Rockingham Racer wrote:Matt Johnson wrote:So it's safe enough to 12 trips a day but not for 2 a day on the Southwest Chief route?
Actually, it's currently 10 trips. Twelve would kick in the need for PTC as I understand it.
No, the appropriate phrase reads "no more than 12 trains per day".
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/236.1019" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(c)Limited operations exception. FRA will consider an exception in the case of a track segment used for limited operations (operating in accordance with § 236.0 of this part) under one of the following sets of conditions:
(2) Passenger service is operated on a segment of track of a freight railroad that is not a Class I railroad on which less than 15 million gross tons of freight traffic is transported annually and on which one of the following conditions applies:
(i) If the segment is unsignaled and no more than four regularly scheduled passenger trains are operated during a calendar day, or
(ii) If the segment is signaled (e.g., equipped with a traffic control system, automatic block signal system, or cab signal system) and no more than 12 regularly scheduled passenger trains are operated during a calendar day.
I would like to add 12 trains per day is equivalent to 6 round trips per day, and the more restricted 4 trains per day is equivalent to 2 round trips per day.
There are more exemptions listed I didn't include because they aren't applicable to the Downeaster discussion.
Additionally, Class 1 railroads can use a phrase (3) instead of (2) in this same regulation:
(3) Not more than four passenger trains per day are operated on a segment of track of a Class I freight railroad on which less than 15 million gross tons of freight traffic is transported annually.
There are sections of the Chief between Lamy and Dodge City where more than 15 million gross tons of freight are transported annually, i.e. after the harvest season. Only a part of this section of track falls under the 15 million annual gross tons exemption.