Missouri Amtrak Service

[shinatoo]

When did Amtrak cancel motor coach between KC and Omaha?

[DaveKCMO]

When did Amtrak cancel motor coach between KC and Omaha?

not sure, but you can check jefferson lines (one source for other "thruway" services from KC) to book directly through them.

[Gretz]

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansa ... ily20.html

Bizjournals article about Nixon and other regional governors lobbying for 3.4 billion in stimulus funds to be used on a regional high-speed rail network including KC-STL-Chicago, Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison and Chicago-Detroit with trains running at 110 mph.

[enough]

see governor's press release
http://governor.mo.gov/newsroom/2009/Su ... l_Projects

chicago to st. louis is a phase i project.  st. louis to kansas city would be in phase ii.  translation:  a long time from now.

[DaveKCMO]

modot will likely seek incremental improvements to STL-KCY through the existing (and recently reauthorized at $90m) capital program for states, especially since the major bottlenecks have already been identified. only requires a 20% state match, as opposed to last year's grants of 50% (which modot won a portion of).

[shinatoo]

If we are going high speed do we still have to have 7 stops between KC and STL and 8 stops between STL and Chi? How long does it take to get up to speed.

It would also be nice to get the Southwest Chief up to 110. KC to Chi in 4-5 hours on the train, Woo Hoo.

[KCMax]

Obama's high-speed rail plan includes KC and St. Louis

Ten corridors the Obama administration had identified for possible high-speed rail projects:



—California corridor (Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego)

—Pacific Northwest corridor (Eugene, Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Vancouver British Columbia)

—South Central corridor (Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Little Rock)

—Gulf Coast corridor (Houston, New Orleans, Mobile, Birmingham, Atlanta)

—Chicago hub network (Chicago, Milwaukee, Twin Cities, St. Louis, Kansas City, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville)

—Florida corridor (Orlando, Tampa, Miami)

—Southeast corridor (Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Macon, Columbia, Savannah, Jacksonville)

—Keystone corridor (Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh)

—Empire corridor (New York City, Albany, Buffalo)

—Northern New England corridor (Boston, Montreal, Portland, Springfield, New Haven, Albany)

[dangerboy]

If we are going high speed do we still have to have 7 stops between KC and STL and 8 stops between STL and Chi? How long does it take to get up to speed.

It would also be nice to get the Southwest Chief up to 110. KC to Chi in 4-5 hours on the train, Woo Hoo.

If we get to the point of running 4-5 trains per day between KC/STL then then it might be possible run an express train with fewer stops.  Until then, it would political suicide for rail funding if those small towns were cut out.

As for the Chief, I haven't heard any talk about it being a corridor to get upgrades.

[GRID]

First thing Amtrak in MO could do it update the equipment used between KC and StL.  The trains are old and really run down and wore out.





Ride the train from LA to SD which is luxury compared to riding the KC to StL train which is like riding in an old school bus.

Passenger trains get up to speed very fast.  That’s not really an issue.

[dangerboy]

First thing Amtrak in MO could do it update the equipment used between KC and StL.   The trains are old and really run down and wore out.

Grid, you probably know that in the past Amtrak has had little money for this.  The states with really nice equipment like Washington and California have paid for the railcars on their own.  Fortunately there is a big pot of stimulus money for Amtrak refurbished equipment, so hopefully some of that could make it's way to Missouri.

[DaveKCMO]

there will also be a new "standardized" bi-level equipment pool for corridor routes (just like the surfliner's coaches, which i believe caltrans actually owns but amtrak operates). i would expect that when they are finally built, missouri's trains will get those coaches.

[advocrat]

If we are going high speed do we still have to have 7 stops between KC and STL and 8 stops between STL and Chi? How long does it take to get up to speed.

Not too long at all; the major restriction is city speed limits, which will not allow movement above a certain speed. In most cases it is not that slow, e.g., whisking through Sedalia at 40 is about as fast as you would be moving in a car, 'cept, no traffic lights. 

The River Runner accellerates about as fast as a tractor-trailer rig with a lead-foot. Most stops last about 2 minutes on average; Jefferson City about 4 minutes.  Independence was a 1 minute stop. The schedule lapses when Amtrak is butted onto a siding to allow 1-2 freight movements by. Since the minimum time/distance between rail movements is 20 minutes, then Amtrak can easily be sidetracked for 30-40 minutes. THIS is where the schedule falters, through no fault of Amtrak. Lengthened sidings at California, Strasburg, and a double tracked bridge over the Gasconade will do wonders for the schedule.

[enough]

amtrak's on-time performance has improved dramatically over the past six months.  modot has put pressure on amtrak, and they have put pressure on the union pacific to improve handling of amtrak trains.  the up has done an internal review of its dispatching practices and that has helped a lot.  the biggest factor, i think, has been the downturn in the economy -- fewer freight trains to "get in the way." 

the up ought to be breaking ground within the next week or two on the new state and federally funded siding just west of california.  longer sidings at knob noster and strasburg are designed, i think, but yet to be funded.

[dangerboy]

Yes, the River Runners are mostly on time these days, often making the KC-STL run ahead of schedule.  I wonder if they might even be able to go back to the shorter timetable?

[DaveKCMO]

passenger rail in the midwest will be a topic on up to date tomorrow. if you're a user of missouri's trains, please call in!

[enough]

i like the setup piece on the kcur website:
http://www.kcur.org/uptodate.html#Tuesday

sounds like they want to steer clear of creating unrealistic expectations.

[DaveKCMO]

i like the setup piece on the kcur website:
http://www.kcur.org/uptodate.html#Tuesday

sounds like they want to steer clear of creating unrealistic expectations.

if you tried to listen to the whole show today, then you know things went haywire around 11:45. still no clue what happened...

[enough]

it was well worth listening to -- three really well-informed guests -- and it's available on the kcur archives now (april 28 program). 
http://www.kcur.org/UTDarchive.html

let's hope they got the screw-up fixed before they archived it.

another screw-up -- they just played the hsr promo during atc.

[KCMax]

Missouri to seek $200 million in rail stimulus funds

Missouri transportation officials have approved $200 million of rail projects for which they hope to receive federal stimulus money.

The Highways and Transportation Commission on Wednesday added the 11 rail projects to its five-year construction plan. But the projects will occur only if the federal government agrees to fund them.

[enough]

^ modot's proposed projects would improve the reliability of passenger service in the kcy-stl corridor, even after freight traffic recovers.  they would also improve the efficiency and reliability of freight movement.  unfortunately, increased passenger train speed is not on the immediate horizon, even of all of these projects are funded and completed.