US rail network facing congestion 'calamity'

[phantom power]

CHICAGO: Railway executive Matthew Rose stood before fellow industry leaders, pointing to a map meant to tell the future of the U.S. rail freight network. It was drenched in red — east to west, north to south.

The blotches illustrated areas where, by 2035, traffic jams could be so severe trains would grind to a halt for days with nowhere to go.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/03/business/NA-FEA-FIN-US-Rail-Congestion.php

[Benhurst]

1. And that's the way it will be ...

in The World's Only Superpower.


We're Number One!
:patriot:
Bombs Away!

[GliderGuider]

2. Somebody had better tell Alan Drake...

http://www.lightrailnow.org/features/f_lrt_2006-05a.htm

This sure throws a spanner in the works of plans to shift all long-distance truck transport to rail...

[tomreedtoon]

3. And you thought rail would take over for airlines. You FOOLS!

All you would have to do is ride in a stinking, sweaty coach with no air conditioning, no club car and no working bathrooms to realize that rail is a fiasco. You'd be healthier hitchhiking in West Virginia with a "Stab Me Here, Freddy Krueger" sign on your back than taking rail transit.

[depakid]

4. Amtrak Cascades is a fine train

With smaller, sleeker European style passenger cars with tables and a dining car where you can have a fine microbrew or coffee. It beats flying or driving hands down.



-----------

I've enjoyed this line many times to and from Portland and Seattle and Bellingham Washington.

Been meaning to take it up to BC for a little jaunt at Whistler.

Check it out.

Amtrak Deal A Key Link In Burgeoning Cascadia Travel

http://www.discovery.org/a/3957

[greenvpi]

7. Rail is not an option!

The last time I went home I took a seven or so hour flight each way. With Amtrak when I went home last year, my ticket each way was much more expensive than my roundtrip airline ticket. I left at 4PM on May 3rd and got to my destination at 4AM on May 8th. Returning I left on May 10th and got home at 4PM May 14th. Nine near sleepless nights on the train in an uncomfortable seat versus just about killed me. As compared to about 12 hours total on a plane, Amtrak just isn't worth the hassle. Total it took me two half-days to go by plane, but eleven(!) by train. No thanks. I will never do that again.

[AlanfromBigEasy]

11. Not a fan of Long Distance AMtrak

Freight is best for longer distances, Passengers for shorter distances. Trips of 150 to 300 miles are the "sweet spot" for rail passenger traffic (in nations with excellent rail) with rail modal share dropping quickly above 400 to 500 miles.

Yes, some few will travel long distances by rail, but they will be a small % for quite some time. Berliners go to Hamburg ALL the time by rail. They fly to Spain and Italy.

Best Hopes for Promoting Rail's Strong Points,

Alan

[Kolesar]

12. Those long cross-country trips on Amtrak are heavily booked, though

welcome to our forum :hi:

[AlanfromBigEasy]

13. Overall Amtrak Load Factor 58% last time I looked

Heavily booked only seasonally and on certain lines.

Sunset Ltd. left New Orleans last year (when I went to ASPO in Houston) with 20 in coach and 20 in sleeping cars. And I think 7 crew. Arrived with 50 or so in Houston.

The volume of transportation of cross-country Amtrak is trivial, <<1% of all long distance trips.

Alan

[Dogmudgeon]

5. I have a crazy idea: let's INVEST in rail transport.

You know -- spend more money to make the system work better, lower transpartation costs overall, and produce real economic wealth.

--p!

[phantom power]

6. Will you tax-and-spend liberals *never* stop hating America?

[happyslug]

8. Some cites:

Federal Railroad Administration: http://www.fra.dot.gov
http://www.fra.dot.gov/

Surface Transportation Board: http://www.stb.dot.gov

Transportation Research Board: http://www.trb.org

Association of American Railroads: http://www.aar.org

Chicago congestion plan: http://www.createprogram.org

[AlanfromBigEasy]

9. What the study of 2035 RR capacity says.

Investing $147 billion between now and 2035 will take care of their estimated growth (underestimated IMHO) *AND* eliminate almost all existing bottlenecks/railroad congestion.

$5.7 billion/year is not excessive.

Best Hopes,

Alan

[phantom power]

10. Welcome to DU

:toast: