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FRA-led Regional studies in SW, SE, & MW found that HSR could be expected to operate at a profit (i.e. but not pay off construction costs) in a fair number of corridors (including LA-Phoenix, the Chicago hub routes, Atlanta-Orlando, and Atlanta-Charlotte). Chicago-Orlando would probably qualify...

There really needs to be a publicly owned, passenger-only HSR route Chicago to St. Louis.

The thing to keep in mind about railroads in China is that they were desperately short on capacity. So in most cases straight, electrified routes were built for passenger trains to get out of the way of the freight trains. A win/win. They have probably now overdone HSR construction. The U.S...

I assume that this is due to the start of construction on the project to open up the concourse, as recommended in the CUS Master Plan. The old ticket office and various other stuff will be removed, enabling people to see through from the north track gates to the south track gates for the first...

Does anyone know how long the freights UP is running are vs. length sidings on this line are?

IIRC the deal with UPRR calls for the number of trains to be capped at 5 round trips (and not all of those permitted 110 mph) until completion of double-track. That will permit 9 round trips. I have not heard anything about UP enforcing the limited number of trains at 110 lately. To get out from...

In the Brightline video presentation to High Speed Rail Alliance yesterday they said that service would start operation before 2028 LA Olympics, well before CA HSR Central Valley service. A great presentation; it should be posted shortly. Lots of great info and explanation of Brightline strategy.

I am interested in trying to compile a list of Corridor ID applications. Since there is no public "official" list I have created the attached spreadsheet showing ones that I have seen publicly reported. Do you know of any others?

This is not a correct statement. There were two stages in the Corridor ID program. Last May FRA requested "expressions of Interest"; anyone could respond. This year FRA issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under which government agencies could apply, with all selected agencies to...

Turning trains at CUS requires use of BNSF tracks as part of the wying movement. Most Amtrak trains, both long distance and regional, require turning in Chicago.

Historically, FRA has treated grant applications as classified information. These are somewhat unique so it's possible that they might treat them differently.

Amtrak should use Brightline to get from Orlando to Miami.

That's the point. Outside of the NEC there is none. The Connects US map shows more conventional service, even in corridors that the FRA regional plans found would be profitable to operate (but probably not pay back construction cost) with frequent HSR service: Chicago-Florida via Indy & ATL...

I am curious as to how many of the sleeping cars that Amtrak owns, how many are in service since the stated purpose of buying the VL2s was to do so.

RTA is primarily a funding agency. Each of the 4 have their own Board of directors. RTA doesn't like to dictate to the others.

FRA SW Regional Plan a few years ago found that LA-PHX true HSR route would be profitable. Clearly, this could not share track with freight. Logical route would follow I-10 between Coachella and Phoenix, bypassing Yuma.

Yes, that's what buying the Viewliner 2 sleepers was supposed to do. But Amtrak seems to be doing everything possible to avoid having all of the single level sleepers in service at once.

The best way to avoid having long lines of people standing for a long time waiting for trains to board would be to have actual seat assignments. The current situation reminds me of how Southwest Airlines used to work, before the current ABC system was adopted years ago. Going to the current...

I second this recommendation. I, actually, have been promoting this concept for a few years now (to Mass DOT and Officials in Worcester, with surprisingly little success. A couple of refinements: The portion from Worcester to Sturbridge (much of it alongside the Mass Pike) should be shared with...

I am thinking that a publicly-owned, passenger-only, high-speed route based on the mostly-abandoned C&NW alignment would be most effective.