ryanwc wrote: ↑Fri Feb 23, 2024 2:31 pm
To be fair to the FRA staff, they're writing the report Congress told them to write, not the report they'd like to write.
Interesting point, and it will be Congress that ultimately funds expanded long distance services.
Never-the-less, the over and beyond what Congress requested in the legislation maybe more than what Congress will fund.
Congress asked for a study or report for
1) Existing long distance trains with less than daily frequencies
2) Long distance trains Amtrak eliminated
3) Long distance trains eliminated after 1971 pre Amtrak
Including trains in this list eliminated before 1971 and the rerouting of trains Amtrak eliminated, I believe is going over and beyond what Congress requested. Of course, if the tracks that existed before no longer exist, I suppose a rerouting is required in the study. But the study should also include the costs to rebuild the missing tracks over the previous corridor.
Having a daily Sunset Limited from Orlando to Los Angeles meets both 1 and 2. Having a daily Cardinal meets 1. Having the Hiawatha between Chicago and Tacoma/Seattle meets 2. Having the Floridian between Chicago and Miami meets 2, if routing via Birmingham vs Atlanta. Having the Desert Wind between LA and SLC meets 2.
I'm not sure any of the other routes remained in service after 1971?
I know the Texas Zephyr between Denver and Dallas died in the late 1960s, before the 1971 cutoff date and Amtrak existence. It does not meet 1.2. or 3 in Congress's legislation. So why is it being proposed? How many others are there with similar circumstances?