Amtrak 2035 system map

[CMStPnP]

Interesting article, allegedly includes restoration of the Lackawanna Cutoff.

https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/10/24/amtrak-2035-does-amtrak-finally-have-a-strong-plan-against-airlines/

 

 

[BaltACD]

CMStPnP

Interesting article, allegedly includes restoration of the Lackawanna Cutoff.

https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/10/24/amtrak-2035-does-amtrak-finally-have-a-strong-plan-against-airlines/

Feature that Amtrak's true 2035 operations map will be significantly more condensed.  DC to Boston, the NEC.  That's it.

[Overmod]

[quote user="BaltACD]Feature that Amtrak's true 2035 operations map will be significantly more condensed.  DC to Boston, the NEC.  That's it.[/quote]

In my opinion, both McMurtry and this article of his deserve much more considered attention -- this guy is a railfan who is going into aerospace, like some posters here, and he 'gets' both halves of that quite well.  This was particularly refreshing to find on a site with 'that' name, where I admit I was expecting to find discussion of regional air 'taking over' even some of the corridors that are the best part of the 2035 future.

I will be interested to see how some of the knowledgeable here think McMurtry has done.  I think Balt should re-read what was actually said, which is very far from even justifying reduction to mere NEC service, in light of the fact it's not propaganda.

[CMStPnP]

BaltACD

Feature that Amtrak's true 2035 operations map will be significantly more condensed.  DC to Boston, the NEC.  That's it.

We'll see I think Biden is going for keeping the National Network and because the Superliners are so close to replacement I would be surprised if that was excluded from his infrastructure program.............and after waiting since Clinton.    We are finally getting a $2 Trillion Infrastructure program.    Biden just mentioned it yesterday it will be one of his first proposals and has priority.   I think it should be double that but I will settle for anything at this point.

Somewhere I read Amtrak wanted $2 Billion for new short and long distance equipment combined.

[charlie hebdo]

I also read the article.  It is clear that the Amtrak 2035 Plan is more than the NEC.  It seems to use,  according the the author of the article,  the NEC as  a template for <400 mile corridors elsewhere.  Whether it becomes more than another plan in a drawer remains to be seen. 

[JPS1]

The map was part of a 15-minute presentation by Ray Lang, Sr. Amtrak Director, State & Local Government Affairs for the Rail Passengers Association in September.  Here is a link to the presentation:

https://www.railpassengers.org/site/assets/files/16610/september_23_-_new_corridors.pdf

An employee making a presentation like this would clear it with his manager, I am sure.  But it appears to be just a high level wish list; 2035 is a long way out.    

Amtrak's Service Line Plan for FY21-25, which is the latest plan posted on Amtrak's website, only goes out as far as 2025.

[CMStPnP]

JPS1

But it appears to be just a high level wish list; 2035 is a long way out.    

Well lets think about this for a minute.    It's 2021 now, this is 2035 and Amtrak is basically offering a map that represents the status quo or smaller at the cost of tens of billions of dollars.     I don't see a whole lot of transformation here into rail corridors, nor do I see a larger portion of the country served or a large shift from jet transportation to rail transportation in any single region or corridor.

So my take on it is EPIC FAILURE to present a future of Amtrak as a transformative company.    It's basically: "yeah continue to fork out Billions and we'll still be around in 2035 just like we are today".

Look at the items missing which I though were on Amtrak's agenda:

Milwaukee - Green Bay rail service  (this is on Amtrak's long-term plan to restore)

KC - Omaha

NC Hiawatha Route restore

Sunset Limited to Florida  (thought this was on Amtrak's plan somewhere).

Dallas - Shreveport - Atlanta

Atlanta - Macon

 LA - Bakersfield, CA.

[Overmod]

CMStPnP

Well lets think about this for a minute.    It's 2021 now, this is 2035 and Amtrak is basically offering a map that represents the status quo or smaller at the cost of tens of billions of dollars. 

But presumably both sustainable, and satisfying the Congressional mandate for operations 'profitability'.  The status quo ante is not going to satisfy either of those important conditions, let alone 2035... by 2022.

I suggest that you comment on McMurtry's post with PRECISELY that list of options and concerns, and ask for his specific opinions and perhaps revisions.  That's also, probably, a better perceived venue than a railfan forum.

[DSchmitt]

BaltACD

Feature that Amtrak's true 2035 operations map will be significantly more condensed.  DC to Boston, the NEC.  That's it.

If travel restrictions and work from remote locations continue

[Overmod]

DSchmitt

If travel restrictions and work from remote locations continue

Does anyone have a map or recall the 'divisions' that John Kneiliing thought 'Balkanization' would result in producing for the United States?  Clearly some analogue of that would apply to COVID-19-related restrictions -- probably not dividing along current political lines, for example much of upstate New York vs. New York and proximate suburbs...

Many of the dystopian accounts of post-catastrophe Americas contain interesting demarcation between regions, and activities that become supported there (anyone remember Warday?)  Some of the communities of interest might, in fact, geographically overlap, and be aligned more in terms of common demographic characteristics or interest rather than along historic political boundaries.

[charlie hebdo]

CMStPnP

 

 

JPS1

But it appears to be just a high level wish list; 2035 is a long way out.    

 

 

Well lets think about this for a minute.    It's 2021 now, this is 2035 and Amtrak is basically offering a map that represents the status quo or smaller at the cost of tens of billions of dollars.     I don't see a whole lot of transformation here into rail corridors, nor do I see a larger portion of the country served or a large shift from jet transportation to rail transportation in any single region or corridor.

So my take on it is EPIC FAILURE to present a future of Amtrak as a transformative company.    It's basically: "yeah continue to fork out Billions and we'll still be around in 2035 just like we are today".

Look at the items missing which I though were on Amtrak's agenda:

Milwaukee - Green Bay rail service  (this is on Amtrak's long-term plan to restore)

KC - Omaha

NC Hiawatha Route restore

Sunset Limited to Florida  (thought this was on Amtrak's plan somewhere).

Dallas - Shreveport - Atlanta

Atlanta - Macon

 LA - Bakersfield, CA.

 

So a possible route map in 14 years doesn't match up with your desires?  So time to denigrate it as a status quo costing billions? 

[Backshop]

1.  I expected a mostly blank map, like Balt.

2.  His color coding of the routes doesn't match reality.

[CMStPnP]

In respect to the travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.    If you read the small print specific persons are exempted.    Further if your say just using Union Station in Chicago to switch to a different Amtrak LD train, they do not apply either as your considered in transit through the state.   Hence you can still take LD trains across the country as long as you do not stay overnight in a specific city outside your state.     You can also obtain an exemption if say your responding to a family health Emergency (ie: your Parent is sick and in need of care in another state and you are the care providor).    I believe in that case you only need a doctors note or health care providors note but they expect you to still try to quarantine as much as possible vs being a social butterfly once you arrive.

[blue streak 1]

Someone pointed out on another forum.  Amtrak does not really seem to be interested in LD routes remaining.  As an example Amtrak has not requested any funds to repair those LD cars that are repairable.  IMHO the replacement cars being ordered can not be built in sufficient numbers to retain all LD routes much less add new routes.  There is not enough manufacturing capacity in the USA to meet the present demand for new rail cars.

Beech Grove and Bear can provide for many refurbished cars to back up the LD route trains.

 

[CMStPnP]

blue streak 1

As an example Amtrak has not requested any funds to repair those LD cars that are repairable.

They stated in their report the LD cars are at the end of their useful lifes and do not view refurbishment as an option over replacement.    As for repair, they went through one return to working order cycle just a few years ago.   So they are probably looking at existing repairs as to why spend the money?

blue streak 1

There is not enough manufacturing capacity in the USA to meet the present demand for new rail cars.

Lets say that were true or the delivery timeline that Amtrak expected on the LD cars was shorter than Sacremento could support.    Sacremento is not the only Siemens rail car plant.    They could feasibly build in Europe simultaneously or else ship kits from Europe which could be assembled in the United States.

[matthewsaggie]

Buy American regs are going to be a problem, since they have been bumped up to 80%, I believe.  Assembly of kits is not that high value work over production.

[blue streak 1]

matthewsaggie

Buy American regs are going to be a problem, since they have been bumped up to 80%, I believe.  Assembly of kits is not that high value work over production.

 

 

That was the exact reason I spoke of constrained manufacturing capacity.  METRA and NYCity are ordering a bunch of cars as well as others.  Amtrak cars and locos to a lesser extent are in competition for construction slots taken by subway and light rail cars.