buddah wrote:Interesting tid bits about the valpo I only got to see it a handful of times myself and never got to photo capture it. Looking at the prices posted to keep the service I ask if anyone knows knows the details why NICTD estimated 1.5 million to run the valpo VS. the 2.5 amtrak wanted? Was the difference in price estimated differently due to a change in the route? possibly NICTD using some of there existing trackage for the route and Randolph st station and not using NW trackage & Union station?
NICTD would have kept the same route. The 1.5 million would have gone to leasing a train set. Perhaps they underestimated but NICTD does fairly well at farebox recovery. Where they likely would have needed more money would have been for track maintenance ... especially if Conrail failed to keep the line up to passenger standards (a failure which was accomplished with the abandonment and CSX's leasing to CFER).
when I first heard of the Valpos possible return I was expecting NICTD to use there existing trackage up until Gary and branching off from there to the old route the valpo used...
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 4&t=h&z=19
A turnout connection already existed in this area, and the land space where the tracks were installed is still somewhat available. I wonder if used could have brought the cost down even further from the estimated 1.5 mill NICTD was asking for to continue the route in the early 90s, or could this have been there idea all along, and the reason why NICTD's bid was 1 mill lower than Amtraks?
However that will not be the case with the new route due to the acknowledgement the Lowel line is also in the works
I didn't know about the Dummy when I first heard of the West Lake Valpo and Lowell plans ... the more I looked into West Lake the more it seemed to be finding a use for a corridor than providing a demanded service. Service to Valpo and Lowell may be better accomplished by NOT using the Munster track.
Branching off of the South Shore main line in Gary makes more sense for Valpo. The line will have to be restored to Tolleston but the ROW is still there and is only 1.4 miles. Building a connection off of CP 61.5 at Clark is about a half mile away so there would be about two miles of "new" rail needed.
The stations to the west either have low level platforms (East Chicago's east platform) or have space to have one added cheaply (Hammond and Hegewisch) for a low boarding train. Millennium station has a low level platform serving two tracks with a diesel tie off still in service on one track ... while dual power would be better the station could still handle a diesel train (although leaving it idle there probably would not be a good idea). Van Buren also has a low level platform available.
For the annual price of a train set, two miles of track and upgrades to interlockings at Clark and Tolleston, paving for platforms on the CFER and whatever repairs are needed on the CFER Valparaiso could be served again. If the service is successful improvements could be made over time. The problem I see is wanting to restore the Dummy with service levels that immediately exceed the Dummy. One inbound, one outbound could be done more cheaply than two rush trains and a midday reverse trip. But would a one train service level be enough to meet demand? I suppose that's why I let experts handle these decisions.
One other thought ...
Gary Airport wants to relocate the South Shore station at Clark Rd ... That has annoyed me for years as I assumed they wanted to wrap it around their airport slowing the line for through passengers. I found an airport plan a few months ago that showed where they wanted the station ... next to Cline Ave. It would be on the current NICTD line between the EJ&E and SR 912 - NOT along the east edge of the airport where the MWRRI would restore the Conrail line. The airport is in the process of redoing their plan so anything could happen, but IF they built a station at Cline Ave a transfer platform could be placed there for Dummy trips to Valpo ... which would allow the South Shore to run a shuttle service from Valparaiso to Cline Ave and use existing cars to get in to Chicago. (Although arranging meets would be a pain and a slow Valpo train could gum up the efficient South Shore traffic.)