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[Anonymous]

I know around St. Louis there were talks of relaying the "kikwood cutoff" do to traffic on the main in to downtown St. Louis. I believe they sent surveyers out to look at the old ROW about 6 monthes ago. Havent heard of anything lately though.

Heres a link as to what the line looks like now, I believe they cut out about 7 or so miles...?
http://www.abandonedrailroads.com/mo_mpup_kirkwoodcutoff.htm

I grew up about a 1/2 mile away from this line, and I remember that in about 1990 or so the tracks officially "went out of service."

[Anonymous]

So far everything in Vancouver was quickly turned into condos as soon as the track was abandoned.

Hard to believe there were even train tracks in some of the areas that are out there today.

We also have the "Sky Train" which is a rapid tranist line that runs over old CP rail right-of-way.

[ndbprr]

Yes there have been but probably not the type you are thinking of. i can't give an example off the top of my head but there have been interchanges removed and restored based on traffic patterns and needs. There was one in upstate New York redone to allow Amtrak to continue in one direction rather than back up through an interlocking to proceed. Saved them something like 20 minutes. If you are talking major segments like rails to trails probably rarely but again I can't give you an example. Don't forget the overall number of miles of track continues the downward spiral from the 1940's and will probably continue to do so. I know in the boonies of Illinois are numerous grain elevators that I can recall had rail service as soon as the 1980's that the rail is gone. Unless a major revenue generator needs rail service and guarantees a firm number of cars it won't be done.

[yellowducky]

CSX line through Garrett, IN.
They tried to single-track it from the east to Chicago, IL, over the years.

Now, not only has alot (most?) been re-doubletracked, but a new, third, "high speed" track was laid through Garrett (and elsewhere) when the underpass was built. Reason, former Conrail traffic?

[Anonymous]

Here in the San Antonio, TX area, when the U.P. took over the Katy, they abandoned the ex. Katy main line between San Antonio and San Marcos, about 40 miles. Most of the tracks were never taken up, but in some places they were paved over at grade crossings, and the crossing of the ex. Katy and ex. M.P. in New Braunfels was removed. Three years later, traffic had picked up so much that they fixed it up, put the crossing back in, put up signs at all the grade crossings warning automobile drivers that trains were again running on these tracks, and opened it up. They have since been using the ex. Katy between San Antonio and San Marcos as the northbound main, and the ex. M.P. between those same cities as the southbound main. Carl