia.   Heck, we can't even figure out how to replace two outdated rail tunnels, one under the Hudson River and the other under Baltimore, in one of the worlds busies rail corridors.   I think they are finally moving forward with at least one New Jersey rail bridge replacement on northeast corridor and even then it is status quo with no capacity gains.  In the meantime, Cali HSR dream won't really happen until a new tunnels are somehow funded

Not that I agree with many of the provisions, but the Green New Deal was the closest thing to a large infrastructure improvement package that even got some media attention in the last year or so.

Springfield IL received another federal grant as it progresses forward with its corridor improvement project.   As noted previously in the thread, too bad Illinois can't be same effort forward from Alton to downtown St. Louis.  

https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200918/spri ... il-project

kipfilet wrote:Not that I agree with many of the provisions, but the Green New Deal was the closest thing to a large infrastructure improvement package that even got some media attention in the last year or so.

Our KC congressional delegation seems to believe a large infrastructure package is coming this fall. Would be nice if it came true but I can see both sides getting wrapped up with the Supreme Court battle instead.

It'll be nice to have a new station with a proper platform, but the 3rd street station has the better location. I will miss it. Seems like there was other lower hanging fruit that $315M could have addressed along the line.

When will the early departure for the Missouri River Runner be reinstated?

How come there isn't one of these in STL? Make it happen Symphonicpoet!

The railfan clubhouse in Pacific would be a logical spot. Down at the Poplar Street Interlocking would be a great one, if the TRRA would consent to it. Or Valley Junction. Search me why we don't have one. There's a fellow with a railfan viewing platform in Dupo. The Big Bend O-Scale Club might be another possibility. Or the Museum of Transport. I expect donations and a willing host would go a long way. Not really familiar with webcam hosting generally, but if it became popular enough I can see how it might soak up a lot of bandwidth, and bandwidth can get expensive fast.

symphonicpoet wrote:The railfan clubhouse in Pacific would be a logical spot. Down at the Poplar Street Interlocking would be a great one, if the TRRA would consent to it. Or Valley Junction. Search me why we don't have one. There's a fellow with a railfan viewing platform in Dupo. The Big Bend O-Scale Club might be another possibility. Or the Museum of Transport. I expect donations and a willing host would go a long way. Not really familiar with webcam hosting generally, but if it became popular enough I can see how it might soak up a lot of bandwidth, and bandwidth can get expensive fast.

You just need a device and connection capable of streaming on YouTube. Popularity is not a factor BC viewers are going through YouTube’s servers.

symphonicpoet wrote: ↑

Nov 09, 2020

The railfan clubhouse in Pacific would be a logical spot. Down at the Poplar Street Interlocking would be a great one, if the TRRA would consent to it. Or Valley Junction. Search me why we don't have one. There's a fellow with a railfan viewing platform in Dupo. The Big Bend O-Scale Club might be another possibility. Or the Museum of Transport. I expect donations and a willing host would go a long way. Not really familiar with webcam hosting generally, but if it became popular enough I can see how it might soak up a lot of bandwidth, and bandwidth can get expensive fast.

I could potentially put a livestream camera up in the 3rd floor backside window of 900 South 4th Street and stream trains crossing the bridge. The building is equipped with internet, so it makes it easier. Only issue is that we have a guy living there now so that would cause some problems.

Could you just put it on the roof instead?  I'd imagine a simple Nest camera would work, and they're made to be outside in the elements.

^The place do to it would really be the roof of 740 S. 7th, since it's right there in the middle of the Gratiot interlocking. (Across the street from where the tower was.) Or the Birdhouse Takeout. But with a long enough zoom you might be able to get a similar view from the top of 900 S. 4th. That interlocking feeds the MacArthur and the High Line under the Arch. Ideally a three camera rig would be great: one pointed west at Gratiot and 7th, one east at the MacArthur, and one northeastish past St. Mary of Victories. Would work best from the high roof with a long lens, if you have good access. That should get you neat views of all the traffic through there. I'd be happy to help get equipment for such an endeavor. Might be able to find other donors as well.

What about the "high speed" line between STL and Chicago?

kipfilet wrote: ↑

Jan 21, 2021

What about the "high speed" line between STL and Chicago?

I believe they have some shovel ready projects to go including some more strategic double tracking and Springfield has received some recent funding to push through some of their plan improvements/reroute.   But also believe IDOT/Amtrak have been struggling to get PTC implemented just to get train speeds from 79 mph to 90 mph let alone 110.  Believe the PTC implementation needs to resolve itself and who knows how far behind they are on that.   Idot's website has some info but not as much as I hoped 

https://www.idothsr.org/about/where_now.aspx

http://springfieldrailroad.com/newsite/

In terms of rail for Midwest, I can see Chicago CREATE program getting some more funding and maybe smaller capital projects for the Lincoln Service corridor as well as some of the Amtrak owned rail for the Wolverine corridor between Chicago and Detroit.  Expanded Hiawatha capacity between Chicago and Milwaukee would be a shoe in if it wasn't for the strong nymbism from Chicago northside communities who are fighting capacity/doubling tracking hard.   Not sure if MN and WI have enough in place to get funds for capital improvements desired for increased Empire Builder Service between Chicago and Twin Cities.   I think true Midwest HSR is pretty much pipe dream but any projects getting funds would have to be seen as a plus as far as Amtrak is concerned.    

I think the big bucks in rail if an infrastructure bill is passed will go to the new Hudson River Tunnel/Baltimore tunnel upgrade for Northeast Corridor, another federal round of Cali HSR, and for the rail corridor leaving DC into Virginia/North Carolina (S line purchase and upgrades).   Wouldn't be surprised if somehow Brightline in FL and or Texas Central get some funds and low interest fed loads.   Brightline getting a grant to extend its new Orlando/Orlando Airport rail line west to Tampa and or if Texas Central gets some kind of Fed low interest loan to help kick off construction of its proposed private HSR line between Dallas and Houston.  Brightline is also in negotiating with local commuter SunRail to share some new track with.   So an avenue for Federal funds to compliment an existing private passenger rail program

Nextstl - A Passenger Rail Network for St. Louis For Real This Time

https://nextstl.com/2021/01/a-passenger ... this-time/

^I like the way they think.

I think a high speed route connecting KC-STL-Chicago is the best way to go. 110% the best way to go.

Honestly, just get Brightline up here and over here. They’re doing good things in South Florida and are setting sail on a 200mph route connecting South California (Los Angeles) to Las Vegas by way of the I-15 corridor. So, I think running a high speed line like that along the I-70 and I-55 corridors would go good for the three cities in targeting. Have stops in...
- Kansas City Union Station
- Columbia Missouri
- Downtown STL/Gateway Station
- Springfield Illinois
- Bloomington-Normal Illinois
- Chicago Union Station

I’d much prefer this over the slow going Amtrak River Runner and Lincoln Route. It would cost a lot but I think it would be extremely beneficial. Amtrak really needs to be overhauled. New rail cars, which I’m looking forward to, and new locomotives helps improve the public image. But when you’re just cruising along and can get somewhere faster by flying or driving, it’s really not an ideal mode of transportation for folks like us in the Midwest unless you want the laidback experience of it. Not all people want that though.

And I understand a lot of this falls on the individual states, and their politics, since funding and what not causes problems or successes. I understand Illinois would probably be more willing to do true high speed between STL and Chicago, but at the same time, the situation with 110mph Amtrak is a cluster-F, so I don’t count on them much. Missouri just doesn’t seem interested in rail anyway.

But if you get a private enterprise in there like Brightline, both Missouri and Illinois would probably beg for a line like I outlined. When the state has to put up minimal, if any, money, why would they complain? I know I wouldn’t.

By the way, I would keep the River Runner and Lincoln Service as a laid back alternative to the high speed lines. Service may be reduced as a result, but I think some people would like a train ride like that every once in a while.

Brightline West Fact Sheet: https://secureservercdn.net/50.62.195.8 ... 152020.pdf

The reason I didn't draw a route heading SW was MoLeg.

Outside of the East Coast, our entire rail mentality has been to stop at way too many smaller towns.  Express trains are the answer.  Higher speeds mixed with too many stops doesn't get you where you need to be.  I agree a dedicated line needs to be constructed  CHI-STL-KC.  Free of freight restrictions.  Public-private partnership makes sense (money to be made).  Keep the slow-local in reduced frequency as Chris suggested (with Federal support needed).

Amtrak Midwest has started testing the new "Venture" Rail Cars up in Michigan.





Photos from Railfan and Railroad Magazine on Twitter: https://twitter.com/railfanmag and MDOT Rail on Twitter.

Video...

Here is an update. PTC was the most significant delay. So I actually trust this new date.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk