Other People's Rail: Amtrak, commuter rail, rapid transit news & views outside New England

[BosMaineiac]

STREETSBLOG EXCLUSIVE: Andy Byford to Join Amtrak - Streetsblog New York City

Andy Byford — the beloved former head of the MTA's buses and subways division — will join Amtrak next month as an executive vice president.

nyc.streetsblog.org

While it’s unfortunate for us that the T couldn’t land Train Daddy as new GM, I’m excited that Andy will join Amtrak leading the high-speed rail development. This is a great move

 

[stick n move]

What Amtrak high speed train development?

 

[BosMaineiac]

What Amtrak high speed train development?

It’s a new position so we’ll see what gets developed

 

[dhawkins]

Not Amtrak high speed rail- North Atlantic (high speed) Rail. Is this a recent development to attract investors??
Secret NYC
North Atlantic Rail site

 

[stick n move]

New Brightline West station renderings

Las Vegas station

Rancho Cucamonga

https://www.reviewjournal.com/local...as-high-speed-train-station-revealed-2765817/

Link

 

[HenryAlan]

Rancho Cucamonga

I like the design here, for the MetroLink transfer station. But every single time that I think about this, I have to ask, why don't they simply electrify the San Bernardino line and run their trains all the way to LA Union Passenger Terminal? Sure, the last 40 miles would not be HSR, but so what? One seat from downtown LA to the Strip is a huge selling point.

 

[bdurden]

A look at the Brightline Orlando airport station - expected to begin service to South Florida within 60-90 days:

 

[Arlington]

I like the design here, for the MetroLink transfer station. But every single time that I think about this, I have to ask, why don't they simply electrify the San Bernardino line and run their trains all the way to LA Union Passenger Terminal? Sure, the last 40 miles would not be HSR, but so what? One seat from downtown LA to the Strip is a huge selling point.

I don't think electrifying the San Bernadino line is a "simply" Apparently the line is mostly single-track. They clearly wanted a full rail-to-LAUPT, but apparently have they decided they can launch from Rancho Cucamonga and figure out later how to get others to build the expensive last-rail-mile either via Palmdale or Metrolink

 

[bigeman312]

A look at the Brightline Orlando airport station - expected to begin service to South Florida within 60-90 days:

I rode this from Miami to Fort Lauderdale last month and it blew away every rail experience I've had in this country, and I have extensive experience as a rider of various systems around the country.

When the Orlando extension opens, it will be 3 hours by rail between Orlando and Miami, compared to ~5.5 for Amtrak and 3.5 hours to drive without traffic.

 

[cneal]

I don't think electrifying the San Bernadino line is a "simply" Apparently the line is mostly single-track. They clearly wanted a full rail-to-LAUPT, but apparently have they decided they can launch from Rancho Cucamonga and figure out later how to get others to build the expensive last-rail-mile either via Palmdale or Metrolink

California just funded early design for a new high-speed rail link from Palmdale to Victor Valley to connect the two systems:

High Desert Corridor Intercity High-speed Rail Corridor Project Awarded $8 Million Grant from California State Transportation Agency - High Desert Corridor JPA

highdesertcorridor.org

Better still, this HSR project will replace what had once been planned as a freeway:

High Desert Corridor - Public Works

*Information regarding the new successor High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Agency can be found at www.highdesertcorridor.org High Desert Corridor The County of San Bernardino, County of Los Angeles, and the...

dpw.sbcounty.gov

 

[Nexis4jersey]

I don't think electrifying the San Bernadino line is a "simply" Apparently the line is mostly single-track. They clearly wanted a full rail-to-LAUPT, but apparently have they decided they can launch from Rancho Cucamonga and figure out later how to get others to build the expensive last-rail-mile either via Palmdale or Metrolink

It's in a freeway row but how hard would it be to demolish that median and add a second track? I feel like that would be easier than the high desert corridor + tunneled route.

 

[JeffDowntown]

It's in a freeway row but how hard would it be to demolish that median and add a second track? I feel like that would be easier than the high desert corridor + tunneled route.

Freeway ROW allow typically up to 6% grade. High Speed Rail usually tries to come in under 2% grade. So you are going to have many sections of the highway ROW where the grade is too steep and needs to be (massively) leveled.

Highway ROW does not equal HSR ROW.

 

[HenryAlan]

Freeway ROW allow typically up to 6% grade. High Speed Rail usually tries to come in under 2% grade. So you are going to have many sections of the highway ROW where the grade is too steep and needs to be (massively) leveled.

Highway ROW does not equal HSR ROW.

But in this case, we are talking about a highway ROW that is already also a railroad ROW. If you aren't that familiar with the area, you might not know this, but the section of the San Bernardino line that follows a freeway median is extremely flat. The freeway was built on the train ROW, not the other way around, so the geometry already works for rail. There is one flying junction approaching Union Station, and that's it. I don't know the grade for that junction, but at that point, the train is practically at the terminal, so probably not a big deal to take it more slowly if need be.

 

[JeffDowntown]

But in this case, we are talking about a highway ROW that is already also a railroad ROW. If you aren't that familiar with the area, you might not know this, but the section of the San Bernardino line that follows a freeway median is extremely flat. The freeway was built on the train ROW, not the other way around, so the geometry already works for rail. There is one flying junction approaching Union Station, and that's it. I don't know the grade for that junction, but at that point, the train is practically at the terminal, so probably not a big deal to take it more slowly if need be.

Got it -- that could work then.

 

[Nexis4jersey]

It looks like this...

 

[Highwayguy]

It looks like this...

Wow. That makes the pike stretch thru Newton look borderline progressive…

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

Wow. That makes the pike stretch thru Newton look borderline progressive…

It goes on for 11 miles like that. Single-track with one single passing siding, and only 1 station (Cal State L.A.). From right outside the Union Station terminal district through some of the densest neighborhoods of L.A. Which would be akin to today's Worcester Line (never mind a densified Worcester Line with additional infills and Regional Rail service levels) having no stops between South Station and Wellesley Farms except for 1 spacer right over the Newton city line. Although to be fair, it's not a Pike+B&A analogue. The ROW here is a former streetcar interurban that was abandoned then had its roadbed nuked from orbit to build I-10, then had rail re-shivved onto it 4 decades after abandonment when Metrolink was stringing together the San Bernardino Line for its 1992 opening. And there are Metro bus routes running on the centermost toll/busway lanes of the interstate providing *some* (albeit uninviting) local public transit there. They manage 17 daily round-trips on all that single track, but it's capacity-unexpandable without deleting highway lanes and basically impossible to densify with any infills. So it's always going to be dystopian, even if unintentionally so.

 

[ceo]

Although, that single track down the middle of the highway does occasionally provide for awesome sights like this one.

 

[Koopzilla24]

Not sure if this is the correct thread for this but there was Amtrak P42 locomotive #109 parked at Readville today. Anyone have any idea why?

 

[Riverside]

Not sure if this is the correct thread for this but there was Amtrak P42 locomotive #109 parked at Readville today. Anyone have any idea why?

View attachment 37833

There was some sort of collision between two Amtrak MoW (?) equipment on the NEC near Readville earlier today. 5 people non-critically injured. I assume it’s related?