July 6, 20195 yr On 6/21/2019 at 6:27 PM, jmecklenborg said: Can someone explain why new signals cost $750 million? Per Wiki, the system's revenue track totals 13.8 miles, so $54.3 million per mile. for comparison it cost just over $45M per mile for the recent upgrade to the signals across the 7 train line, which is about the same length. officially speaking, it had 3yrs of setbacks and software issues, so they say. i would imagine that project to be more complicated than new path train signals, but otoh the path train has to run under very unique and stringent rules, so that might have something to do with it, i dk. edit: it turns out changing the subway lines to modern signaling averages about $47M per mile. for that you get more trains per hour, a smoother ride and you save about 10% or so in time. i found more here: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/03/18/komanoff-investing-congestion-revenues-in-better-train-signals-could-save-new-yorkers-lots-of-time/ Edited July 6, 20195 yr by mrnyc
July 6, 20195 yr Author "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 8, 20195 yr ^ that reminds me, we are supposed to be getting new subway train cars with open gangways in 2020, so more people will fit on the trains and idiots wont be so able to do stupid dangerous stuff like that. more: https://ny.curbed.com/platform/amp/2017/12/1/16722088/nyc-subway-mta-open-gangway-car-photos
July 22, 20195 yr I spent the last 4 blistering hot days in DC, while I was there I went out of my way for a ride on the DC streetcar. My wife and I wanted to check out the Union Station, designed by Daniel Burnham. Its also the terminus for the streetcar, kinda. You have to walk through the huge station, past the trains, up 2 flights of stairs, through the garage with the city buses and greyhound/mega/go buses and then onto an island in the middle of a busy H street. Once you are outside Union Station there is very little signage promoting or directing you to the streetcar stop. Arriving randomly, we had to wait 8 min for the train, including dwell time. First impression was that the train was smaller, much smaller than Cincinnati's Streetcar. It was approximately 2/3 the size of ours. It was also not well kept. The interior was dirty, with a small amount of trash on the ground. Fenders were missing from the front and back. Scratch marks were everywhere on the exterior. Once we got going, it was slow. The thing only crawled. It was in mixed traffic and was held up twice by the same ambulance for heat/drug related issues. The first delay was over 20min. The ambulance could have simply pulled over in the cross street, but they didnt do that. Once that situation was resolved it was only 3 blocks until we were stopped again by the same ambulance. My wife jumped off the streetcar, as we were at least stopped at a station. She asked the EMT how long they were going to be dealing with this issue. They responded, "whats it to you? why do you care ?" She told them we and others were on the streetcar and they are blocking the rails. "Oh, ok. Well we are done. We will move". Its like they dont even know they things exists, let alone they are blocking it inconveniencing riders. I will say thought the infill along the route was of much better quality we are seeing in Cincinnati, much denser as well. There were lots of 4-6 story buildings directly on the line. I didnt get a good look, but they seemed more inline with whats getting build in Columbus along High Street. Overall I was disappointed with the DC streetcar experience. If they can get the line across the city on "H street" they would really have something of value. H is key road in the city with lots of attractions, linking to Georgetown would be ideal.
July 22, 20195 yr 53 minutes ago, NsideProp said: I spent the last 4 blistering hot days in DC, while I was there I went out of my way for a ride on the DC streetcar. If you are a brisk walker, you have a fairly good chance of beating that streetcar. It's what we got from a 54-mile system proposal after DC politics got through with it. The chance of any new trackage is slim. Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
July 22, 20195 yr 1 hour ago, Dougal said: If you are a brisk walker, you have a fairly good chance of beating that streetcar. It's what we got from a 54-mile system proposal after DC politics got through with it. The chance of any new trackage is slim. I can't speak for DC because I haven't been there since this thing opened, but you definitely can't outwalk or even outrun the streetcar in Cincinnati unless there is a serious delay.
July 25, 20195 yr ya gotta start somewhere -- a vision for density in a decked over sunnyside yards in queens
July 30, 20195 yr what's up with east side access (esa)? Project Overview East Side Access is one of the largest transportation infrastructure projects currently underway in the United States. East Side Access provides new, direct LIRR service into a new concourse below Grand Central Terminal on Manhattan’s East Side, reducing commutes into Manhattan by up to 40 minutes. The project encompasses work in multiple locations throughout Manhattan and Queens, and includes more than eight miles of tunneling. East Side Access is an integral component of the broader LIRR system expansion initiative to help reduce passenger crowding, train congestion and automobile traffic, and to provide connections with additional regional transportation options such as Metro North Railroad and New York City Transit subways; East Side Access will also alleviate train and passenger congestion at New York Penn Station and its neighboring subway stations. Passengers traveling from Midtown East will enjoy easier access to JFK International Airport via the AirTrain at LIRR’s Jamaica Station. When completed, East Side Access will serve approximately 162,000 customers a day, providing them with a faster and easier commute from Long Island and Queens to the east side of Manhattan in a new eight-track terminal and concourse below Grand Central Terminal. here are some recent east side access construction pics MANHATTAN WORK 1. Installation of ceiling frames on the lower level platform in the future LIRR Terminal beneath Grand Central. 2. Installation of stone tiles over an archway in the future LIRR Concourse. 3. Installing supports for stainless steel plates between the escalator and the wall at escalator Wellway Two QUEENS WORK 1. Installation of bracing struts for an approach structure located in Harold Interlocking. 2. Pouring concrete for an underpinning pit under the 39th Street Bridge for the final track approach structure. 3. Building a turnout for the Mid-day storage yard west of Honeywell Ave. 4. Installing the inner… more: http://www.amodernli.com/category/project/expansion/east-side-access/
August 24, 20195 yr Author New rail tunnel from NJ to NYC can be built a lot cheaper, officials announce https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-gatewat-tunnel-new-price-20190823-gz3tf4obhvdoxnkfqge4eeqrua-story.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 8, 20195 yr the port authority issued an rfi for jersey city journal square transportation center redevelopment: https://www.panynj.gov/business-opportunities/pdf/RFIDOC_58339.pdf
September 8, 20195 yr penn station is under massive renovation with modernizing and adding new entrances — its pretty horrible try avoid it at all costs for awhile — but anyway one of the good things to be lost for a new entrance is tracks. yes there are a couple good things in penn believe it or not and one was this classic and always friendly commuter tavern. i happened to be in penn on its last day of business this summer so i stopped in: ya gotta love the lirr map on the ceiling the whole area is all boarded up now. i dk what will become of this:
September 11, 20195 yr California to Las Vegas train project continues to advance. 2020 construction date estimate. https://abcnews.go.com/US/high-speed-california-las-vegas-train-plan/story?id=65264856
September 11, 20195 yr 10 minutes ago, Foraker said: California to Las Vegas train project continues to advance. 2020 construction date estimate. https://abcnews.go.com/US/high-speed-california-las-vegas-train-plan/story?id=65264856 I doubt this happens. If people are driving to Victorville, why not keep driving all the way to Las Vegas and have your own personal car when you're there?
September 11, 20195 yr 26 minutes ago, Foraker said: California to Las Vegas train project continues to advance. 2020 construction date estimate. https://abcnews.go.com/US/high-speed-california-las-vegas-train-plan/story?id=65264856 12 minutes ago, jmecklenborg said: I doubt this happens. If people are driving to Victorville, why not keep driving all the way to Las Vegas and have your own personal car when you're there? Downtown LA to Victorville is a 1:20 drive. LA to Las Vegas is a 4:05 drive and you go right through Victorville. Victorville to Las Vegas is a 2:45 drive. The train will take between 1:10-1:30. If the frequency and cost are reasonable people will take the train. Yes, it would be much better if it went all the way to LA (Or Orange County), but incremental steps that actually happen are the only way we are going to get to a proper passenger rail infrastructure. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
September 19, 20195 yr Author This is huge news for LA and the Southland.... Agreement reached to fund Los Angeles Union rail link AN agreement was reached on September 13 by California State Transportation Agency (CalSta), Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and California High-Speed Rail Authority to release $US 423m Proposition 1A funds for a project to convert Los Angeles Union into a through station. New tracks will be constructed from the southern end of the terminal station over a highway to provide a second connection from the station to the rail network. Additional platforms will be built, the pedestrian passage beneath the tracks will be expanded, and escalators and lifts will be installed. Converting Union station into a through station will increase capacity, cut Santa Barbara – Los Angeles – San Diego Amtrak journey times by reducing dwell times at Union station, allow new cross-LA Metrolink commuter rail services to be introduced, and eventually facilitate the introduction of high-speed services. MORE: https://www.railjournal.com/regions/north-america/agreement-reached-to-fund-los-angeles-union-rail-link/ The following images (and more) are from: https://urbanize.la/post/four-options-union-station-run-through-tracks "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 24, 20195 yr Author Also in the Golden State.... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 26, 20195 yr Author DART breaks ground on new Silver Line rail service https://www.metro-magazine.com/rail/news/735715/dart-breaks-ground-on-new-silver-line-rail-service "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 26, 20195 yr That line is needed. Grapevine to Plano driving can be a mess. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 9, 20195 yr This animation of the Bakersfield station clearly illustrates how express/local will work. There will be four tracks - 2 express tracks in the middle and platform tracks on the outside. Just like every other HSR network that does this and has done this for decades. The twist here is the gigantic size of this planned structure - not only are the platforms 1,200 feet long, there is also at least one storage track. So the total elevated section is like 3,000 feet long and variably up to 100 feet wide.
October 11, 20195 yr Trouble in Paradise - California politicians have begun to prepare what appears to be a contingency plan in the event that Trump (or another Republican) wins the White House in 2020. This plan will take funds currently allocated to the electrification of the under-construction Central Valley track and divert it to major upgrades to LA's commuter rail system. Those include significant trackwork improvements to Union Station, numerous grade separations, construction of an express track between Union Station and Burbank, and the purchase of battery-powered EMU's to increase service. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-09/metrolink-plans-electric-train-service-burbank-anaheim-bullet-train-funds With California posting gigantic budget surpluses and the prospect of a Democrat winning the Presidency in 2020, we will likely see big-time federal and state money flow to the project and the whole thing will get back on schedule.
October 11, 20195 yr Author I didn't see the connection in this development to a possible Trump 2020 victory at all. The proposal is to develop the Burbank-Anaheim portion of the high-speed rail network where the inner tracks are used by high-speed trains and the outer tracks by commuter trains. I think it's a sensible proposal that would have higher ridership benefits than the near-term investments in the Central Valley. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 11, 20195 yr 38 minutes ago, KJP said: I didn't see the connection in this development to a possible Trump 2020 victory at all. The whole dilemma is that there was never going be enough commuter rail traffic to justify full grade separation and full overhead electrification without HSR also using the corridor. So what this ends up doing is creating two construction phases instead of one. First, the one they have just hatched, then a second phase when HSR is brought to LA. That's inevitably more expensive than doing the full build-out at once. This also makes the Pacheco Pass Tunnel more expensive because the cost to dig the tunnel will now include electrification of the Central Valley. I also see the purchase of the diesel trains as a way to justify never building the Pacheco Pass Tunnel and instead routing the line through Altamont, which will still require a tunnel, but a much shorter one that could accommodate diesels without requiring as elaborate of an exhaust system.
October 14, 20195 yr Hard to believe that they'd mess up something like this...a fleet of bullet trains were heavily damaged this past weekend in Nagoya, about 80 miles inland from Tokyo. If they're old enough they're just going to have to scrap these.
October 17, 20195 yr On 10/14/2019 at 4:56 PM, jmecklenborg said: Hard to believe that they'd mess up something like this...a fleet of bullet trains were heavily damaged this past weekend in Nagoya, about 80 miles inland from Tokyo. If they're old enough they're just going to have to scrap these. For as advanced as Japanese culture is, they also have issues reacting to serious looming emergencies.... Clearly these trains could have been moved to higher ground somewhere....but that would have involved stopping the train service early before the storm....
October 19, 20195 yr Author Advocates Push to Revive Three Old Rail Lines in City, but Restoring Service Would Cost Billions of Dollars https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2019/10/16/mta-to-study-train-service-on-freight-line-key-to--triboro--rail-idea "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 22, 20195 yr Maine: Downeaster floats plans to add commuter service As it nears 20 years in operation, the Downeaster passenger train service is weighing options to become a reliable means of regional transit, not just a rail connection from southern Maine to Boston. https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/21111227/me-downeaster-floats-plans-to-add-commuter-service This paragraph particularly jumped out at me: “The service’s fiscal year 2019 financials are not complete, Quinn said, but last year state and local funding paid for about 37 percent of its $22.8 million operating budget.” Edited October 22, 20195 yr by Boomerang_Brian Additional paragraph When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
November 4, 20195 yr miami --- walk through of metrorail central station: https://www.thenextmiami.com/tri-rail-conducts-walk-through-of-miamicentral-station-but-still-has-no-idea-when-it-will-open/ also, expansion north to broward county: Miami Dade approves Metrorail expansion for North Corridor extension that will run to Broward NOVEMBER 01, 2019 11:07 AM A key transportation board of elected officials unanimously endorsed an elevated Metrorail system on Northwest 27th Avenue to Miami Gardens, rather than monorail, magnetic levitation or other options studied by state consultants for the roughly 10-mile route. Miami-Dade’s elusive promise of a northern Metrorail route remained alive Thursday on a familiar support system of long-shot possibilities, including Washington agreeing to pick up about half of the $1.9 billion construction tab. But there’s no contest in riders. Metrorail would average 16,200 a day, including 7,500 new users, WSP said, while the other modes would serve half that or fewer. As such, per-passenger costs overwhelmingly favor Metrorail, the only mode that would offer one-seat rides from Brickell to a future Unity Metrorail station at Northwest 215th Street. more: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article236868003.html
December 2, 20195 yr Really great interactive article about the NYC subway map. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/02/nyregion/nyc-subway-map.html
December 19, 20195 yr Big investment by Virginia in passenger rail: https://wtop.com/dc-transit/2019/12/major-amtrak-vre-expansion-set-under-3-7-billion-virginia-csx-deal/
January 13, 20205 yr portland plans for 2020 could include a tunnel under the willamette or a redevelopment of the steel bridge. https://www.enr.com/blogs/15-evergreen/post/47331-portland-transit-tunnel-concept-under-exploration
January 17, 20205 yr Author Dear Connecticut, please take Northeast Ohio back so we can have trains too! CT: Hartford Line exceeds one million riders as commuter rail exceeds forecast More than one million riders have traveled on the Hartford Line since the commuter rail service opened in June 2018, Governor Ned Lamont announced Thursday. https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/21121732/ct-hartford-line-exceeds-one-million-riders-as-commuter-rail-exceeds-forecast Edited January 17, 20205 yr by KJP "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 7, 20205 yr I was flying back from Milwaukee General Mitchell airport this evening. I glanced at the departures board and noticed the two evening Amtrak trains to Chicago Union Station (and three headed to downtown Milwaukee) were on the departures board with all the outgoing flights. The MKE airport train station isn’t really THAT close to the airport - you have to take a shuttle to get there. But it was nice to see the effort to emphasize the multi-modal transportation options. It is a reminder that every Amtrak train through Cleveland passes a mere quarter mile from the terminal at Hopkins Airport. The existing walkway to the garage and Orange lot beyond already covers more than a third of this distance. As @KJP has previously described, I’d really like to see an enclosed walkway connection made over 237, as shown by the red line below, and a train station established there, serving additional Amtrak service, the Ohio Hub passenger rail implementation, and a proper Northeast Ohio commuter rail system. (Amtrak route marked in blue.) I think it is important that this proposal be included in the revised Hopkins Master Plan. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
February 7, 20205 yr Author You mean something like this? ? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 7, 20205 yr 9 minutes ago, KJP said: You mean something like this? ? Yes. But I’d shift the platform north with an eye on adding a Red Line station at the far end of the platform once passenger rail service is sufficient to justify the direct station connection. That’s going to be a long walk to the existing airport Red Line station. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
February 7, 20205 yr Author 1 minute ago, Boomerang_Brian said: Yes. But I’d shift the platform north with an eye on adding a Red Line station at the far end of the platform once passenger rail service is sufficient to justify the direct station connection. That’s going to be a long walk to the existing airport Red Line station. It won't save much distance. The Red Line is still climbing out of the trench for the airport tunnel until it reaches the first turnout for RTA's Brookpark Yard. A couple feet east of that is where the Red Line tracks can spread apart wide enough to put a station platform between the Red Line's two main tracks. If you put an overhead access to the RTA platform there, it's a roughly 1,200-foot walk from the point where the overhead access for the Amtrak station would be. And that walk would be all outdoors next to a busy railroad mainline with fast-moving freight trains rolling by there. The direct line from the Airport Red Line Station to an Airport Amtrak station is about 1,400 feet. It's all indoors and most of its by moving walkway. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 7, 20205 yr 14 minutes ago, KJP said: It won't save much distance. The Red Line is still climbing out of the trench for the airport tunnel until it reaches the first turnout for RTA's Brookpark Yard. A couple feet east of that is where the Red Line tracks can spread apart wide enough to put a station platform between the Red Line's two main tracks. If you put an overhead access to the RTA platform there, it's a roughly 1,200-foot walk from the point where the overhead access for the Amtrak station would be. And that walk would be all outdoors next to a busy railroad mainline with fast-moving freight trains rolling by there. The direct line from the Airport Red Line Station to an Airport Amtrak station is about 1,400 feet. It's all indoors and most of its by moving walkway. Ah, I see. I thought it could be a bit closer. High quality moving walkways from the airport terminal would be important. I’d also like to see the walkway through the garage be enclosed, with gaps only for through car traffic. It’s already marked off for pedestrians, which is good, but it is not a nice walk at all. Something like the walkways along the parking garage at Boston Logan would be much better. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
February 14, 20205 yr Author East-West Rail Sees Public Support Despite Pricetag In The Billions https://www.westernmassedc.com/east-west-rail-sees-public-support-despite-pricetag-in-the-billions/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 13, 20205 yr USDOT announces CRISI grants for rail infrastructure projects https://www.progressiverailroading.com/federal_legislation_regulation/news/USDOT-announces-CRISI-grants-for-rail-infrastructure-projects--59973 The U.S. Department of Transportation(USDOT) yesterday announced the recipients of $248.5 million in grant funds under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program for state and local railroad infrastructure projects. ...Among the recipients is the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which was awarded $26.6 million to reconfigure existing Canadian Pacific rail and yard facilities just south of the Milwaukee Intermodal Station in downtown Milwaukee. The station serves as the northern terminus on Amtrak's Hiawatha Milwaukee-to-Chicago route. ..."This project will also pave the way for an eighth daily round trip on Amtrak’s Hiawatha line, which continues to break ridership records and is one of the busiest routes in the nation," U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) said. The article also details several other projects receiving funding. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
March 15, 20205 yr SANDAG wraps up double track project over San Diego River The completion of this project means the southernmost segment of the LOSSAN corridor has continuous double track, which allows freight and passenger trains to move more efficiently. (Previously the bridge over the river was single tracked. The route was already double tracked on either side of the bridge.) https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/infrastructure/article/21128108/sandag-wraps-up-double-track-project-over-san-diego-river When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
March 25, 20205 yr HSR construction will continue in the Central Valley during the virus shut-down: https://sf.streetsblog.org/2020/03/25/california-high-speed-rail-construction-continues-under-covid-19/
April 3, 20205 yr Here in Utah we have a fairly decent commuter rail system called Frontrunner. Two of our local representatives have sponsored bi-partisan legislation to get federal money to improve passenger rail. https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/bipartisan-support-for-expansion-of-uta-frontrunner Of course, they're wanting to use the money to upgrade Frontrunner by electrifying and double-tracking the line but I'd imagine other states could try to get some of the money as well. Interestingly, the company Stadler, which provides trainsets for Texas and will provide trainsets for Caltrain's newly-electrified system. If this passes, I could see our current equipment replaced by the Stadler KISS trainsets that Caltrain will be using.
April 5, 20205 yr Progress on funding for LA to Vegas high speed rail. They are talking about potentially starting service in 2023. That would be great. https://www.progressiverailroading.com/high_speed_rail/news/XpressWest-advances-Las-Vegas-high-speed-rail-plan--60106 When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
April 29, 20205 yr draft for northern california high speed san jose-merced route: https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/first-environmental-draft-northern-california-high-speed-project/
May 1, 20205 yr MA: Union Station [Worcester] platform project gets green light https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/infrastructure/news/21136393/ma-union-station-platform-project-gets-green-light WORCESTER - The Historical Commission has given a green light to a project intended to increase the capacity for commuter rail service at Union Station, as well as improve its operational flexibility and reliability. ... The center platform will allow two trains to be at Union Station at the same time, thus allowing for improved schedule reliability and more schedule options, according to John Odell, the city's director of energy and asset management. ... The cost has been pegged at about $50 million. It is being funded through the MBTA's Capital Investment Program. ***** That $50m price tag is seems like a lot for what this project is. That said, it looks like a great project and I’m glad it is moving forward. This is primarily a commuter rail station, but it looks like they are hoping this project can increase regional rail usage. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
May 2, 20205 yr California panel OKs tax-exempt bonds for XpressWest high-speed rail project [SoCal to Las Vegas] https://www.progressiverailroading.com/high_speed_rail/news/California-panel-OKs-tax-exempt-bonds-for-XpressWest-high-speed-rail-project--60209 The California Debt Limit Allocation Committee yesterday approved $600 million in tax-exempt bonds for Brightline/Virgin Trains USA's XpressWest, a proposed high-speed rail route between Las Vegas and Southern California. Internal Revenue Service guidelines allow Brightline/Virgin Trains to market up to four times the amount of the $600 million in bonding authority, for a total of $2.4 billion in tax-free, private equity bonds, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported. The project, estimated to cost $4.8 billion, calls for a high-speed train to run from Victorville, California, to Las Vegas. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
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