AMTRAK ON FEC RY = MAY 1 + Texas and the National Updates

[Ocklawaha]

Read between the lines folks, here is the official word from the Fort Worth Star Telegram.  Note that "Florida" seems to be included, at least in lip service.

The unofficial word is an AMTRAK passenger train will depart Jacksonville for Miami on May 1. This will be an official inspection run over the FEC RY, it will represent the first real chance to see a passenger train on the line since about 2002, and before that? 1968.  So all you photographers that like train photos, this is your big chance to photograph something as rare as hens teeth.

MEANWHILE FROM FORT WORTH...

Amtrak making a comeback in Texas


Robert and Ann Balson's first Amtrak ride from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City was clean, comfortable and on time.

The Grand Prairie retirees were so impressed that they're planning another train trip -- this time to Southern California. Like a growing number of Texans, they consider Amtrak a viable alternative to driving.

"You can see the countryside," Ann Balson said last week after the couple returned to downtown Fort Worth on Amtrak's Heartland Flyer. "It's relaxing. You can get up and stretch your legs."

In North Texas, a region that owes its heritage to railroads but where automobiles have dominated the scene for over 60 years, long-distance train travel is making a bit of a comeback.

Even though Texas largely missed out on the Obama administration's initial pledge of $8 billion for high-speed rail to California, Florida, Illinois and other states, many smaller improvements are being made to Amtrak service in Texas and the Southwest.

Steps are being taken to speed up train trips between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City and increase service to Los Angeles, possibly this year. A proposal to extend service from Fort Worth to Wichita, Kan., and Kansas City is also gaining momentum.

Amtrak is investing millions of dollars in track and signal improvements and may soon buy new rail cars. It is also negotiating with freight railroads, which own the tracks that Amtrak leases for most of its routes, and government officials to run passenger trains more often and to more cities.

And for the first time in years, supporters in Texas government are optimistic that steps are being taken to truly sell passenger rail to the public and make it a practical option for a larger traveling audience -- even if it's not yet at speeds of 150 to 220 mph, which typically require a dedicated track.

In the meantime, train travel on existing rail lines, which is now limited to 79 mph or less in most areas, could be increased to 110 mph or more with less-expensive improvements to track and signals, officials said.

"If you can gain velocity and improve the reliability and frequency of your service, the more people are going to become familiar with it and give up their cars and use the trains," said Bill Glavin, the first director of the Texas Department of Transportation's newly created rail division.

New era for Amtrak

For years, the nation's only coast-to-coast passenger rail service was scorned in Texas for its threadbare service and propensity to run hours behind schedule.

Amtrak was chronically cash-strapped and on several occasions faced the prospect of shutting down. Rail cars fell into disrepair, and riders complained about poor service on long-distance routes. The company, more formally known as National Railroad Passenger Corp., is a government-owned corporation formed in 1971 to relieve freight railroads of responsibility for passenger service.

Amtrak also didn't buy a single rail car or any other rolling stock between 2002 and 2008, company President Joseph Boardman testified to a congressional committee.


(Page 2 of 3)
But more recently, Congress has loosened its purse strings for Amtrak. A law enacted in 2008 authorizes $15.8 billion for Amtrak and other intercity passenger services through 2013, although Amtrak must request an appropriation each year and isn't guaranteed the full funding.

In 2011, Amtrak has budgeted $2.5 billion, including $446 million to replace some of its fleet. Amtrak plans to replace the entire fleet by 2040.

The average Amtrak rail car is 24 years old and runs hundreds of miles daily, with only 11/2 days off each month for maintenance, Boardman said.

Amtrak wants to put its resources into states that are serious about improving long-distance service on existing rail lines -- and increasing train speeds to 79, 110, 150 and even 220 mph.

"States are in the driver's seat, and we're their partner," Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said.

Turning point

Although Texas is years behind other states in developing a formal rail plan, the effort is at least now on track.

The turning point came late last year, said Peter LeCody, president of Texas Rail Advocates, a nonprofit Dallas organization. That's when the Texas Department of Transportation created a rail division to work on a long-term plan to expand rail statewide -- and the agency's chairwoman, Deirdre Delisi of Austin, publicly declared that passenger rail would be a vital part of the state's future.

"That was the single most important thing to happen in Texas in decades," LeCody said.

While it could be years before that shift in political support pays dividends, some modest improvements are under way.

Amtrak service within Dallas-Fort Worth is getting an upgrade. Texas was awarded $4 million in federal Recovery Act funding this year to double-track parts of the Trinity Railway Express commuter rail line between Dallas and Fort Worth to make room for Amtrak possibly by next year. Double-tracking allows trains to run simultaneously in two directions so one train doesn't have to park at a siding and wait for another to pass.

By using the TRE line, Amtrak can avoid the Union Pacific rail line in Arlington and the Tower 55 intersection near downtown Fort Worth, areas that are crowded with freight train traffic and can cause Amtrak long delays. Freight trains often take priority over passenger trains, even though Congress has offered financial incentives for railroads to give Amtrak priority clearance.

Once Amtrak is on the TRE line, the next natural step would be for it to add a stop at CentrePort-DFW Airport Station so travelers can transfer to flights at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Talks about adding that Amtrak station, which would be the third in Dallas-Fort Worth's urban area, are preliminary.

The railroad signals between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City are being modernized so that Amtrak can go 79 mph through the Texas portion of the trip -- and shave at least 15 minutes off the schedule. Currently, it takes four hours and 14 minutes for Amtrak to travel from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City. In Texas, that route is limited to about 55 mph most of the way.

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/24/2140346_p2/amtrak-making-a-comeback-in-texas.html#ixzz0m9sm9uT8


(Page 3 of 3)
Similar improvements were recently completed on the Oklahoma side of the route, where the train can now go 79 mph. In Texas, a $7 million federal grant was awarded this year to cover the signal-timing improvements.

Amtrak is negotiating with freight railroads to expand the Texas Eagle, possibly by the end of the year. The Texas Eagle serves Fort Worth daily with trains to Chicago and San Antonio.

Most of the week, the Texas Eagle ends at San Antonio. But on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, it continues beyond San Antonio as the Sunset Limited and takes passengers as far west as Los Angeles. Amtrak would like to expand that service, as well as San Antonio-to-New Orleans service, to seven days a week. Amtrak estimates that the move would lure 100,000 new passengers and shave seven hours off the travel time to the West Coast, which right now is about 42 hours from Fort Worth to Los Angeles.

Service from Fort Worth to Wichita, Kan., and Kansas City could be on the horizon. Today, the Heartland Flyer runs daily between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, but officials in Oklahoma and Kansas would like it to extend farther north.

The expanded service could bring 174,000 more riders to the Heartland Flyer but would require those states to contribute up to $8 million annually. The service may be years away, however, as major improvements might be needed on Kansas rails. Federal money may be available to offset those costs.

Cities are redeveloping their rail stations, hoping to provide an economic boost by giving residents of rural and suburban areas faster access to jobs in big cities. Fort Worth built its Intermodal Transportation Center at 1001 Jones St. in 2001. Other cities along the Texas Eagle route that have renovated stations in recent years include Cleburne, Marshall, Mineola, San Antonio, San Marcos, St. Louis, Temple and Arkadelphia, Ark.

Faster trains

Steps are being taken now so that the next generation of Texans may travel in 220-mph trains. By September, the state Transportation Department expects to complete a rail plan that will be presented to the Legislature in 2011. This summer, hearings will be held throughout Texas to get the public's input.

The document is expected to provide a detailed snapshot of freight and passenger train service in the state now and what it may look like many years down the road.

In the short term, the emphasis is on making service faster and doing whatever is necessary to ensure the trains run on time. Then a logical next step is to run the trains more often -- perhaps offering two or three trips a day from Fort Worth to, say, Austin, instead of just one.

Meanwhile, customers such as the Balsons, who rode the Heartland Flyer from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City, are less concerned with futuristic bullet trains and more concerned with passenger amenities such as clean coaches and on-time service.

"We look forward to doing it again," said Robert Balson, a retired federal agent.

He said they're thinking about taking the Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited from Fort Worth to Los Angeles and making their way from there to San Diego.

"We want to do a longer train ride, one where you can sleep most of the time."

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/24/2140346_p3/amtrak-making-a-comeback-in-texas.html#ixzz0m9sLQcMf

Where is Jacksonville? What is Florida doing? How many stations do they plan for us (wanna guess?) ?


OCKLAWAHA

[aaapolito]

From the Jax Daily Record, 04/23/2010


• Mayor John Peyton doesn’t plan to attend but was invited by Amtrak to take a May 1 inspection trip over the Florida East Coast Railway between Miami and Jacksonville. Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman said the idea is to bring public officials onboard to discuss development of intercity passenger rail as a way to “address highway and aviation congestion, protect the environment and enhance economic development.”

[Ocklawaha]

From the Jax Daily Record, 04/23/2010


• Mayor John Peyton doesn’t plan to attend but was invited by Amtrak to take a May 1 inspection trip over the Florida East Coast Railway between Miami and Jacksonville. Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman said the idea is to bring public officials onboard to discuss development of intercity passenger rail as a way to “address highway and aviation congestion, protect the environment and enhance economic development.”

Shame on you aaapolito!

Read that Amtrak statement again, "TO BRING PUBLIC OFFICIALS..." This is your mistake, a "PUBLIC OFFICIAL", works for the PUBLIC!  In Peyton's case, there is NO evidence that he has ever worked for the public.

OCKLAWAHA
Sure would be sweet if FEC came up with a red-yellow-black-silver Locomotive to lead that train!

[WeeklyJoe]

This was posted at the Railroad.net Amtrak forum:

"AMTRAK/FLORIDA EAST COAST INSPECTION TRAIN NORTHBOUND ON
SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010

I have been provided with the following schedule for the northbound trip on Saturday,
May 1, 2010:

Leave Miami, Downtown Lead, NW 1st Avenue Crossing at 8:30 AM

Arrive West Palm Beach, 3rd Street Crossing at 10:45 AM, Depart at 10:50 AM

Arrive Stuart, 2nd Street Crossing at 11:35 AM, Depart at 11:50 AM

Arrive Fort Pierce, Avenue A Crossing at 12:15 PM, Depart at 12:20 PM

Arrive Vero Beach, 23rd Street Crossing at 12:40 PM, Depart at 12:45 PM

Arrive Melbourne, Hibiscus Avenue Crossing at 1:20 PM, Depart at 1:25 PM

Arrive Cocoa, Dixon Boulevard Crossing at 1:45 PM, Depart at 1:50 PM

Arrive Titusville, South Street Crossing at 2:10 PM, Depart at 2:15 PM

Arrive Daytona Beach, Second Avenue Crossing at 3:05 PM, Depart at 3:10 PM

Arrive St. Augustine, 5th Street Crossing at 4:05 PM, Depart at 4:10 PM

Arrive Jacksonville, Amtrak Station at 5:25 PM

At all of the above stops on the Florida East Coast boarding will take place on the east side of the train.

There is always the possibility that conditions may cause a variance from the above schedule but this is what is lined up at present.

The southbound schedule on Thursday, April 29, 2010 is to leave Jacksonville, Amtrak
Station at 8:00 AM and operate non stop except for operating stops. Southbound train will operate direct to the Florida East Coast Terminal at Hialeah and then to be interchanged to CSX and forwarded to the Amtrak facilities at Hialeah/Miami passenger
station."

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=70482&start=45

[Jaxson]

That is great news about Amtrak and FEC.  I only wish that I could be there to experience that unique trip.

[LPBrennan]

From a source at Amtrak, I have learned this:

On Wednesday morning this week (April 28), train 91 will have an extra loco to be cut off in Jax.
Train 97 will have an extra loco plus Amtrak President Boardman's train, consisting of a sleeper, a dome car and the "Beech Grove" to be cut off in Jax. The two-engine three-car train will lay over in Jax on Wednesday and depart Thursday morning, April 29, at 8:00 am down the FEC non-stop to Miami. Don't know how they will get from FEC to CSX in south Florida. Train will layover in Miami on Friday for an "Employees Day" celebrating Amtrak's birthday, service awards, cookout, etc. Train will depart Miami Saturday morning, May 1, on the schedule below:

This is the Schedule as follows for the AMTRAK-FEC Inspection Trip May 1st, Miami to Jacksonville:

8:30am DP Miami
10:45am - 10:50am at West Palm Beach
11:35am - 11:50am at Stuart
12:15pm - 12:20pm at Ft. Pierce
12:40pm - 12:45pm at Vero
1:20pm - 1:25pm at Melbourne
1:45pm - 1:50pm at Cocoa
2:10pm - 2:15pm at Titusville
3:05pm - 3:10pm at Daytona
4:05pm - 4:10pm at St. Augustine
5:25pm AR at Jacksonville Amtrak Station

Upon arrival in Jacksonville, the train will be tacked on the rear of 98, with 98 holding for a 40-minute window, I assume to keep ahead of the Auto-Train. Part of this trip is in anticipation or Amtrak running over the FEC to Miami by the end of 2012. I was told Amtrak has been granted an exemption from having a FEC loco on the head of the train. It should be two-2 P42's and three Amtrak cars.

[mtraininjax]

Good lord, leave at 8:30, arrive at 5:25, that's no better time than what they have now through Orlando. So much for a better time, 9 hours to go 360 miles. Ugh.

[Ocklawaha]

Good lord, leave at 8:30, arrive at 5:25, that's no better time than what they have now through Orlando. So much for a better time, 9 hours to go 360 miles. Ugh.

GEEZE LOUISE MTRAIN!! I should hope they don't make better time, DAMN! This is an INSPECTION TRAIN, I really don't want them missing anything... Let's just hope all of the notes and track tests come out A+...

90 MPH is just around the corner, hell's bells, if they'd turn their heads and let me have a whack at it, we'd be running 100 AS IS! Tomorrow!  The only reason I didn't take the DMU above 80 on my slightly under cover run down in Miami is because the damn thing sounded like it was going to fly apart. FEC track is light-years better then that Tri-Rail crap.

OCKLAWAHA

[fsujax]

Good for Glorious. Any bets on if it will pass?

From the Daily Record today:

City Council member Glorious Johnson is sponsoring a bill that would encourage the re-establishment of Amtrak passenger rail service between Jacksonville and South Florida.