The 200 miles in question include the 'Cardinal' route from Orange, VA to Clifton Forge, VA via Charlottesville and Staunton. The new operator would be responsible for maintenance and it is uncertain whether they will be able to keep the line up to passenger train standards.
Wonder what impact this will have on the 'Cardinal'?
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David Pressley
It was "groundbreaking" enough wehn Amtrak employed Train and Engine crews commenced running over roads on which they did not hold seniority, albeit they did hold seniority within an Amtrak crew district that could well involve operation over several roads' pre-existing seniority districts.
Watch out, Amtrak crews may well refuse to "cross', or at least not until some specific ruling (either judicial, but hopefully collective bargaining) is pronounced regarding the matter.
This would by-pass all current station stops from Staunton, VA to Huntington, WV.
Once, 10-15 years ago, Amtrak ran a test train to look at a re-route vis NS to Lynchburg and then on the CSX James River Line back to the current route at Clifton Forge. This possibility would miss only the existing station stop at Staunton BUT would take a couple of hours (or so) longer due mostly to an awkward and time-consuming backup move in Lynchburg. The interchange track there between NS and CSX is in the 'wrong' quadrant.
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David Pressley
[This message has been edited by notelvis (edited 05-07-2004).]