well, first off, service on the FEC: JAX-MIA California style with 6-8 trains a day, plus an extension of a silver service train splitting at JAX. LAX-Las Vegas is a service that I don't know why hasn't been started years ago. Chicago-Florida via Atlanta goes through several large metropolitan areas and should be well patronised. the Carolinian extended to Atlanta. on the 'pie in the sky' wish list is the extension of the Sunset from New Orleans to Orlando. oh, and how about starting rail service (Tri-Rail) on the seldom used ex Seaboard freight line from the MIA airport Tri-Rail station to Homestead/Florida City? (you might deduce from my above list that I live in south Florida, the Keys)
1. Extension of the VERMONTER to Montreal.
2. Extension of the PALMETTO to Jacksonville.
3. Running the SILVER METEOR as a Boston (Inland route)-Florida train with separate Tampa Bay and Miami(FEC) sections.
4. Finally combining the CAPITOL LTD with thru cars from the PENNSYLVANIAN at Pittsburgh, adjusting the schedules closer to the PENNSYLVANIAN times in Pittsburgh and and rerouting the combined train between Butler, IN and Chicago through Fort Wayne via NS (ex Wabash & NKP).
5. Additional stops on the LAKESHORE LIMITED to include Painesville OH, Ashtabula,OH and Fredonia, NY.
6. Assigning better equipment to the ADIRONDACK by either leasing some of the surplus VIA coaches or as suggested elsewhere on this forum once the Talgo situation has been resolved swap out two existing sets from the Cascadia corridor to this scenic line. Amfleet doesn't do it justice.
7. When (if) the SOUTHWEST CHIEF is re-routed over the transcon line run a thru coach and sleeper to connect to the Bay Area with an existing SAN JOAQUIN.
bill613a 3. Running the SILVER METEOR as a Boston (Inland route)-Florida train with separate Tampa Bay and Miami(FEC) sections.
Fine idea but would require another set of single level equipment. also would probably mess up the necessary rotation of single level equipment to / from the MIA maintenance base.
cannot see this any time soon as there is just not enough equipment any time in the for seeable future.
bill613a3. Running the SILVER METEOR as a Boston (Inland route)-Florida train with separate Tampa Bay and Miami(FEC) sections.
Has there ever been more than a through car to and from Boston on a Florida train? Not as far as I know. But perhaps a through car might be considered.
John WR bill613a3. Running the SILVER METEOR as a Boston (Inland route)-Florida train with separate Tampa Bay and Miami(FEC) sections. Has there ever been more than a through car to and from Boston on a Florida train? Not as far as I know. But perhaps a through car might be considered.
Back at the dawn of Amtrak, the FL train ran from Boston for a while, I think. I'll have to dig out an old timetable or two...
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
oltmanndBack at the dawn of Amtrak, the FL train ran from Boston for a while, I think. I'll have to dig out an old timetable or two...
That's very good of you Don, but I don't expect you to regard my post as assigned research. I'll be happy to take your word for it and stand corrected.
John
The Boston-Florida train operated briefly in about 1973 or so. I believe it can be found in the third Amtrak timetable, which was the first one that was more than just schedules inherited from the freight railroads. It is also infamous for being a proofreader's nightmare.
I don't believe this plan would require another set of equipment. Currently #97 gets into Miami at 7pm and goes out as #98 the next morning at 8:20am. If #98 were extended to Boston it would arrive at approximately 4:30pm and this equipment would go out as #97 the next morning somewhere between 10-11:am As far as the maintenance issue goes the Tampa and Miami sections could periodically be rotated.
My list of suggestions was based on the premise of low hanging fruit and the fact that AMTRAK got a reprieve in the last election. IIRC no major recommendations from the PRIIA of FY 2010 have been implemented. The CAPITOL/PENNSYLVANIAN consolidation needs to happen and happen soon.
John WRbut I don't expect you to regard my post as assigned research.
I'll just copy off Paul's paper...
oltmanndI'll just copy off Paul's paper..
Are you a fan of Doris Kearns Goodwin?
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