urbanSTL

MODOT is asking about a third daily river runner and new MO routes in their state rail plan survey.

Also some questions about higher speed service, etc.

Link?

quincunx wrote:Link?

MoDOT Passenger Rail Open House

https://www.vpioutreach.com/public/even ... bae7221413

Adding a St Louis to Memphis to New Orleans makes a lot of sense to me and you could probably extend to Chicago and compliment the existing Crescent Chicago to New Orleans.

They have some good maps and some good ideas. And I do like they're point about "panning as though the money is there" so that when it is you have a plan ready.

^ Looks like some political support for one of Amtrak's proposed new service for Front Range which probably fits well for additional service from Denver to LA by connecting or tying into Southwest Chief.   

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/ ... ice--63438

At same time, Cali had a chance to double down on HSR with their huge budget surplus and extend it at least a litter further north to what they call the Y (split for Bay Area and future Sacramento extension).  Instead opting to exercise previously approved bonds instead which is not surprising considering the political environment.   However, still surprised they didn't put more to rail and transit.   Between Bay, LA and San Diego their is huge opportunity to strengthen and expand rail & transit service.  In Bay Area they could easily fund extension of Caltrains in San Fran to new Transbay center as well as continue to build up & fund improvements of right of way from San Jose to Gilroy.  

 https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... -spending/

Stltoday - Full Amtrak service in Missouri could get back on track later this summer

JEFFERSON CITY — While other states are restoring passenger rail service to pre-pandemic levels, it might be two to three months before Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner has two daily trains again.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/gov ... 31fd0.html

Amtrak's plan and expansion outlined in May 26 Letter to congress, $75 billion over 15 years.    Midwest corridors info/details starting on page 46 believe.   Of course, improve times on Lincoln Corridor between Chicago and St. Louis as well as another daily River Runner from KC to STL.    I haven't seen any details yet but assumed POTUS budget has a nice plus up for Amtrak but President's budgets don't mean a whole lot in the sausage making process - Found it, POTUS proposing 35% increase to Amtrak's budget as per additional link and info below.  

What it lacks IMO as most have noted is restoring STL to Memphis to New Orleans and or extending Quincy/Quads service to St Louis let alone adding anything east bound to IN & OH.   Instead, like all things Midwest for Amtrak & Illinois is the focus on expanding hub service out of Chicago Union Station with possible corridor expansions limited to Twin Cities to Duluth & Ohio 3C service because Minnesota & Ohio much more engaged.  

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/ ... lan--63613

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/ ... 7_2021.pdf

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... k-funding/

The transit funding would include $2.5 billion for Capital Investment Grants, a $459 million increase, to accelerate projects already in process and support new projects seeking approval, as well as $550 million for Transit Infrastructure Grants. Of that, $250 million will go to the Zero Emission Bus Program.

The Amtrak funding represents a 35% increase to address track and station improvements, fleet refreshment, and systemwide maintenance. Another $625 million would create a new program, Passenger Rail Improvement, Modernization and Expansion, or PRIME, grants, to develop and expand rail corridors across the nation.

I'd like to see a push made for higher speed rail in Missouri on the River Runner. Maybe build sections of track that allow passenger trains to bypass slow freight trains with speeds up to 125mph (similar to what Brightline will be in Florida). Having three round trips a day with speeds of that amount could probably help with ridership since then, ride time could be cut significantly making it more appealing than driving on I-70. 

The average speed of the River Runner is currently 50mph and takes 5.5 hours to go across the state according to Google, so even getting it up to 90mph would be a huge improvement, but 125mph should be the end goal for the best results and travel times. I like the River Runner since it's a relaxing ride, but it's a bit slow right now. With new coaches on the way, that already improves the conditions a bit, but an increase in speed is needed.

^ Get KC, Jeff City, STL, Chicago, Memphis and New Orleans Mayors on same script for Amtrak expansion and improvements you could probably argue for those type of improvements for KC to STL as well as extend the River Runner south to New Orleans.    I just think it will take the Mayors to advocate but better if could be a regional approach as both KC and STL need some help making a big lift.

It Would be nice to get Jeff City on same page as Springfield as far as expanding Amtrak goes & then you would have at least another statehouse pushing for those infrastructure dollars as GOP will  support this type of investment over a big slug of dollars say going to Cali HSR.   Undoubtly Biden has made Amtrak expansion centerpiece when it comes infrastructure/rail dollars over a true HSR corridor probably in part how many communities he touches and the political support that comes with it  

^ We'd touched a couple pages before on the concept of municipal entities creating a funding mechanism for corridor service. Does anyone have the nuts and bolts answer on how that would initiate? (Other than an awkward phone call from one mayor to another)

What Went Wrong With California's High-Speed Railway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p__teJLmY3k

aprice wrote: ↑

Feb 11, 2021

Interior of Siemens Venture for Amtrak Midwest

Look for the new rail cars to go into service beginning in August. As for when, I was told early to middle August (so first half). Here's a video of the new cars passing through Downtown at the end of April.

Would these be used for the Lincoln/Texas Eagle service to Chicago as well?

mjbais1489 wrote:Would these be used for the Lincoln/Texas Eagle service to Chicago as well?

Lincoln Service, yes. Not sure about the Texas Eagle since I thought that train used two-level rail cars.

chriss752 wrote: ↑

Jun 11, 2021

mjbais1489 wrote:Would these be used for the Lincoln/Texas Eagle service to Chicago as well?

Lincoln Service, yes. Not sure about the Texas Eagle since I thought that train used two-level rail cars.

The cars are owned by Amtrak Midwest (mostly Illinois funded with some pocket change from Missouri, Wisconsin, and Michigan) so Amtrak would not be able to use them from their long distance services such as the Texas Eagle and Southwest Chief. They will be used on the Missouri River Runner though (and of course the Lincoln Service). 

mjbais1489 wrote: ↑

Jun 11, 2021

Would these be used for the Lincoln/Texas Eagle service to Chicago as well?

Unless they have sleeping and dining cars they wouldn't even really be appropriate for long distance service. As Chris and APrice said they'll be on regional corridor service. Amtrak at least tries to offer a more premium product on the long distance routes. Per wiki the Siemens Ventures Amtrak Midwest trainsets will be coaches and cafe-coaches as per previous regional practice. Some of those coaches will be economy and others business, but it's all just chair cars and the occasional small cafe. No beds and no table service. So basically, no first class.

Illinois establishing a high speed rail commission but not sure if it will help move things along for Lincoln Service Corridor/future improvements once Feds provide some funding.   Not sure how the infrastructure bill will finally play out but I think it safe to say that Amtrak will see a boost with whatever happens.    Might have been a pretty good move on Amtrak's plan to formalize a vision that touched on a lot of places and get it out there

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/ ... ion--63746

Some speed limits on the Lincoln Service were raised today.
https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... -corridor/

90 mph is still the top speed. The 110 mph testing that was done in 2015-2017 raised several issues in the signaling systems they use (all the electronics systems that allow the locomotive to talk with the track switches and grossing gates as well as the systems that make sure trains don't get too close to each other). Schedules won't yet be adjusted. The Trains Magazine twitter account said that the goal is still to reach 110 mph. With Amtrak friendly admins in Washington and Springfield, I'm still optimistic.  

Yeah I'd been hoping that a more competent FRA under Biden would permit 110 mph speeds on the route, especially now that trains in Michigan also can travel at that speed. 

The article itself left me feeling frustrated though, with quotes like this:

To get to 110 mph, the FRA requires more reliability testing and perhaps additional technological tweaks, which will require cooperation with the Union Pacific and additional expenditures by Amtrak or Illinois.

They've been testing the track since I was a teenager and like, I'm not sure after $2 billion what other expenditures are required...

dredger wrote: ↑

May 15, 2021

Adding a St Louis to Memphis to New Orleans makes a lot of sense to me and you could probably extend to Chicago and compliment the existing Crescent Chicago to New Orleans.

Seems like the most sense would be to just run a train from StL to Carbondale so folks could catch the City of New Orleans. 

The increase to 90mph on the Lincoln Service is a start.