another HSR study

[blue streak 1]

Group proposes a HSR lione Columbus - Ft. Wayne - CHICAGO.  Proposing to follow CSX ROW.

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/north-america/columbus-–-chicago-passenger-rail-study-published.html?channel=542

All this indicates business are getting worried that the work now in progress out of CHI  --  STL/ DETRIOT will leave this other areas of IN & OH in the backwater ?

[jclass]

Here's copy of report:

http://niprarail.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Executive-Summary-for-Press-Release_62813_Final.pdf

 

[PNWRMNM]

jclass

Here's copy of report:

http://niprarail.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Executive-Summary-for-Press-Release_62813_Final.pdf

 

This is NOT a copy of the report. It is the Executive Summary of the Report, which is long on assertions and devoid of facts. I went to the proponent's site and could not find the entre report.

I found no discussion of how CSX is likely to react to a takeover of its line, which is what 12 fast trains per day each way will amount to. Projected costs of $4,000,000 per mile, including equipment, implies very little track construction which I would expect necessary to support the speed and frequency proposed. I also noticed completely wrong use of the term "Operating Ratio", which does not build confidence.

Mac McCulloch

[Overmod]

Some contact information for NIPRA:

Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association (NIPRA)
PO Box 10463, Fort Wayne, IN 46852

Primary Contacts:
Fred Lanahan, Board Chair (456-2590)
Richard Davis, Board Member (420-3266, x 302)
Phil Wright, Board Member (969-2402)

They also have a Facebook page, which I did not much bother with.  Someone interested in Facebook might ask for a link to the full plan to be put up there.

[Phoebe Vet]

So now we are posting the speeds in Kph instead of miles per hour to make it sound faster than it really is?  I guess that is one way to pretend we are planning high speed rail.

[schlimm]

One question I have concerns RoW.  There were many lines east from Chicago in the past: PRR, NYC, NKP, Erie, B&O, at least.  Seems to me at least one of those is lightly used or abandoned.   Why not purchase (should be fairly cheap) it so real HSR with a dedicated RoW could be possible?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Much of the now-abandoned Erie main has been sold off and may not be available for a reasonable price.  Even with a lightly-used main such the ex-PRR main, what to do with the freight service still has be addressed.

[schlimm]

Perhaps the ex-PRR freight can find an alternative, or move at night.

[Jim200]

These lightly used ex-PRR lines seem to be a fast way to implement high speed rail from Chicago to Columbus. However, they should look at how the Dallas to Houston HSR is giving emphasis to passenger pickup in the metro area. At a minimum there should be additional stations with parking at the northwest Columbus I-270 bypass, southeast Fort Wayne I-469 bypass, and northwest Fort Wayne I-69. The local trains should also have stops at Van Wert, Ohio and Columbia City, Indiana. Chicago is also not easy, since the Metra downtown stations don't connect, and who wants to waste time with a downtown pickup.

[Phoebe Vet]

Jim200

These lightly used ex-PRR lines seem to be a fast way to implement high speed rail from Chicago to Columbus. However, they should look at how the Dallas to Houston HSR is giving emphasis to passenger pickup in the metro area. At a minimum there should be additional stations with parking at the northwest Columbus I-270 bypass, southeast Fort Wayne I-469 bypass, and northwest Fort Wayne I-69. The local trains should also have stops at Van Wert, Ohio and Columbia City, Indiana. Chicago is also not easy, since the Metra downtown stations don't connect, and who wants to waste time with a downtown pickup.

Every stop added greatly reduces the end to end speed.  What you are asking for is commuter rail.  There may well be a market for it, but that cannot be HSR.

[schlimm]

Phoebe Vet

Jim200

These lightly used ex-PRR lines seem to be a fast way to implement high speed rail from Chicago to Columbus. However, they should look at how the Dallas to Houston HSR is giving emphasis to passenger pickup in the metro area. At a minimum there should be additional stations with parking at the northwest Columbus I-270 bypass, southeast Fort Wayne I-469 bypass, and northwest Fort Wayne I-69. The local trains should also have stops at Van Wert, Ohio and Columbia City, Indiana. Chicago is also not easy, since the Metra downtown stations don't connect, and who wants to waste time with a downtown pickup.

Every stop added greatly reduces the end to end speed.  What you are asking for is commuter rail.  There may well be a market for it, but that cannot be HSR.

Except for Metra IC, the other Metra stations (Oglivie and LaSalle) are quite close to Union Station.

[Jim200]

In the NIPRA feasability study, there are 6 express trains at 130 mph stopping at Lima, Fort Wayne, Gary, and Chicago. Perhaps someone knows if the Gary stop connects to the South Shore Line in some way. For express trains there can be only one stop at Fort Wayne. However, in leaving Columbus I would want to load up as many passengers as possible. Most suburbanites don't know what a bus is, but they do know interstates and other main roads. There are also 6 regular trains at 110 mph and it is here where more stops would be helpful. According to the NIPRA proposed timetable, it takes 6 to 7 minutes to make two stops, thus we are talking about 17 extra minutes. ¶//As far as Chicago is concerned, it is probably easy if you know the system. But if you are a stranger hoping to get tourist info in Union Station and help for hotels, attractions, banking, shopping as happens at all major cities, I didn't find it. I did manage to find a lot of Metra brochures and a confusing map. Maybe I needed to go to Ogilvie, but I think the tunnel was closed. Amtrak help was available, and makes for a nice easy connection from the proposed high speed line. Also most Metra lines to the suburbs are fine, once you know where to go. However, for many of the tourist attractions you need to use the far away Metra electric line or figure out the confusing bus routes, which I was told not to use. Also if I was going to an airport, I would have to find the blue or orange elevated line. I hope it isn't raining.

[schlimm]

Jim200

Also most Metra lines to the suburbs are fine, once you know where to go. However, for many of the tourist attractions you need to use the far away Metra electric line or figure out the confusing bus routes, which I was told not to use. Also if I was going to an airport, I would have to find the blue or orange elevated line. I hope it isn't raining.

1. Most of Chicago's attractions and many of the offices businessmen would go are in the center: the Loop and adjacent areas.  Union Station is already right there.

2. Ogilvie is a pleasant two block walk north of Union Station. There is no "tunnel."   Is that too hard?

3. Getting to O'Hare (or Midway) from Union Station is not convenient, but most train riders wouldn't be going to the airports, anyway.

[schlimm]

Jim200

According to the NIPRA proposed timetable, it takes 6 to 7 minutes to make two stops, thus we are talking about 17 extra minutes.

It may take only 2-4 minutes of DWELL TIME at each stop, but it also takes time to decelerate and accelerate from/to 110 or 179 mph for each station.