Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor Extension to Reno, and UP In “Triage Mode”

[K. P. Harrier]

Forum readers may find the follow item informative and thought provoking.

http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20050414/NEWS/50414010&SearchID=73205332535823

OR

http://www.railroadnews.net/news/4-16.html (Second news item)

[PNWRMNM]

Do you think pulling up the "redundant" second main over the hill has anything to do with this. That was an SP Moyers move if I recall correctly.

[PNWRMNM]

Second thought is bring UP the money to rebuild and maintain the second main and I am sure they would go along. I am willing to bet the locals want to use the line for free. Wonder how that got left out of the story??

[daveklepper]

That is the whole point. None of the people wanting the service lives on welfare checks and food stamps!

[edbenton]

UP has to be kicking themselves in the pants right now. The second main over donner would help them with congestion like they would not belive but they would have to spend the money to put it back down and this is from the smae company that cancelled all capital spending one year just so the big wigs could get around 400 mil in stock options. I do not see them spending that kind of money. If a manager goes over his budget for any reason at all they are fired on the spot feel sorry for those who had washouts this winter.

[chad thomas]

There is less than 20 miles of single track over Donner. I doubt that makes all that much differance on a 135 mile line.

[bobwilcox]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edbenton

...this is from the smae company that cancelled all capital spending one year just so the big wigs could get around 400 mil in stock options.

In what year did the capital budget go to zero? I want to look at the financial reports for that year.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

There is less than 20 miles of single track over Donner. I doubt that makes all that much differance on a 135 mile line.

To add to Chad's post, there were two section of double track taken out. First section is between Switch 9 (170.9) and Shed 10 (177.9) the other piece of missing double track is between Norden (190.9) and Shed 47 (196.2).

Jim

[chad thomas]

About 13 miles. I'd say no big deal. Mabee just a slight bottleneck.

[K. P. Harrier]

How many freight trains per day traverse Donner?

Regarding the original post …

It is rather unbelievable -- at least to me, anyway -- that there is an effort to start a commuter run between Sacramento and Reno. It has been over a decade since I’ve traversed I-80 between those points. The lengthy pass hasn’t been transformed into an area of continuous skyscrapers, has it?

[chad thomas]

No, but a lot of Bay area residents go to Reno on the weekends.

[K. P. Harrier]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

No, but a lot of Bay area residents go to Reno on the weekends.

Oh, I’m starting to get the picture. I now understand WHERE the money will come from …

[Anonymous]

I think it would be smart of Amtrak if they had a bus from Truckee to North and South Lake Tahoe, instead of going up from Sacramento. There is a lot of times that I would have taken the train up to Tahoe, but I decided to drive because I didn't want to take a bus from Sacramento. I have to taken the TCE from Reno a few times, but there is a big market there if they would just send the busses from Truckee. Also, if they go up there, would they put on a Sightseer Lounge Car? I think that would be a wise idea.
Brad

[edbenton]

It was I think in 2002 that it happened for the stock options even the Federal goverment is looking into it for accounting issues.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by K. P. Harrier

How many freight trains per day traverse Donner?

Regarding the original post …

It is rather unbelievable -- at least to me, anyway -- that there is an effort to start a commuter run between Sacramento and Reno. It has been over a decade since I’ve traversed I-80 between those points. The lengthy pass hasn’t been transformed into an area of continuous skyscrapers, has it?

K. P. Harris,

About 6 to 7 months ago John Bromley, UP's PR guy, stated that Donner was getting 17 to 19 trains a day. During the merger UP estimated that by now there would be 25 trains a day running over Donner. I don't think Donner is the bottle neck. During all of UP's past problems mostly Donner was fuild, it was the railroad east of Nevada that had problems, along with UP's Roseville yard and the railroad west of there.

CalTrains approched Nevada a couple of times during the last 10 years about running trains to Reno, NV - But, as I understand it a formula for funding the service could not be worked out. That road block may have been worked out between California and Nevada by now, I haven't heard one way or other about it.

Jim

[Anonymous]

It is my understanding the UP is trying to limit the number of trains over Donner Pass until the Reno Re-Trac project has been completed, which is currently projected to happen by Thanksgiving. Currently all Donner Pass traffic passes over a single track shoofly through
alleys and streets of downtown Reno. Once completed, UP will have a double track speedway (60 MPH) through downtown Reno and the result will be many more trains over Donner. This is just fine with me because my wife and I will be moving into our lovely home on three acres of land in Auburn, CA, which just happens to have a common property line with the SP (UP). When we bought this place four years ago the Relator said, "You know there is a railroad line right over there." My response was, "Exactly!"

[Anonymous]

It is my understanding the UP is trying to limit the number of trains over Donner Pass until the Reno Re-Trac project has been completed, which is currently projected to happen by Thanksgiving. Currently all Donner Pass traffic passes over a single track shoofly through
alleys and streets of downtown Reno. Once completed, UP will have a double track speedway (60 MPH) through downtown Reno and the result will be many more trains over Donner. This is just fine with me because my wife and I will be moving into our lovely home on three acres of land in Auburn, CA, which just happens to have a common property line with the SP (UP). When we bought this place four years ago the Relator said, "You know there is a railroad line right over there." My response was, "Exactly!"