I have never really hard the details of whatever happen to the possibility of a short distance train from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Will this ever happen? Obviously the Desert Wind will not return, but what about a short distance run?
--Anton
Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
Does "When pigs fly" mean anything to you? It would take a massive investment in track to give the line the capacity for a reliable fast operation. Why would California do it when its main purpose will be to haul money out of the state? Then, there all the charter bus operators who would regard it as a threat to their life. I just do not see it happening.
George
Posted by Big Merl (Member # 3251) on :
The only way I could see it happening is if the casinos decided it was worth the money to do it.
Posted by Pojon (Member # 3080) on :
Oh, for the days of the Desert Wind!! Bring it back, please! I rode it with my wife at least 14 tuimes from LA to Las Vegas and from Las Vegas to Chicago years ago---a pleasure!
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
IMHO I think it is inevitable. But that doesn't necessarily mean it will happen in our lifetime.
Posted by Vicki (Member # 3410) on :
I'm patiently waiting for a train from Chicago to Las Vegas. Of course, I'm waiting for a train from Chicago to a lot of places. . .oh, well-"if wishes were horses. . ."
Posted by Pojon (Member # 3080) on :
If the new Amtrak funding bill really passes in the House of Representatives proposed by a positive vote in committee a few days ago you may have your wish! Amtrak may live again with a correct and adequate budget.
Posted by rY (Member # 3528) on :
"Old News" now, but in June of 2002, Amtrak ran a special Pacific Surfliner consist for time trials between Las Vegas and Los Angles.
Pojon, What does the Amtrak funding bill have anything to do with the posibility of a new route?
Posted by Pojon (Member # 3080) on :
With adequate money in the budget maybe the proposed routes (NY to Miami via Florida's East Coast--FEC route, the LA to Vegas route, and more service between LA and San Diego) could again be put into operation with actual start dates. Congress killed the ability of Amtrak to initiate new routes a 3 years ago.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
$1.82B is "state of good repair" funding, NOT sufficient to start new routes.
At one time (1962) Union Pacific had 3 (count em, 3) daily runs from LA to Las Vegas, plus a fourth weekend run:
Departing LAUPT/Arriving Las Vegas: 1:45PM/9:15PM Train 9, the City of Saint Louis 3:45PM/10:40PM Train 104, the City of Los Angeles/Challenger 10:15PM/6:50AM Train 6 (Mail and express, but carried a Pullman and coaches)
As late as A-Day -1 UP still had daily service to LV (9/104).
John
Posted by Pojon (Member # 3080) on :
Just put back the Desert Wind and we'll be happily on the way to Las Vegas from LA or Chicago! What happened to the service which 12 hotels in Las Vegas were supposed to fund and initiate this year!!!??? Trial trains were run at least 5 times.
Posted by JONATHON (Member # 2899) on :
quote:Originally posted by George Harris: Does "When pigs fly" mean anything to you? George
LOL!
Posted by Railroad Bob (Member # 3508) on :
quote:Originally posted by Pojon: Oh, for the days of the Desert Wind!! Bring it back, please! I rode it with my wife at least 14 tuimes from LA to Las Vegas and from Las Vegas to Chicago years ago---a pleasure!
Hi Mr. Pojon, I may have been your attendant on at least some of those trips. I held the 3616 car job for a few years (LAX-CHI-LAX) and also the 3611 coach job as a train attendant, a run that turned in SLC. Yes, everyone, crew and passengers alike, seemed to like the wonderful Desert Wind, and we were all sorry to see the unhappy state of affairs that led to its early demise. Mr. Harris succinctly states the present truth about LA-LVS service. Even in its heyday, I do not believe the Desert Wind carried more than about .0012% of the total LA/Las Vegas business. I think the 6 hour ride put many prospective riders of the Wind onto the cheap flights instead...
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
Long Beach to Las Vegas on Jet Blue is only $39.00!
Posted by Railroad Bob (Member # 3508) on :
Hard for a train to compete agaist fares like that, CS99. I don't think the Desert Wind fare was ever that cheap, tho' it might have been under certain promotions of the time.
Posted by shanghaiamtrak (Member # 2323) on :
No chance.
Posted by Pojon (Member # 3080) on :
The Desert Wind fare from LA to Las Vegas was $66.70 round trip when it was still running in it's last year. Bob you may be right--you may have been on the same train as we!
Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :
$66 for coach? Thats terrible.
Posted by Pojon (Member # 3080) on :
Greyhound fare for the same ride was the same!
Posted by JONATHON (Member # 2899) on :
Hey, its Vegas' Posted by Pojon (Member # 3080) on :
Boy, do I miss the Desert Wind---a nice 6 hour trip to Vegas! Beat the bus from Los Angeles! Bring it back, please!
Posted by Pojon (Member # 3080) on :
My mother-in-law takes Golden Age Club trips to Vegas for $15. for the day from LA WITH a meal--that's the way to go!
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