Chicago - Columbus - Pittsburgh was derailed by hyperloop hype the last round. Let's hope that is dead and buried.
Not one, but two hyperloops in the thing I quoted! Reminds me of the hype over the Foxconn plant in Wisconsin.Chicago - Columbus - Pittsburgh was derailed by hyperloop hype the last round. Let's hope that is dead and buried.
I saw this article a few days ago and loved it.Here is an excellent article from Cleveland.com. What Ohio can learn from Michigan Amtrak Service.
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024...michigan-when-it-comes-to-amtrak-service.html
You're not the first one to think of this.It seems none of the plans talk about what seems to me to be an obvious route: a daytime Cleveland - Chicago train which would also serve Toledo, Elkhart and South Bend as well as other towns, at a more reasonable time than the LSL or Capitol/Floridian. It would take about 6 hours. The drive is 5 hours and change nor considering traffic, so I think the train would be competitive considering 5+ hours and dealing with traffic vs sitting back relaxing for a little longer time.
With multiple people traveling I'm stopping almost hourly for someone to use the restroom anyways. I'd take a train all the time if it was available.It seems none of the plans talk about what seems to me to be an obvious route: a daytime Cleveland - Chicago train which would also serve Toledo, Elkhart and South Bend as well as other towns, at a more reasonable time than the LSL or Capitol/Floridian. It would take about 6 hours. The drive is 5 hours and change nor considering traffic, so I think the train would be competitive considering 5+ hours and dealing with traffic vs sitting back relaxing for a little longer time.
Ohio would have to fund (or get a grant) for the portion across northern Indiana. Indiana almost certainly would not kick anything in. The "3C" solves the potential political problem of state funds being spent for service in a different state.It seems none of the plans talk about what seems to me to be an obvious route: a daytime Cleveland - Chicago train which would also serve Toledo, Elkhart and South Bend as well as other towns, at a more reasonable time than the LSL or Capitol/Floridian. It would take about 6 hours. The drive is 5 hours and change nor considering traffic, so I think the train would be competitive considering 5+ hours and dealing with traffic vs sitting back relaxing for a little longer time.
I agree, the fact that Indiana is involved probably dooms it. At best it would be a situation like the Downeaster where Maine essentially subsidizes service that NH gets for free.Ohio would have to fund (or get a grant) for the portion across northern Indiana. Indiana almost certainly would not kick anything in. The "3C" solves the potential political problem of state funds being spent for service in a different state.
Perhaps after Ohio gets the service and likes it, it can more easily expend money for service which benefits Indiana.
Why should that doom it? The state of Michigan funds trains that pass through Indiana without any subsidy from Indiana, and it seems to be working.I agree, the fact that Indiana is involved probably dooms it.
Yes if they are LD trains like the Lakeshore Corridor Proposal then they would be funded by Amtrak. A Cleveland - Chicago train would only be 341 miles so would come under the state supported category, so either Ohio would have to pay the whole thing or get Indiana to pony up.Anyway, why do these have to be state-supported trains? The Hugh Speed Rail Alliance's Lakeshore Corridor proposal involves two new long distance New York - Chicago trains that also happen to provide good daylight service on the Cleveland -Toldeo-Chicago Corridor. They also provide some Toledo-Cleveland-Buffalo (and even Albany) service at reasonable calling times. Just because Indiana might get a "free ride" for people wishing to travel to or from South Bend doesn't mean that all of the other users should "cut their nose to spite their face" and oppose service between Chicago and Ohio.
What is the northern leg of the Empire Builder? Do you mean Southern leg through Billings?Detroit is cut off from the east unless you take the Thruway bus from Toledo.
The FRA LD Study, has one solution, as of Meeting 4: New Orleans - Nashville - Cincinnati - Columbus - Toledo - Detroit.
Amtrak Corridor ID has a state-supported train: Cleveland - Toledo - Detroit. Ohio took the free $500k grant for a preliminary study. After that the state would have to pay an increasing percentage.
The two trains that stop in Toledo, the Lake Shore and the Capitol Ltd., were not selected for increased frequency by Corridor ID, so the FRA LD Study also did not consider them. (The only LD plans that made it from Corridor ID to the FRA LD Study were a daily Cardinal, a daily Sunset Ltd. and restarting the northern leg of the Empire Builder.)
The upshot is frequency did not get much priority in these plans. As for the network, important short connections were left to state-funded trains, or less reliable, and less likely to be frequent, LD trains. At least in some areas. Denver would be a contrast I guess.
One other LD Study train crosses Ohio: DFW - Indianapolis - Pittsburgh - NYC.
Two other Corridor ID trains cross Ohio. The famous 3C+D received the $500K, Cleveland - Cincinnati. And the Midwest Connect, Chicago - Ft. Wayne - Columbus - Pittsburgh did too. But the sponsor for that grant was not a state, it was the city of Ft. Wayne, with organization by the Northern Indiana Rail Passenger Association.
Which never was the Empire Builder and not a "southern leg" of anything. The ex-NP route through southern Montana was operated as the North Coast Hiawatha under Amtrak.What is the northern leg of the Empire Builder? Do you mean Southern leg through Billings?
Any idea what the northern route was then?Which never was the Empire Builder and not a "southern leg" of anything. The ex-NP route through southern Montana was operated as the North Coast Hiawatha under Amtrak.
Not a clue. Perhaps the MSP-Duluth Northstar? Which was not a "leg" of the Builder, either.Any idea what the northern route was then?
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