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Discussion related to Amtrak also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corp.

Moderators: GirlOnTheTrain, mtuandrew, Tadman

 #1449705  by Matt Johnson
 
StLouSteve wrote:Here's what I saw in STL Post Dispatch recently...sometime next year:

"Although the St. Louis-to-Chicago improvements are expected to be finished this year, exactly when the new 110 mph maximums actually will begin is hard to pinpoint, officials say.

It could be sometime next year, they say. But timing depends on testing of a new type of signaling system on the line, which Amtrak shares with freight trains."

Full article at:

http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/al ... dc20c.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Meanwhile the 110 mph demo stretch between Dwight and Pontiac has been quietly downgraded to 79 mph. I used to be a big believer in this project but while Michigan has been quietly running 110 mph trains for a while now, this project seems to be all hype and no substance. The start of 110 mph service has gone from 2015 to 2016 to 2017 to maybe 2018, maybe not.
 #1450270  by StLouSteve
 
this project seems to be all hype and no substance. The start of 110 mph service has gone from 2015 to 2016 to 2017 to maybe 2018, maybe not.
This is harsh. Yes 110 would be great and hopefully it will happen sooner rather than later, but the transformation of this line from CMW days is amazing. Smooth as glass welded rail, multiple new stations, higher ridership, improved time keeping and new locos are clearly evident.

Get the time reduced further and the new single level cars in service and the ridership will grow exponentially.
 #1450274  by D.Carleton
 
Gilbert B Norman wrote:#380 (11) has SC-44 Charger #4613 on the head today.

The Halogen headlights DO "light things up".
Thank you, but those are LEDs.
Last edited by D.Carleton on Sun Nov 12, 2017 1:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 #1450276  by D.Carleton
 
StLouSteve wrote:Get the time reduced further and the new single level cars in service and the ridership will grow exponentially.
The kicker is, at least with the bilevel plan, the new trains will run with a loco at each end. With Chargers and Viaggio cars they will, without any effort, mirror Brightline sets.
 #1450793  by electricron
 
It’s the 125 mph speeds between Cocoa and Orlando that made the second locomotive preferred, at 110 mph speeds and lower they would probably have preferred a cab car vs a second locomotive.
 #1451390  by eolesen
 
Agree... getting up to 79 is bad enough with a flat-nosed aerodynamic brick, but 110 without some form of sculpted end doesn't sound too feasible.
 #1451672  by gokeefe
 
Here's the latest from Mass Transit Magazine on the Illinois speed upgrade project.
Early on in the seven-year, $2 billion high-speed rail project, the goal was faster service on much of the corridor by the end of 2017. But as is often the case with major projects, construction has taken longer than anticipated. A big piece of remaining work is along the Third Street/Union Pacific rail corridor in Springfield. Five crossings were shut down in the last few weeks toward plans for safety fencing, signal and gate upgrades, and crossing improvements along the corridor from Stanford Avenue to Sangamon Avenue. The city of Springfield has started the process of applying for a federal "quiet zone" of no train horns, once safety improvements are completed.

The state has not set a target date for 110 mph service, other than sometime next year. Trains began running at speeds up to 110 mph in 2012 between Pontiac and Dwight.
 #1451683  by electricron
 
I thought they had planned to move the Lincoln services trains to the rail line on what could be called 10th Street? Why spend hard to find money for rail projects on two different rail lines within Springfield?
 #1451712  by east point
 
Speculation. --- If the present line thru Springfield was kept that would allow trains to still discharge close to the state capitol. The freights would be able to use 10th street bypass so not to tie up downtown. Maybe even some CHI trains could originate / Terminate at Springfield and lay over just south of the station ? That would all depend on how many passengers go south of Springfield now ?
 #1451965  by Roadgeek Adam
 
Couple news bits:

Carlinville station opened on November 16; reception on December 11:
CARLINVILLE (Nov. 23, 2017) – It’s been more than a year since ground was broken for the Carlinville Amtrak station, but passengers can now take advantage of the station’s amenities instead of waiting outside or in their vehicles for the train to arrive. The station opened to the public on Thursday, Nov. 16.

“It’s been a long journey,” said Mayor Deanna Demuzio, noting the station was busy on its first day open, as many people were taking the train to a conference in Chicago.
Alton station will be demolished, no one could save the money to save it:
ALTON, IL - Next week a wrecking ball will tear down the historic 89-year-old Alton Amtrak Station.

Some residents wanted to save the historic structure. However, now the station will be a reminder of history and many say it's going to be sad to see the building torn down.

The City of Alton gained a new station for high speed trains at the Alton Regional Multi-Transportation Center that opened this Summer.

However, residents say it was trade-off, the Historic Amtrak station on College Avenue will now have to be demolished. ”It’s kind of a sad day. It’s a historic Amtrak Station,” said John Malson.
Lincoln station opens December 5:
LINCOLN — As mayor of Lincoln, Seth Goodman is interested in an outside visitor’s first impression of the town.

After Dec. 5, any concerns for those traveling by train should be eliminated following the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official re-opening of the renovated historic $4.1 million Lincoln Station in downtown Lincoln.

“It’s a great addition for Lincoln,” Goodman said, “and it’s also a great addition for those coming though by train because it will be the first thing they see when they stop.”
I'm disappointed I moved out of IL in May, I'd get to see all this change.
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