Schlimm: What would be the point of Rauner being "anti-freight rail" even if he wanted to be? Freight rail is out of his reach, not in the state budget.
PNWRMNM He has to cut somewhere and welfare for the rich seems a reasonble place to cut. What is the point of your original last sentance? Mac
He has to cut somewhere and welfare for the rich seems a reasonble place to cut. What is the point of your original last sentance?
Mac
"Just not anti-freight rail, because those are corporations."
Ok my point is this. Rauner wants to cut funding for passenger rail, both commuter and state-supported short corridor services. That is obviously anti-passneger rail, which previously received bipartisan support for many years. He is not anti-freight rail, because those railroads are private corporations not receiving state aid for operations, although the UP has benefited from the capital infrastructure improvements on the CHI-STL route and all lines through Chicago will benefit from the major project to reduce bottlenecks. That money is federal. Actually, I do not understand your point at all. Never said anything about "welfare for the rich." The infrastructure improvements have benefits far beyond the individual rails, such as society.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Just as it says. If state-supported funding for Amtrak is cut, services will be reduced, probably. If that happens, that is clearly anti-passenger rail.
schlimm And cutting funding for Amtrak services seems mighty anti-rail to me. Just not anti-freight rail, because those are corporations.
Schlimm,
What are you trying to say here?
Buslist schlimm Buslist schlimm CMStPnP They should go with Chicago to Madison instead. I would think that would be a lot cheaper to rehab, probably higher ridership, plus Wisconsin might split the tab with Illinois. The current ocupant in Madison already killed that project. However, the train to Rockford could be extended to Madison. But with anti-rail types like Walker and Rauner, nothing will happen, including Quad Cities. so far we don't know that Rauner is anti rail. It was never a specific issue in the campaign. What has happened is that Rauner has put a hold on capital spending by all state agencies. That happens to include rail projects as well as highway. Seems pretty anti-rail to any fair observer, as now he has gone beyond freezing capital spending, but also cutting operations: [from MHSRA] "Governor Rauner just announced major reductions in funding for Amtrak and Metra, including a nearly 40% cut for state-supported Amtrak operations. Other transit cuts include PACE and CTA." Seems he's not anti rail, but anti public transit, as funds to Pace (suburban Chicago bus system) are being cut as well. Somehow downstate transit systems have escaped cuts.
schlimm Buslist schlimm CMStPnP They should go with Chicago to Madison instead. I would think that would be a lot cheaper to rehab, probably higher ridership, plus Wisconsin might split the tab with Illinois. The current ocupant in Madison already killed that project. However, the train to Rockford could be extended to Madison. But with anti-rail types like Walker and Rauner, nothing will happen, including Quad Cities. so far we don't know that Rauner is anti rail. It was never a specific issue in the campaign. What has happened is that Rauner has put a hold on capital spending by all state agencies. That happens to include rail projects as well as highway. Seems pretty anti-rail to any fair observer, as now he has gone beyond freezing capital spending, but also cutting operations: [from MHSRA] "Governor Rauner just announced major reductions in funding for Amtrak and Metra, including a nearly 40% cut for state-supported Amtrak operations. Other transit cuts include PACE and CTA."
Buslist schlimm CMStPnP They should go with Chicago to Madison instead. I would think that would be a lot cheaper to rehab, probably higher ridership, plus Wisconsin might split the tab with Illinois. The current ocupant in Madison already killed that project. However, the train to Rockford could be extended to Madison. But with anti-rail types like Walker and Rauner, nothing will happen, including Quad Cities. so far we don't know that Rauner is anti rail. It was never a specific issue in the campaign. What has happened is that Rauner has put a hold on capital spending by all state agencies. That happens to include rail projects as well as highway.
schlimm CMStPnP They should go with Chicago to Madison instead. I would think that would be a lot cheaper to rehab, probably higher ridership, plus Wisconsin might split the tab with Illinois. The current ocupant in Madison already killed that project. However, the train to Rockford could be extended to Madison. But with anti-rail types like Walker and Rauner, nothing will happen, including Quad Cities.
CMStPnP They should go with Chicago to Madison instead. I would think that would be a lot cheaper to rehab, probably higher ridership, plus Wisconsin might split the tab with Illinois.
The current ocupant in Madison already killed that project. However, the train to Rockford could be extended to Madison. But with anti-rail types like Walker and Rauner, nothing will happen, including Quad Cities.
so far we don't know that Rauner is anti rail. It was never a specific issue in the campaign. What has happened is that Rauner has put a hold on capital spending by all state agencies. That happens to include rail projects as well as highway.
Seems he's not anti rail, but anti public transit, as funds to Pace (suburban Chicago bus system) are being cut as well. Somehow downstate transit systems have escaped cuts.
Like Walker, a tool of the highwy lobby. And cutting funding for Amtrak services seems mighty anti-rail to me. Just not anti-freight rail, because those are corporations.
Governor Rauner may have been a successful stock trader (he ran an investment firm) but he is a political neophyte. He has yet to learn that the General Assembly isn't going to roll over and approve his requests because he said so. It will be an interesting session this year.
Unfortunately, it looks like the argument over routes to Rockford is not over and while that might not have played a role here. The pro-rail group in the article below is advocating to the Illinois Governor placing the Rockford Amtrak service on hold pending more research on the proposed route.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2015/02/12/genoa-leaders-continue-to-push-for-amtrak-route-through-town/a3wg8wg/?page=1
billio schlimm Today, as when it was C&NW Wisconsin Division, the UP-North line splits at Crystal Lake. Some train go on to McHenry, some to Harvard, but most terminate in Crystal Lake. I think you meant the UP Northwest Line...
schlimm Today, as when it was C&NW Wisconsin Division, the UP-North line splits at Crystal Lake. Some train go on to McHenry, some to Harvard, but most terminate in Crystal Lake.
Today, as when it was C&NW Wisconsin Division, the UP-North line splits at Crystal Lake. Some train go on to McHenry, some to Harvard, but most terminate in Crystal Lake.
I think you meant the UP Northwest Line...
Yes. Quite correct. CNW Galena Div = UP West; CNW Milwaukee Div. = UP North
H-h-h-h-m-m-m-m.....
http://www.isthmus.com/daily/article.php?article=43025
One comment about the Lake Geneva branch prior to the RTA, weekday service was provided but it was a minimal rush-hour only operation. Service was first cut back to Richmond and later to McHenry.
Good analysis
CMStPnP schlimm The current ocupant in Madison already killed that project. However, the train to Rockford could be extended to Madison. But with anti-rail types like Walker and Rauner, nothing will happen, including Quad Cities. I was talking about the Chicago to Madison routing via Milwaukee Road track via Fox Lake / Metra? Are you sure it's dead? Because if I didn't know any better I would think Ed Ellis is trying to restart it all out of his own pocket...... https://www.travelpullman.com/varsity.html "The Varsity" was the name of the former Milwaukee Road train. Metra made some bad decisions rail system wise as well, among them was to abandon the Lake Geneva, WI stop on the former C&NW NW line and pull back to Harvard, IL. Lake Geneva, WI is and always be a nice escapist destination for Chicago residents, who continue to travel there by car in droves. Really have no clue why Metra did not continue to serve that stop as it has Kenosha, WI after they took over from the C&NW. Decision seems shortsighted to me.
schlimm The current ocupant in Madison already killed that project. However, the train to Rockford could be extended to Madison. But with anti-rail types like Walker and Rauner, nothing will happen, including Quad Cities.
I was talking about the Chicago to Madison routing via Milwaukee Road track via Fox Lake / Metra?
Are you sure it's dead? Because if I didn't know any better I would think Ed Ellis is trying to restart it all out of his own pocket......
https://www.travelpullman.com/varsity.html
"The Varsity" was the name of the former Milwaukee Road train.
Metra made some bad decisions rail system wise as well, among them was to abandon the Lake Geneva, WI stop on the former C&NW NW line and pull back to Harvard, IL. Lake Geneva, WI is and always be a nice escapist destination for Chicago residents, who continue to travel there by car in droves. Really have no clue why Metra did not continue to serve that stop as it has Kenosha, WI after they took over from the C&NW. Decision seems shortsighted to me.
Got some pretty mixed up stuff here!
Chicago Madison is currently dead as a state supported operation, not sure it was ever in that category. Good luck to Ed if he wants to make a go of it, but at this point not even on the radar screen of either state's DOT (and don't do "it should be", their planners study the numbers and the benefits and don't see it).
Service is based on the choice of a large city that llinois is looking to support with rail service ( what a concept ) so Rockford is the choice.
Lake Geneva was cut back to Mc Henery, Harverd is on a different route. Before METRA, CNW had let the track deteriorate to almost Class 1 condition, and that traffic you speak of was weekend summer only, not daily commuter, so if I was METRA and had one more $ to invest it wouldn't be there. (FYI my cousin's wife was mayor of Lake Geneva so I know a bit about this).
Kenosha survives as it is the next storage yard north of Wakeegan for trains operating that far north, not because of any desire on METRA's part to serve WI. If they're going there we'll carry paying passengers!
schlimmThe current ocupant in Madison already killed that project. However, the train to Rockford could be extended to Madison. But with anti-rail types like Walker and Rauner, nothing will happen, including Quad Cities.
CMStPnPThey should go with Chicago to Madison instead. I would think that would be a lot cheaper to rehab, probably higher ridership, plus Wisconsin might split the tab with Illinois.
Makes me wonder about Chicago-Quad Cities.
$223 milion is a lot of money for that short of distance and one train, IMO.
They should go with Chicago to Madison instead. I would think that would be a lot cheaper to rehab, probably higher ridership, plus Wisconsin might split the tab with Illinois.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-plan-for-amtrak-service-from-chicago-to-rockford-on-hold-20150209-story.html
Likely the planned Blackhawk service is dead.
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