State has audacious vision for faster trains

[JeffreyS]

State has audacious vision for faster trains
There's nothing small-minded about this $5.3 billion pitch.
Posted: Tuesday, Oct. 06, 2009


High speed rail planners envision 110- mph Charlotte-to-Washington trains.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/story/986636.html

In the midst of the deepest economic slowdown since the Great Depression, the state of North Carolina has made an ambitious request in Washington: Give us $5.3 billion and we'll build much of the infrastructure needed for a Southeast high-speed passenger train corridor linking Charlotte and Washington.

It's a visionary request but it didn't come out of nowhere. The state has been preparing for high-speed rail for two decades, dating to Gov. Jim Martin's administration when passenger rail service was restored between Raleigh and Charlotte and planners began seriously contemplating remaking the region's rail system to move people, not just freight.

Gov. Bev Perdue announced last week that the state had sought the $5.3 billion in federal recovery and stimulus funds for four high-speed rail projects that would help build passenger service between Charlotte and Washington. The trains would operate at speeds of up to 110 miles per hour.

"These projects are critical for communities throughout our state," Perdue said in a statement. "North Carolina's commitment to rail puts us in strong contention for these funds."

Perdue's predecessors Martin and Jim Hunt were believers in high-speed rail for this region despite skepticism from those who think rail cannot compete with auto traffic. But given congestion on interstate highways in urban areas and the popularity of rail passenger service between Charlotte and Raleigh, new high-speed service is becoming much more attractive.

The four projects would focus on service frequency and reliability, shorter travel time and improved safety. That would be accomplished with more bridges separating tracks and roads, dual tracks and more sidings where trains can pass one another.

One striking part of the proposal is a request for $3.7 billion to restore a rail shortcut, the old CSX Transportation track between Raleigh and Richmond that was abandoned years ago. Trains currently go from Raleigh southeast to Selma before turning north toward Washington. Restoring the CSX track between Raleigh and Richmond via Petersburg, Va., would cut hours out of the schedule. Virginia has sought $1.5 billion to remake the rail link between Richmond and Washington.

The fact that North Carolina's transportation planners have done much of the engineering work for reopening the route to Richmond is clear evidence that the state is taking a broad view of how to accomplish the rail system remake. And thanks to regional alliances that have involved officials from both states over a number of years, each is in a good position to seek such a large part of $8 billion in federal recovery money for rail projects.

It's possible, of course, that North Carolina may not get a large part of the available money. California as well as other states have put in major bids, too. But thanks to far-sighted planners at the state Department of Transportation's Rail Division, we're in the running.

[JeffreyS]

With California asking for 4.7bil, NC asking for 5.7 bil and the midwest first in line Florida is going to have to fight to get any of the stimulus money.

[Captain Zissou]

Connecting one of the banking centers of the east coast to the political center of the nation, seems to make perfect sense. Jax and FL need to shape up and get those Amtrak trains running!

[Lunican]

North Carolina is much further ahead than Florida in this regard. They have been making upgrades (not just talking about it) to the tracks between Raleigh and Charlotte over the past 7 years or so.

They also run a daily state sponsored Amtrak train between Raleigh and Charlotte. Florida has not done any of this.

Double Track, Siding, Signal â€" Raleigh to Goldsboro
Three new passing tracks totaling 8 miles will improve performance and safety with enhanced speed and capacity to accommodate growth for both freight and passenger service. Additional work includes a passing siding in Wake County, and Centralized Traffic Control to raise this segment to the standard of the Raleigh-Charlotte mainline. The project also includes a new interlocking in Downtown Raleigh, which will improve safety and efficiency and reduce the number of tracks through the Cabarrus Street crossing.
Cost: $22,700,000
Status: Completed

Double Track â€" High Point to Greensboro
A second main track between Cox and Hoskins will improve capacity and ease delays caused by meeting or passing trains on the mainline. This is one of the most congested sections on the railroad.
Cost: NCRR $4,000,000, (NCDOT $15,000,000 contribution)
Status: In Progress

Replace 90 lb. Rail â€" Goldsboro to New Bern
The existing rail's lighter weight makes it inadequate for the 110 and 125 ton cars now operating on the track. There are three segments, totaling 15.5 miles. This is a joint project with Norfolk Southern.
NCRR Cost: $5.5 Million
Status: Completed in 2006

Curve Straightening â€" Hopson Road
NCRR is acquiring property adjacent to the track to allow straightening of a curve east of the NC Highway 54 bridge. Project will increase speed for passenger and freight trains. Land acquisition is complete.

Double Track â€" North Charlotte to Concord
This work is to improve capacity by adding a second track and signals to reduce delays associated with meeting and passing trains.
Cost: $35,000,000 (Cost Shared with NCDOT and Norfolk Southern)
Status: Engineering & Design in Progress

Double Track â€" Kannapolis to Salisbury
This work is to improve capacity by adding a second track and signals to reduce delays associated with meeting and passing trains.
Cost: $29,000,000 (Cost Shared with NCDOT and Norfolk Southern)
Status: Engineering & Design in Progress

Double Track â€" Thomasville to Lexington
This work is to improve capacity by adding a second track and signals to reduce delays associated with meeting and passing trains.
Cost: $11,000,000 (Cost Shared with NCDOT and Norfolk Southern)
Status: Engineering & Design in Progress

Curve Straightening â€" Kinston
This project will straighten a curve in the railroad in downtown Kinston improving train speeds from 10mph to 25 mph and improving clearances.
Cost: $1,950,000
Status: In Progress

Rail/Truck Loading & Spur Track â€" Kinston
This project will construct a rail/truck loading ramp in Kinston to serve Global TransPark.  It will provide site work, road access, and a staging area for the transfer point.
Cost: $3,000,000
Status: In Progress

http://www.ncrr.com/ncrr-track.html

[BridgeTroll]

So... they are relearning to walk first rather than jumping right into a marathon?  This is what Florida should be doing.  Prove we can do rail... prove we will use it... prove we will maintain and improve.  HSR in Florida would be nice but we need to walk before we can run...

$.02

[Lunican]

Yep. Plus, Raleigh to Charlotte is 170 miles and takes 3 hours. A ticket for tomorrow costs $25.

[CS Foltz]

Jacksonville and the state of Florida is so far behind the power curve it is not funny! We are busy flapping our lips over the Orlando region proposed additions, one local and one supposed HSR and neither are what the doctor of masstransit has ordered or  for! With the supposed guidance of FDOT and the Gods of Transportation overseeing the OIA to Tampa boon for transportation heaven..........I have to ask......WHY THERE? It is not a question of, is it needed because it is but to put two different systems together with no vision of why or where to expand it to.....I have to question, just why do we want to spend 2.5 Billion Dollars with no plan and no way to expand that system. I still say that trying to move in two different directions at once will not work nor will it be cost effective to the public!