California HSR

[crescent-zephyr]

The cheaper way would have been the 90s plan to run at 110mph down the coast.

On what right of way and to where? Little confused on this.

 

[GDRRiley]

On what right of way and to where? Little confused on this.

SP coast line which may have gotten bought by the state, SF/Oakland to LA and eventually to SD.
Lots of realignment work along with likely ITCS would have been used.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

So the existing Coast Starlight route?

 

[GDRRiley]

So the existing Coast Starlight route?

Yes

 

[cirdan]

SP coast line which may have gotten bought by the state, SF/Oakland to LA and eventually to SD.
Lots of realignment work along with likely ITCS would have been used.

Would SP have been willing to sell for a reasonable and fair price?

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Yes

Well that's at about 11 hours for the Starlight with an average speed around 40 mph.
Could they actually get the average speed on that route up to 80?

 

[GDRRiley]

Would SP have been willing to sell for a reasonable and fair price?

SP had offered it up, thats how LA metro and VCTC bought their segments

Well that's at about 11 hours for the Starlight with an average speed around 40 mph.
Could they actually get the average speed on that route up to 80?

|
Focusing on just the SJ-LA segment this is estimating 8.5 hours vs the 10-11 it takes now. Alt 5 (likely at 90mph) or alt 7 were probably most likely given the state was investing in California and later Surfliner cars. 7.5 hours would be ~50mph.

 

[George Harris]

Would SP have been willing to sell for a reasonable and fair price?

Highly unlikely. The experience of dealing with SP then UP was a significant factor in choosing that the HSR parallel the BNSF where practical, despite the ex SP route being in general straighter and better serving the city centers.

 

[eldomtom2]

Something that most people have probably missed is this recent planning document for the Merced station that includes the proposed timetables for the San Joaquins/ACE connecting trains: https://cdn.sjjpa.com/wp-content/uploads/20240716202402/App2.0-3_MITC-Ridership-Memo.pdf