National Train Day, Saturday May 9th

[FayeforCure]

http://www.nationaltrainday.com/2009/

PRESS RELEASE
Rail Coalition Marks Celebration Of National Train Day


Last update: 11:45 a.m. EDT May 4, 2009
WASHINGTON, May 04, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- States for Passenger Rail Coalition Chairman Frank Busalacchi today released remarks applauding the celebration of National Train Day. The event will be celebrated here and in other cities across the country May 9.

"National Train Day is an important time to celebrate the vital role trains play in our nation's transportation system," Busalacchi said. "Passenger trains are reemerging as an important way to move people in all parts of America. They are energy-efficient, pollute less than other transportation modes, and ease congestion on highways and in the air. Our challenge is to make sure that the federal government fully funds passenger rail so it can meet the traveling demands of today and the future."

National Train Day marks the day the "golden spike" was driven into the final railroad tie that joined 1,776 miles of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways, ceremonially creating the nation's first transcontinental railroad. That spike was driven on May 10, 1869 in Promontory Summit, Utah.

Busalacchi noted that the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, of which he was a member, last year identified funding levels required to ensure the future stability and growth of the nation's passenger rail network.
The commission's final report concluded $357.2 billion in capital improvements would be required by the year 2050. Additionally, a commitment of $5 billion per year will be needed for the 80/20 federal rail grant program over the six-year reauthorizing period. This important program provides an 80 percent federal/20 percent state funding split for passenger rail projects, mirroring the funding split in highway projects.
"As Congress considers the reauthorization legislation for the nation's surface transportation system, it is vital that passenger rail service be funded more generously than ever," Busalacchi said. "Passenger rail travel is rising to levels that have not been seen in many years. Americans want a world-class passenger rail system."
SOURCE: The States for Passenger Rail Coalition
The States for Passenger Rail Coalition
Inquiries To:
Boffa and Associates
John Boffa, 202-234-5758
or
Randy Wade, 608-516-6382

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/rail-coalition-marks-celebration-national/story.aspx?guid=%7B22E91B6F-8796-4D0A-9A43-6003EDBA9C66%7D&dist=msr_3

[mtraininjax]

Passenger rail travel is rising to levels that have not been seen in many years. Americans want a world-class passenger rail system.

• Mode of passenger transport   Passenger-miles
  (millions)   Percent
  Highway - total   4,884,557   88.79%
  Passenger vehicles, motorcycles   4,520,810   82.18%
  Trucks   222,836   4.05%
  Buses   162,908   2.96%
  Air Carriers   583,689   10.61%
  Rail - total   30,972   0.56%
  Transit   16,118   0.29%
  Commuter   9,473   0.17%
  Intercity/Amtrak   5,381   0.10%
  All other modes (e.g., ferryboats)   2,091   0.04%
  

Now we know why the airlines get bailed out first, the roadways second, and rail is down near the bottom.

[FayeforCure]

mtraininjax, do you have a link?

I'm all for increasing passenger miles on rail.

That's why I think we have/had plenty of opportunity to improve on the central Florida Commuter Deal:

CSX and SunRail: Florida Avoids Bad Deal


Published: Friday, May 8, 2009 at 12:40 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, May 8, 2009 at 12:40 a.m.
Once again, for the second year in a row, the attempt to establish commuter-

rail service in the greater Orlando area is dead. The deal was bad from the start: The money for the track purchases was inserted in a Senate bill just before midnight on the last day of the 2005 legislative session.

The state would have paid CSX Corp. more than $600 million to purchase 61 miles of track for the SunRail trains, then lease the tracks back to CSX for off-hour freight operations - while agreeing to pay for any accidents involving CSX, regardless of whether CSX was at fault.

To her credit, Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, was able to convince a majority of her colleagues that it was a bad deal for taxpayers.

Officials in Orange County and Orlando were more than upset that their plan had been defeated. "This is what we get for having a bunch of knuckle-dragging Neanderthals in the Legislature," Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan told the Orlando Sentinel.

Calling opponents "a bunch of knuckle-dragging Neanderthals" just because they didn't think the state should be spending more than $600 million to buy railroad tracks from CSX when the state was looking at a $5.5 billion budget deficit is a bit much.

Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, supported "the goal of a rail system, but not the deal. I think that the amount they're paying for it is too much and the liability provision is bad policy." For that stance, he is among the "knuckle-dragging Neanderthals."

Sheehan wasn't the only one trash-talking those who would question SunRail. When the Senate refused to go along with letting CSX off the hook for any accidents, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer moaned, "I think the forces of evil have won."

Alex Sink, Florida's chief financial officer, told reporters that she was concerned that not only CSX would be excused from all risk, but that Florida would not be able to find an insurer willing to underwrite a $200 million policy to cover CSX's accidents. "It doesn't suit me," said Sink. "I've told them [legislators] there are flaws." So that makes her a knuckle-dragging Beelzebub?FLAWED AT INCEPTIONSadly, the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce sent out a last-minute plea to its members literally "pleading/begging" them to call their elected officials and press for passage of the SunRail deal. Most Lakeland commissioners were content with assurances that the rerouting of freight trains through Central Florida communities such as Ocala, Lakeland and Mulberry would present little problems in traffic tie-ups for motorists.

Not all commissioners were willing to endorse a plan to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to help a private company improve its rail lines. Commissioners Howard Wiggs and Justin Troller were steadfast in their opposition. "I've consistently opposed this deal," wrote Troller in a letter to The Ledger, "and so have the vast majority of the people in Lakeland. We have good reason. Simply put, this is a bad deal. … We are tired of AIG-style bailouts, and it is the duty of elected officials across Florida to pay attention to taxpayers, not grant more corporate giveaways."

While nearly two months remain before the CSX-SunRail contract expires, the SunRail project is going nowhere apparently. CSX has said without the agreement by the state to assume all liability for any accidents, it will not sell its tracks to the state.PUT COMMUTERS FIRSTSunRail has its selling points. But the plan was flawed at its inception: The Florida Department of Transportation required about 70 employees and consultants on the project to sign confidentially agreements while working with CSX on the details. Regional-planning organizations weren't included in the discussions about the increased freight traffic that would be rerouted through other communities.

"If this was to be such a great deal and marvelous opportunity for the state," asked Dockery, "why wasn't it brokered in the sunshine in full view of the public? Why weren't more senators made aware of everything it entailed?"

As SunRail's detractors have said, "It wasn't about commuters, it was all about freight." Indeed, ridership projections seemed to have come almost as an afterthought.

Perhaps having suffered defeat twice, SunRail supporters will actually work with surrounding communities to propose a system centered around commuters with trains running where people want to go.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20090508/NEWS/905085003/1036?Title=CSX-and-SunRail-Florida-Avoids-Bad-Deal

[tufsu1]

Passenger rail travel is rising to levels that have not been seen in many years. Americans want a world-class passenger rail system.

• Mode of passenger transport   Passenger-miles
  (millions)   Percent
  Highway - total   4,884,557   88.79%
  Passenger vehicles, motorcycles   4,520,810   82.18%
  Trucks   222,836   4.05%
  Buses   162,908   2.96%
  Air Carriers   583,689   10.61%
  Rail - total   30,972   0.56%
  Transit   16,118   0.29%
  Commuter   9,473   0.17%
  Intercity/Amtrak   5,381   0.10%
  All other modes (e.g., ferryboats)   2,091   0.04%
  

Now we know why the airlines get bailed out first, the roadways second, and rail is down near the bottom.

I'm sure you are using this as the reason why we shouldn't invest in rail....and existing volumes do not support much rail funding.

But, as most of us can see, air travel and highways are not sustainable as the only mobility options as America grows to 400+ million people....just look how much it cost to build the 5th runway in Atlanta and balance it with how much congestion was relieved at the airport.

The answer must be to minimize the amount of short-length trip (<500 miles) that are being made on planes and automobiles...that's where intercity ril makes sense!

[Ocklawaha]

I'm sure you are using this as the reason why we shouldn't invest in rail....and existing volumes do not support much rail funding.

The answer must be to minimize the amount of short-length trip (<500 miles) that are being made on planes and automobiles...that's where intercity ril makes sense!

I agree on both points. I note a phenomenom I jokingly call "FLYING TRAIN SYNDROME" (FTS). We have generations of people never exposed to the joy of travel for the sake of travel. Our own hero - Lakelander told me once "I just want to get on and get off"... It will take some time to teach the non-stop, hub and spokes, weaned air travelers how to ride point to point in virtual luxury. The current travel generation doesn't seem to grasp that a train from Jacksonville to Chicago, isn't just there for "NON-STOP FLIGHT", rather unlike any other mode it might serve more then a dozen micro-corridors, and even beat air travel on shorter segments. For example Calculate the air time between Jacksonville and Valdosta or Savannah. 
 

6:25 am Depart Jacksonville (JAX)
Arrive Valdosta (VLD) 11:15 am  Thu 21-May
Duration: 4hr 50mn    Delta 1632  / 5034

fare $608

Jax to Valdosta on the train in 1956
2:40 Min travel time on the Royal Palm with stops in St. George, Fargo, and Haylow.

But the train ran from Miami to Cincinnati via Atlanta!

*************************************************************
   

5:25 am Depart Jacksonville (JAX)
Arrive Savannah (SAV) 8:30 am  Thu 21-May
Duration: 3hr 5mn 

JAX to Savannah on the train in 1956
2:20 Min travel time on the East Coast Champion (Amtrak runs this route as the Silver Meteor today)

This train runs from MIAMI to NEW YORK CITY every day.


OCKLAWAHA

[Ocklawaha]

"Just a step above the bus," is another quote from these boards. Sadly, I think truth be known it's because of the nostalgia some of us have for the "REAL" trains of the Pre-Amtrak era. Granted Amtraks best couldn't give a lickin' to a chicken, or a raisin to a rat, compared to the worst of the Seaboard Coast Line. Yet Amtrak is NOWHERE near an intercity coach in travel, and much, much more comfortable then air.

I posted the airline times for both Jax-Valdosta and for Jax-Savannah, in my previous post. One more consideration. On the plane your lucky to get a coke and a bag of peanuts, on either leg of the trip. On the train you could have something close to a 5-star meal in a real restaurant (one with changing views).

Air travel comfort is an illusion:

FROM: The Independent Traveler
Baloney? Does It Matter?
I don't know of a single traveler who buys the claim that leg room hasn't decreased, but there are more factors to think about. An increased number of seats on the plane means more income per flight, and helps keep airfares down. For short haul flights, research has shown that low fares count more than seat pitch. As flights get longer, priorities things start to shift.

There's extensive research to back up Mr. Dunn's statement, if he's technically only half right. On short-haul flights up to six hours, comfort is a low priority for most travelers. On long haul flights over six hours, however, comfort is the number one concern after flight availability.

According to Boeing spokesman Sean Griffin, when choosing their flight, short haul fliers are concerned about the following, in this order of priority:
1) flight availability at the time they want to fly
2) a good fare
3) marketing perks such as frequent flyer programs
4) customer service issues
5) comfort

But for flights over six hours, passenger priorities shifted dramatically. After flight availability, which retained the top spot, comfort placed second.

Years of research by Boeing's Klaus Brauer, the Darwin of airplane seating configuration, found that one factor above all most powerfully affects perceived passenger comfort: whether or not the seat next to you is empty.

The Middle Seat Factor
Boeing has patented what they call the Personal Space Model, a formula that accounts for seat pitch, width, and similar quantifiable measurements, along with more subjective elements of passenger perception of space.

Some of the findings:
- Leg room and seat width account for 60% of the average traveler's sense of comfort
- Putting the widest point in the cabin at eye level (approx. 48 inches) "tricks" passengers to experience a sensation of greater roominess.
- The overarching factor determining passenger perception of comfort: whether or not the middle seat is occupied.

The Standard Seat: 17.2 Inches Wide; 31-32 Inch Seat Pitch
During the development of the 777 family of planes, Boeing took their findings and decided to add 5 inches to the width of the plane. It permitted them to put in wider, 18.5" seats without diminishing the overall capacity.

The standard airline seat is 17.2" wide, while seat pitch ranges from 28" on some short-haul, down-and-dirty charters, to 33-34" on some planes.

The Intercity Motor Coach:
From Human Factors Design Handbook:

The standard recomended seat is 19" wide with a pitch of 30.

Amtrak's got the most room for your legs and keister

08:51 AM PDT on Wednesday, July 19, 2006
By DERRIK J. LANG
The Associated Press

Does your body get more space on an airplane.

Here's a comparison of the pitch (the distance from where you sit to the back of the seat in front of you) and width (the measurement from armrest to armrest) of six very different seats -- in order from biggest to smallest.

What fits your keister?

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average upper leg length for adults older than 20 years old is 14 ½ inches for men and 9 inches for women. (Upper leg length is the distance from your groin to the end of your femur.)

The agency doesn't keep tabs of the growing size of Americans' posteriors.


TRAIN

Amtrak Texas Eagle

Take the TRAIN thanks to a whopping 50 inches of seat pitch, more than any other seat on our list. Besides the extra room, most seats also come equipped with electrical outlets.

Pitch: 50 inches

Width: 41 inches

AIRPLANE, FIRST CLASS

American Airlines Boeing 757-200

It's true. You do get more room in first class than coach. You also get more amenities. Besides those hot towels, on select American Airlines flights, the first-class seats swivel. And some of the 6-foot-long reclining chairs are equipped with privacy dividers so you can rest in comfort.

Pitch: 39 inches

Width: 21 inches

BUS

Greyhound

Bus riders often bark about how uncomfortable ground transportation can be. Well, it ain't due to seat width, which is almost double the size of American Airlines' coach class. The tight squeeze can be attributed to Greyhound's substantially closer seats and lack of leg room.

Pitch: 17 inches

Width: 38 inches

AIRPLANE, COACH

American Airlines

Boeing 757-200

A plane may be faster than a Greyhound bus, but the standard seats in coach aren't nearly as wide. On American Airlines flights, coach seats are outfitted with six-way adjustable leather headrests. And there's four more inches of seat pitch than the wooden roller coaster on our list.

Pitch: 32 inches

Width: 17 inches

I realize I'm arguing with myself here, but what the hey, I go train watching in Mayport! Any more just like a bus comments will not be accepted, after all I'm a GLOBAL MODERATOR and I KNOW where you live! LOL! Hee Hee!

OCKLAWAHA

[mtraininjax]

The answer must be to minimize the amount of short-length trip (<500 miles) that are being made on planes and automobiles...that's where intercity ril makes sense!

Wrong, the answer is not auto, bus, rail or plane, the answer is the fuel we use to get around in transportation. We MUST get out of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and into natural gas. We are sitting on enough natural gas in the US to last 300+ years. We will and can be a net exporter of this stuff, we can change over the power plants and convert rail & bus to natural gas. 2/3 of all oil usage is done with transportation, if we can change the fuel we use, we can clean the air and that is a change that is worth it for all of us.

Cleaner air, more fuel efficiency with natural gas, and a net export for our country. Forget the rail,  runways, none of that matters, we need to change our fuel source and do it ASAP.