by east point
If a NCH went the river route CHI - MSP then a second EB route MSP - CHI becomes very important giving 3 RTs MSP - CHI
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gokeefe wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 11:02 pm Which would destroy the value of a high frequency corridor. There's a far better case to be made for a second frequency of the Empire Builder than there is for spending $1B on a resurrection of the North Coast Hiawatha. Amtrak would do just fine with a rebirth of the Western Star.THe Western Star did not follow the current route either. It missed Milwaukee, and west of St. Paul, ran to Fargo via Willmar and Moorhead.
I can't help wondering the method, they choose, to come up with the $400,000 figure.If 400 tourists took the train to Cut Bank and spent $1000 each? I'd think People for Glacier Park would go to Glacier, but maybe there's hunting, dude ranches if such things exist any more, that kind of attraction -- something kind of expensive.
eolesen wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 2:11 am There's no redeeming value in a new CHI-MSP frequency that doesn't mirror the EB's routing.While I see greater value in 2/day via Milwaukee, and somewhat greater value in providing 2/day to the other WI cites on the route, I think as the east coast LDs show, there can be value in serving a different set of smaller towns while adding 2/day to the main termini. If this came down to no slots to Milwaukee because of Glenview/Lake Forest intransigence, and the freights to Dubuque and north were willing ...
gokeefe wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 6:58 pmHas corridor service on ex-NP in Montana ever been considered? Perhaps end points of Fargo, ND and Sandpoint, ID to connect with the Empire Builder? Not sure how long that run takes by train. I'm assuming 12 hours (or more).Actually, the Empire Builder takes 24 hours Fargo-Spokane (but only 22 1/2 hours FAR-Sandpoint lol.) I expect the North Coast Hiawatha would be similar,
Station Aficionado wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:28 pmAll that said, will only happen if Congress orders it (but I do see it as the best of the LD-expansion ideas).I think a return of the Silver Palm is more compelling especially if it can run via the FEC or if it improves performance for Amtrak in Florida through other means.