More Dreams for Gulf Coast Passenger Service

[Blazeman]

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/news/Moorman-Amtrak-committed-to-reviving-Gulf-Coast-service--51033?

Study, study, study. Wonder if Hunter will embrace or resist if ever Amtrak gets to the point of wanting to do this? If they do, I can't see appropriations for it given the thinking of Congress. And really, what does one train a day each way really offer people in terms of an alternative to driving or busses, or even taking planes through Atlanta?

[Philip H]

there was already USDOT funding out to the coastal states for station improvements . . . . I think I posted it somewhere before . . . .

[Blazeman]

there was already USDOT funding out to the coastal states for station improvements . . . . I think I posted it somewhere before . . . .

If you build it, they will come?

[Blazeman]

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/news/FRA-unveils-report-on-restoring-Amtrak-Gulf-Coast-service--52206

[C855B]

Ah, yes. The friendly CSX. We know what the "CS" stands for.

[Blazeman]

Ah, yes. The friendly CSX. We know what the "CS" stands for.

Well, per the release, there are numerous drawbridges along the route that yield to maritime, so there's no scheduling of lifts with any regularity. Can play havoc with schedules and crews. Throw in  passenger trains that require larger windows and service plans are shot. I can understand the resistance.

[C855B]

I think the drawbridge assertion is specious posturing, and CSX is expert in that. Any channel with a significant amount of boat traffic will have a permanent structure; drawbridges are for occasional use only, and then typically for unusual large vessels relative to the waterway. They're making it sound like they refuse to guarantee schedule performance in the false expectation that every drawbridge will be raised when the train gets to it. I strongly suspect they know exactly what the real raise/lower activity is and are concealing the reality. Present this argument with a verifiable raise/lower log attached for each structure, and we'll judge for ourselves if there's a problem here.

[Philip H]

I think the drawbridge assertion is specious posturing, and CSX is expert in that. Any channel with a significant amount of boat traffic will have a permanent structure; drawbridges are for occasional use only, and then typically for unusual large vessels relative to the waterway. They're making it sound like they refuse to guarantee schedule performance in the false expectation that every drawbridge will be raised when the train gets to it. I strongly suspect they know exactly what the real raise/lower activity is and are concealing the reality. Present this argument with a verifiable raise/lower log attached for each structure, and we'll judge for ourselves if there's a problem here.

Maybe, maybe not. The swing bridge over Bay St. Louis is only about 15 feet above mean water.  It opens on demand, but the signal interlocking has to get a train stopped before it goes on the bridge (which is about 2 miles long total). So while there is probably some sort of averaged log . . . it is a tough thing to do.

[metalworkertom]

There has been a lot of talk in local News of the return. The coast leaders certainly support it. Hopefully it will come to pass. The bridges do not see that much boat traffic that requires a lift or swing from what I've seen on the Mississippi Coast. Found this recent article.
http://wuwf.org/post/report-restoring-amtrak-along-gulf-coast-do-able

[Blazeman]

http://cs.trains.com/trn/b/observation-tower/archive/2017/07/12/39-can-t-do-39-attitude-does-csx-gulf-coast-economy-a-disservice.aspx

[metalworkertom]

Will Coast Native make a difference ?  http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/article_ac8508ca-81c2-11e7-be16-877060f0e7e8.html