FRA Releases Details of $2.5 Billion

[Ben]

http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/downloads/Summary_of_FY10_Selected_Projects_1010.pdf

Note the funding for CA to purchase 6 locomotives and 40 railcars! Would CA give back the 7 Superliners to Amtrak? The summary states that it would be for the San Joaquins and Surfliners, but I'm sure there could be enough equipment to start Coast Daylight service SF - LA and LA to Las Vegas service as well (in conjunction with Nevada).

 

[Eric S]

It's my understanding that California (Caltrans) funded the restoration of those Superliners, so they're essentially Caltrans' cars now, not Amtrak's.

 

[bretton88]

According to my contacts at Caltrans, legally the superliners still belong to Amtrak. Caltrans designated them for use in California as a condition of the refurbishment. My friend said he would have to check to see if there was a timeline attached to that. If not, Amtrak can in theory pull them from service at any time. The superliners are only seen as a temporary "fix" until the new rolling stock comes in anyways. The plan was never to have them become permanent.

 

[MikefromCrete]

http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/downloads/Summary_of_FY10_Selected_Projects_1010.pdf

Note the funding for CA to purchase 6 locomotives and 40 railcars! Would CA give back the 7 Superliners to Amtrak? The summary states that it would be for the San Joaquins and Surfliners, but I'm sure there could be enough equipment to start Coast Daylight service SF - LA and LA to Las Vegas service as well (in conjunction with Nevada).

At a meeting of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association last spring, a representative of the California high speed project said the Indian casinos in California have enough clout to make it impossible for California to pay for any service to Las Vegas.

 

[eagle628]

http://www.fra.dot.g...ojects_1010.pdf

Note the funding for CA to purchase 6 locomotives and 40 railcars! Would CA give back the 7 Superliners to Amtrak? The summary states that it would be for the San Joaquins and Surfliners, but I'm sure there could be enough equipment to start Coast Daylight service SF - LA and LA to Las Vegas service as well (in conjunction with Nevada).

At a meeting of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association last spring, a representative of the California high speed project said the Indian casinos in California have enough clout to make it impossible for California to pay for any service to Las Vegas.

So goes the bureaucratic mentality...

 

[bretton88]

Though Caltrans does want to start service to Reno. The problem is the UP has said they don't want anymore passenger trains over Donner Pass.

 

[rile42]

Am I missing something. Wasn't the proposed 3-C corridor in Ohio to be part of that spending? If so, I didn't see it anywhere.

 

[Eric S]

Am I missing something. Wasn't the proposed 3-C corridor in Ohio to be part of that spending? If so, I didn't see it anywhere.

It received $400 million from the $10 billion in ARRA rail grants awarded in 2009. The grants announced this week are from the $2.5 billion in rail grants in the FY2010 federal budget.

 

[afigg]

Am I missing something. Wasn't the proposed 3-C corridor in Ohio to be part of that spending? If so, I didn't see it anywhere.

It received $400 million from the $10 billion in ARRA rail grants awarded in 2009. The grants announced this week are from the $2.5 billion in rail grants in the FY2010 federal budget.

If I may correct the numbers and dates, the $400 miilion for the 3C corridor was from the $8 billion in FY09 HSIPR stimulus, aka ARRA, announced on January 28, 2010. Detailed breakdowns of the applications and awards can be found at http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/passenger/2243.shtml.

 

[Eric S]

Am I missing something. Wasn't the proposed 3-C corridor in Ohio to be part of that spending? If so, I didn't see it anywhere.

It received $400 million from the $10 billion in ARRA rail grants awarded in 2009. The grants announced this week are from the $2.5 billion in rail grants in the FY2010 federal budget.

If I may correct the numbers and dates, the $400 miilion for the 3C corridor was from the $8 billion in FY09 HSIPR stimulus, aka ARRA, announced on January 28, 2010. Detailed breakdowns of the applications and awards can be found at http://www.fra.dot.g...ger/2243.shtml.

Yep, you're right. Somehow I added $8 billion and $2.5 billion and came up with $10 billion, the whole time still thinking $8. And, of course, I had forgotten the $8 billion was not awarded until early 2010.

 

[sportbiker]

According to my contacts at Caltrans, legally the superliners still belong to Amtrak. Caltrans designated them for use in California as a condition of the refurbishment. My friend said he would have to check to see if there was a timeline attached to that. If not, Amtrak can in theory pull them from service at any time. The superliners are only seen as a temporary "fix" until the new rolling stock comes in anyways. The plan was never to have them become permanent.

I seem to remember reading the CA Superliners are guaranteed to CA for five years.