Amtrak Line Plans FY20-25 Released

[jis]

It’s too bad Amtrak didn’t recently acquire 25 sleepers and 10 dorm cars without a commensurate increase in the length of eastern train consists.

Afer that we can talk about shortage of single level Coaches

Of course if we cut all trains down to five cars we can run lots of trains and charge premium fares for everything due demand far outstripping supply too.

 

[Seaboard92]

Amtrak Beech Grove can probably turn out many rebuilt Superliners.

I was just there this week actually. There are quite a few Superliners sitting in Beech Grove currently in various stages of condition. On the far track against the property line on the east side is an entire track of about eight or nine cars that are out of service. Most have the 1990s (pre blue) interior, TVs in the lounges, original "Superliner" lettering, and one car is even in Phase III still. So there are still a few cars they could outshop if there was a desire to do so. Then two tracks over is a cut of heritage, horizon, and superliners that have been sold off that are preparing to move out this week or next.

 

[Trogdor]

Afer that we can talk about shortage of single level Coaches

Of course if we cut all trains down to five cars we can run lots of trains and charge premium fares for everything due demand far outstripping supply too.

It’s too bad several states didn’t place an order for new railcars that will replace Amtrak-owned equipment on routes such as the Illinois corridors. Something like that could have freed up a bunch of single-level coaches and cafes.

 

[nti1094]

That wasn't it, it was definitely Nashville Chattanooga (maybe Atlanta). I'd have to search for the thread.

I seem to recall talk of extending either the Illini or Saluki from Carbondale to Memphis.

 

[jis]

I seem to recall talk of extending either the Illini or Saluki from Carbondale to Memphis.

There was that too. But that was different from the off the cuff Nashville etc. remark from the Amtrak boss at one point.

 

[ShiningTimeStL]

I seem to recall talk of extending either the Illini or Saluki from Carbondale to Memphis.

FFS why can't Missouri get its act together already and add more trains? We need STL - MEM and STL - Springfield. That bus bridge to CONO really doesn't cut it. I really have to hand it to Illinois for their incredible level of service. Almost makes me want to live there...

 

[IndyLions]

FFS why can't Missouri get its act together already and add more trains? We need STL - MEM and STL - Springfield. That bus bridge to CONO really doesn't cut it. I really have to hand it to Illinois for their incredible level of service. Almost makes me want to live there...

Probably for the same reason that very few other states have their act together either. Most states do very little (or no) transportation expansion of any form unless they can get the feds to fund the majority of it.

How do you think the interstates got built initially? Not by each individual state taking the initiative to build their section out of their own funding.

 

[west point]

Every thing you ever wanted to know about federal financing and more. First started in 1916 for the US highway system.

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R45727.pdf

 

[railiner]

How do you think the interstates got built initially? Not by each individual state taking the initiative to build their section out of their own funding.

In a way, you could say that they did do just that...
The granddaddy of the US Interstates was the Pennsylvania Turnpike, first section opened in 1940. I don't believe a single federal dollar was spent on it, funds were raised by bonds. The same with the rest of the toll roads that were built prior to the Interstate Highway act in 1956. Later, many Interstates were routed over these pioneer super highways, and then some federal funding was involved.

 

[me_little_me]

In a way, you could say that they did do just that...
The granddaddy of the US Interstates was the Pennsylvania Turnpike, first section opened in 1940.

Pennsylvania Turnpike a Interstate? That would have been an oxymoron when it was built.

Now toll roads that get federal funding are just states being moneygrabbers.

 

[railiner]

Pennsylvania Turnpike a Interstate? That would have been an oxymoron when it was built.

Why do you say that?
It is totally grade separated from any cross roads, it has a divider its entire length, it has engineering to allow high speeds, low grades, gradual curves, on and off ramps, etc...
It may not be up to the highest modern standards, but it has been improved over much of its length.
And...it is Interstate 76, or other numbers, over its length...

 

[tricia]

Why do you say that?
It is totally grade separated from any cross roads, it has a divider its entire length, it has engineering to allow high speeds, low grades, gradual curves, on and off ramps, etc...
It may not be up to the highest modern standards, but it has been improved over much of its length.
And...it is Interstate 76, or other numbers, over its length...

It was built before the national interstate highway system, as a state highway.

 

[railiner]

It was built before the national interstate highway system, as a state highway.

Yes it was...It opened 16 years prior to the Interstate Highway act, as I stated above, earlier. But it was a 'model' for what would come....

 

[west point]

Oe thing I like about the Pa turnpike is: All the spoil, rebuilding , repaving material has been put over the side of the road making many more spot rest areas.

 

[me_little_me]

Why do you say that?
It is totally grade separated from any cross roads, it has a divider its entire length, it has engineering to allow high speeds, low grades, gradual curves, on and off ramps, etc...
It may not be up to the highest modern standards, but it has been improved over much of its length.
And...it is Interstate 76, or other numbers, over its length...

It was a PENNSYLVANIA road when it was built and did not go interstate.

 

[west point]

Seem to recalllat some posters have mentioned that the turnpike used some of the competing ROW that NYC ( New York Central ) started to build but abandoned ?

 

[railiner]

Seem to recalllat some posters have mentioned that the turnpike used some of the competing ROW that NYC ( New York Central ) started to build but abandoned ?

Here is the story...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pennsylvania_Railroad

 

[Railroad Bill]

Hello Fellow AUers.
As much as I enjoy discussions of railroad history and especially the old South Penn line, we need to move this thread back to its original intent of Amtrak's future. Let's conclude our PA Turnpike posts and move it back down the line. Thanks