Funding has been received to build the planned extension north to Windsor, just north of Santa Rosa: http://sonomamarintrain.org/node/223
I'm a little skeptical about the ridership possibilities; this town is known to be infested with multi-thousand sq-ft McMansions whose owners may not step out of their Lexus' and BMW's.
SMART is also pursing funding for the extension to Healdsburg a little further north; I believe that the Russian River bridge will have to be refurbished.
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
A little more money is coming for the Larkspur extension:
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SMART-railroad-wins-funding-to-extend-to-Larkspur-12820111.php
No details if the station will be closer to the ferry terminal.
...and they get across Anderson Dr and Francisco Blvd W exactly how? (You just know that the inept crooks in San Rafael City Hall aren't going to own up to that blunder*! [5 lane crossing at a skew angle at an urban US-101 freeway interchange])
(*) another case of the railroad isn't coming back, so we can do as we please even though we signed a VERY restrictive agreement with NWP and SMART to place the crossing back in service when the time comes at city expense.
Really need Chad Thomas' popcorn icon for this thread.
Some important news - apparently SMART has found enough taxpayer $$$ to award a contract for the critical extension from San Rafael to Larkspur:
http://www.marinij.com/general-news/20170622/smart-awards-363m-contract-for-larkspur-extension
Not sure exactly what this funding covers. The bus station and some adjacent roadways in downtown San Rafael require major modification and relocation.
To be successful, they will need to build a weather tight pedestrian walkway (people mover?) directly from the southern terminus across Sir Francis Drake Highway to the ferry terminal. Otherwise, commuters will face a ridiculously long walk. Good luck with that.
I don't think there are enough timber related loads near Willits to justify rebuilding that far north. Healdsburg may be the next stage after the critical one from San Rafael to the Larkspur ferry stop. Mother Nature has wreaked havoc with the tunnels and ROW north of Healdsburg.
On top of that cost, NWP has to win the court battle with the eco-luddites in SMART who've just decided to not issue track warrants for hazmat trains.
MikeF90 ... North of Windsor the line is currently embargoed. Freight service might be restored to Willits eventually but there seems no economic justification (customers) to rebuild this section...
...
North of Windsor the line is currently embargoed. Freight service might be restored to Willits eventually but there seems no economic justification (customers) to rebuild this section...
At one time the California Western wanted the Willits interchange restored for their lumber traffic. Is this no longer the case?
Each car has only one engine (19 liter 6-cylinder 760hp) and 'hydraulic' transmission - someone here will have the specs that indicate how much of that output is traction power vs. lighting and HVAC, and what the speeds for two- and three-car consist with one engine not running would be.
This is a different problem; it's not that an engine isn't running, it's that the engine put a rod through the block after a crankshaft-related failure! Do you really think the train will just continue to finish its run 'at reduced speed' after that happens?
Budd RDC's could run allbeit at reduced speed with one engine OOS. Are the Sumitomo cars one engine per car (two engines on a two car train) and can they not operate with just one engine? Western Pacific ran its single RDC from Oakland to Salt Lake City routinely. It seems today that we can't reinvent the wheel.
To bring this thread more up to date, here is the newspaper link regarding the required replacement of the DMU Cummins engines: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/6193635-181/engine-failure-on-toronto-rail
SMART is also trying to find a fix for unreliable crossing gates. Apparently the DMU wheels aren't cleaning off the rust fast enough, so some fancy Brillo pads or some such may be required. What does the NCTD Sprinter do?
At the relative last moment, the City of Novato is trying to implement a new downtown station. As to why this location wasn't considered before, consider that this is Marin County where Bat S**t Crazy can be elevated to a whole new level.
Petaluma (and possibly other cities) are coming to realize that they want Quiet Zones. Big Duh. Weren't they paying attention during the EIR process?
From another thread, perhaps Mr. Mudchicken can elaborate on better workarounds for the platform gantlet tracks. TIA!
The SMART directors have just decided on the 'introductory' fares for the system. A one way trip from Santa Rosa to San Rafael will cost $9.50. Various discounts are also available.
http://main.sonomamarintrain.org/
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/5685486-181/santa-rosa-to-san-rafael
For comparison, a similar distance on SoCal Metrolink (35 miles, LAUS to Tustin) costs $10.
The first SMART 'preview' train ran into downtown San Rafael yesterday:
http://www.marinij.com/general-news/20160304/commuter-train-rolls-into-san-rafael-for-the-first-time-in-50-years
Apparently the station platforms are substantially complete or close to it. IIRC dispatching of the line was turned over from CFNR to the new SMART operations center recently.
UPDATE - some other photos taken of downtown SR and nearby ROW.
http://www.altamontpress.com/discussion/read.php?1,130227
blue streak 1 A grade crossing incident waiting to happen. The stop light does not change to allow autos to clear the track(s) And if a TT does not clear a full DMU ? OMG Grade crossing tests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4FNRJFMTUI
A grade crossing incident waiting to happen. The stop light does not change to allow autos to clear the track(s) And if a TT does not clear a full DMU ? OMG
Grade crossing tests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4FNRJFMTUI
Unfortunately, that's only necessary in those places where most people are to stupid to read road signage and not follow directions by NOT stopping on the railroad tracks. Since most Americans don't use common sense we have problems like this...a majority of drivers will ignore the sign that says "Do Not Stop on Tracks", as well as th most likely not visible markings on the street that state "Keep Clear"(though there will be more that will actually pay attention to this since it's actually on the road way). Otherwise, there's no need to allow vehicles to clear a crossing they shouldn't be in...after a few dozen cars get totalled and the owners have to pay replacement costs out of pocket(insurance won't cover negligence) people will learn.
Those horns do get your attention, which is part of their function.
081552I will be interesting to see how the DMUs work out. SMART didn't want the Caltrain system of locomotive-hauled passenger cars for a few reasons. As long as ridership doesn't skyrocket, they should be o.k.
Unfortunately, the locals didn't prevent the Marin bike nazis from wasting a huge amount of taxpayer money on the new commuter hostile ped/bike bridge in Larkspur; an extremely long walk to the ferry and not covered to boot. This will bite SMART in the rear big time ridership-wise. If I'm proven wrong, it looks like a non-cab car could be inserted into the existing consist. Hopefully riders can walk between cars to reach a platform adjacent door.
Just discovered that many YouTube videos have been posted recently about the SMART train testing / driver 'conditioning' now underway. Here is a sample:
Crossing the new bascule lift bridge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llYp_PaEVdI
Testing brakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-aDMSdgJEA
More speed testing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5S7jbJ5_9A
And what is it with new rail transit agencies that approve the most obnoxious sounding horns? SMART horns sound like a badly built and tuned harmonica to me.
I will be interesting to see how the DMUs work out. SMART didn't want the Caltrain system of locomotive-hauled passenger cars for a few reasons. As long as ridership doesn't skyrocket, they should be o.k.
SMART recently held 'a media tour' of the new Rail Operations Center. Of note is that it will be one of the first railroads to fully deploy PTC when it opens late this year.
http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/northbay/sonomacounty/5141391-181/smart-rail-operations-center
http://www.marinij.com/article/NO/20160127/NEWS/160129810
The SMART website also posted a bimonthly General Managers report that has some status details (see link at page bottom).
http://www2.sonomamarintrain.org/
The report doesn't mention the recent (locally controversial) efforts by the Novato City Council to partially fund and build a downtown station:
http://www.marinij.com/general-news/20160127/novato-approves-partial-construction-of-downtown-smart-station
Per existing agreements SMART has no obligation to stop there, so get out the popcorn - this should be interesting ....
Schimmick Construction has begun to cut over the new Petaluma River bridge.
http://www.petaluma360.com/news/4494765-181/new-rail-bridge-spans-petaluma
Assembly of the bridge will be completed, track laid and everything tested to the Coast Guard's and other agencies satisfaction. The contractor is allowed up to 18 days for this task during which NWP freight operations are isolated on either side.
They are also putting up new signals in downtown San Rafael, the current south end of SMART commuter service.
http://www.altamontpress.com/discussion/read.php?1,123296
The replacement bridge over the Petaluma River has been assembled and will be lowered and tested shortly:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/4325941-181/smart-rail-bridge-put-in?page=0
The old 'Haystack' bridge did not receive any bidders and will be scrapped.
Of historical interest only, another video of the NWP from the Detour wye in Corte Madera to the south end at Sausalito has been published:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAMJnmkW-tM
As these ROW segments have built on extensively, no railroad service can be restored.
More photos of a SMART train exhibition run to San Rafael have been posted:
http://www.altamontpress.com/discussion/read.php?1,119907
The first photo shows the 'new' Haystack bridge (photo right) being readied for emplacement and use this year.
Returning from a trip to Mendocino county last week, it is more apparent why this service should achieve good ridership figures. For historic state and county bureaucratic reasons, the Hwy 101 freeway between Petaluma and north Novato is still a total CF. Currently several upgrades / widenings are underway but appear to be non-contiguous, very strange and superbly dumb. By contrast, the freeway north of Petaluma is six lane to north Santa Rosa and has been upgraded to modern standards. No improvements seem to be started south of the Marin County line.
A video of the NWP route south of San Rafael to TIburon has been posted on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Sw5uR4MwI
In the next phase, passenger service will be extended south to the Larkspur ferry just south of the dual use Cal Park Hill tunnel. Further south, the ROW is partially used for hiking and bike paths.
Just came across some new photos of track laying near Puerto Suello Tunnel on another forum:
http://www.altamontpress.com/discussion/read.php?1,118572
Very little track laying left to do in this phase, estimated start of service is still 'late 2016'.
The DMU cars were available for public view yesterday in Cotati:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/3762218-181/first-smart-cars-roll-into
http://patch.com/california/rohnertpark-cotati/marin-sonoma-smart-pilot-train-debuts
An aerial video of the first cars arriving on the property was posted:
Another video shows the DMU at Cotati station. Notice the gantlet track on the northbound main: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF37KODXu3s
MikeF90 chutton01 Looks like those NIMBYs were finally and deservedly defeated, although I have no idea how long the battle raged (my guess would be decades) or how heated it got.. When the construction is complete, I'll believe it. Someone caught the arrival of the first DMU's onto the property a few days ago:
chutton01 Looks like those NIMBYs were finally and deservedly defeated, although I have no idea how long the battle raged (my guess would be decades) or how heated it got..
When the construction is complete, I'll believe it.
Someone caught the arrival of the first DMU's onto the property a few days ago:
chutton01Looks like those NIMBYs were finally and deservedly defeated, although I have no idea how long the battle raged (my guess would be decades) or how heated it got..
A classic understatement! Having grown up across the bay and passed through many times to visit relatives, I have few nice thoughts about the over-the-top ecoNIMBYs who have obstructed completion of the freeway between Novato and Petaluma.
This video shows the existing Haystack Bridge swinging closed for the train.
Due to the planned SMART headway of 30 minutes, the 'new' bridge will be closed far more often soon.
More details on the existing and replacement bridges:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2306104-181/smart-to-buy-a-drawbridge?page=0
A video of the existing Haystack Bridge which will be replaced in a few months:
The replacement is a bridge previously used by the BNSF at Galveston, TX and is being modified and refurbished. It will be placed on piers eight feet taller and further apart to allow passage of smaller boats.
In 2013 the Cinnabar trestle just north of Petaluma was replaced:
A NWP test train run in 2011; the video is a cab ride showing what SMART riders will see in the near future:
Link to my Google map with some NWP/SMART points of interest:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zfWCoGpokp7Y.kbMmbf2ykHjA
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