posted
The just-out issue of Trains magazine has a newsbrief reporting that Amtrak is studying extending the Crescent to San Antonio three days a week and eliminating the Sunset Limited altogether. According to the report, which the Amtrak spokesman quoted in the story did not confirm, the extended Crescent would connect in San Antonio with the Texas Eagle, which three days a week would continue to Los Angeles.
The story also blames failure to resinstate the New Orleans-Orlando segment of the Sunset to a dispute between Amtrak and the Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission, which is charged with developing passenger rail between New Orleans and Mobile.
Posts: 48 | From: San Jose, Calif. | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
Amtrak does these "studies" every now and then. I'd be surprised if anything actually happens from this. But I wouldn't mind being wrong, because in my own personal opinion, the Sunset Limited has slowly been dying. Katrina just seemed to put the nail in the coffin for me. I've had a few trips to Tucson in the last year, and I've never been able to take Amtrak because it got me there a day or two early, and it got me out a day or two late (due to only running 3 days per week). I'm going to Phoenix for Christmas, and once again, Amtrak is not an option. As they say in "Planes, Trains, and Autombiles", "The people train don't go there". So it would have to be a bus out of Flasgstaff (I think).
Anyway, whatever they can do to improve overall Amtrak service would be a plus in my book. In a perfect world, I'd love to see the Sunset Limited become a daily train and go back to being a transcontinental train, with re-routing through Phoenix. I guess it's okay for me to dream...
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
That dream isn't so far fetched. Also in the issue of Trains is a complete report for UP's upgrades to the Sunset Route. It says that they are going to open up the Phoenix west line if their budget allows it. If they do reopen the line the Sunset can once again serve Phoenix. So it's not a complete loss with the Sunset.
posted
Mr. Schillinger, I presume you noted just how much of the Fred Frailey (who I once met "along the way") article you cite is concerned with passenger operations.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Same article mentions that a major concern would be UP delays to the eastbound Crescent before it reaches New Orleans.
Those of us in former SR territory who sometimes use the Crescent to DC and points north would be advised to begin planning our trips on the days the Crescent would originate in New Orleans if this comes to pass.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I went out to next May on amtrak.com. At least the next six months, 1 and 2 are on the books.
You have to love rumors. The Baker Heater Club is alive and well, no fewer than 40 years after Pullman closed up shop.
Posts: 1404 | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
I think Amtrak killed that plan. Sunset needs to be daily or it will continue suffer.
Posts: 562 | From: Beaumont Texas | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
I actually wanted to include the Sunset Limited in my schedule, but days of the week did not work out.
Posts: 30 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
I always see posted here the hope for a daily Sunset...but are there enough (working) Superliners for this?
I've been noticing an increase in laid up Supers once again.
-------------------- Matt Visit gallery for photos of our train layouts Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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quote:Originally posted by SunsetLtd: That dream isn't so far fetched. Also in the issue of Trains is a complete report for UP's upgrades to the Sunset Route. It says that they are going to open up the Phoenix west line if their budget allows it. If they do reopen the line the Sunset can once again serve Phoenix. So it's not a complete loss with the Sunset.
Unless they are prepared to spend magabucks, this reopening is likely to be to a 25 mph standard. It was closed mainly because it was to the point of total collapse without major investment, (worn 113 lb/yd jointed rail, 1920's semaphore signals, etc., etc.)
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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posted
Had this report been other than a signed news report appearing in November 2007 TRAINS (Bob Johnston), I would have had difficulty accepting such a proposal had been made. However, there have been reports at other sites that the proposal has been withdrawn.
Just as well, for other than being able to tout "we killed the LD all of you want us to kill and we have established a Corridor in the segment killed'. The proposal outlined in TRAINS would have created an operational nightmare.
The proposal was to "disconnect" the connection with the Eagle at San Antonio and placing a truncated, yet still Tri-Weekly, New Orleans-San Antonio 1-2 on an "overnight schedule' connecting with The Crescent and City. The Tri Weekly schedule would be configured so as to enable one set of equipment to protect the service. Accordingly, there would be no connection with the Tri Weekly Eagle 421-422 at San Antonio (21-22 Eagle would continue to operate Daily Chi-San Antonio).
The "traditional' NO-LA Sunset, as a through routing, would be "finito". While the one set of equipment appears to represent optimal equipment utilization, there would be havoc with such for the Eagle. For example, where would the equipment for 22(3) come from with 421(1) operating through to LA? Amtrak would have to maintain a pool of equipment and accordingly expand the scope of their maintenance activities at San Antonio far beyond such presently in place. This would obviate the savings they have realized (well, until the next "Big Chill" comes to Chicago) when they reduced New Orleans from a maintenance facility to a turnaround point.
Furthermore, with New Orleans now just a turnaround point, the equipment for the "Baby Sunset" would have to be deadheaded from Chicago on the City. The consist of "Baby Sunset" would likely resemble that of the late KEYCARD comprising not more than Sleeper, Coach, and 35XXX Snack Coach, but replacement sets would still need be deadheaded from Chicago.
But reportedly this proposal has been "skontched" and I am quite surprised TRAINS let it slip into publication before they considered the absurdity of such. I can only hope that their "Passenger Train Correspondent", Bob Johnston has not started to deal in rumors.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
We heard that these plans - bring the Crescent from Atlanta down to Mobile - Biloxi - New Orleans and points west had been scrapped by Amtrak. Maybe they leak things like this out, to see what happens. ( Last year it was they were shutting down ALL long distance trains )
As far as the Sunset, daily service would be a major plus. We are planning a New Orleans, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Lafayette trip next June by Amtrak, and for planning, we had to start at Los Angeles and work our way backwards.
As I tell my "victims" when I do Operation Lifesaver presentations, when does the train pass ?? ...... westbound is on time 15:30, eastbound can be anywhere from on time 11:30 to as much as 27 hours late. UP has got to get their act together and make this train more reliable. (Taken from a ralifan perspective)
Posts: 4 | From: Lafayette, Louiisiana | Registered: Oct 2007
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Welcome Mr. Bachinpops-- glad to have someone aboard from MP 145! As to the Sunset, I hope it continues in its present incarnation. It is the oldest "name" train on the Western Amtrak lines, to my knowledge. I'd like to see the Phoenix (Wellton to Picacho) route put back into play...but who knows with this train?
Posts: 588 | From: East San Diego County, CA | Registered: Oct 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Doodlebug: The story also blames failure to resinstate the New Orleans-Orlando segment of the Sunset to a dispute between Amtrak and the Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission, which is charged with developing passenger rail between New Orleans and Mobile.
This seems strange indeed. If there is anybody around that wants to see passenger service return to the Gulf Coast it is these people. While they would like something of more benefit to the local area than the old middle of the night both ways Sunset schedule, I have a feeling that they would take anything they could get. Visit their web site. It has a lot of information on the facilities and needs of the area. Again, governments are willing to pay for reports, but not real work.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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Amtrak's Annual Ridership figures state in a section headlined 'National Highlights' that the Sunset had a ridership increase of 22.1% and a 31.7% increase in revenue. This may be post-Katrina growth but seems an impressive improvement. John
Posts: 41 | From: Yaxham, Norfolk, UK | Registered: Jul 2006
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Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has co-sponsored an Amtrak reauthorization bill, and on Thursday she successfully lobbied against an amendment that would have eliminated the country's 15 long-haul train routes, which include the Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited.
The Sunset Limited, which runs from Jacksonville, Fla., to Los Angeles, stops in Beaumont while headed westbound at 6:43 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. When eastbound, it stops at 8:10 a.m. Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.
"I recognize some of my colleagues' good intentions in trimming the federal budget, but Texas rail passengers depend on these routes daily," Hutchison said in an e-mail news release. "I've long said that Amtrak must be 'national or nothing,' and eliminating the Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited would be a step backward in this pursuit."
posted
Anyone know who introduced the amendment to eliminate all the long distance routes?
Maybe we could write that Senator and explain why that is a bad idea.
Posts: 1418 | From: Houston, Republic of Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Mike Smith: Anyone know who introduced the amendment to eliminate all the long distance routes?
Maybe we could write that Senator and explain why that is a bad idea.
Senator John Sununu, of New Hampshire.
-------------------- "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one corner of the Earth all one's life." Posts: 506 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Since we are talking about the Sunset, and there was a mention of November's Trains, how is the on time performance doing now?
In the same Trains issue, there was an article on UP's double tracking of the route west of El Paso, and it included a diagram across teh bottom that showed where it is and the current planning on when the remaining single segments will be filled in. According to the Trains article, the double track portion is approaching 50%, and by the end of this year (already, maybe) it will be fully double tracked between El Paso and Tucson. Surely this has got to be helping the OTP.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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