Quote:
Originally Posted by drummer
True that they bring more clout to the discussion, but even Amtrak doesn't have priority over UP or BNSF trains on their lines. I recall taking the train from Dallas to Austin years ago when I was back on a visit (we lived in Asia at the time and didn't have a car here). The ride was nice - slow, especially compared to the HSR I had grown accustomed to, but nice enough. I think it took about 6 hours, but we could read, go to the snack car, gaze out the window, etc. All good things in the end. It was also before we had kids, but we've taken kids on trains multiple times since without issue.
My complaint was that the train was 2 hours late to Dallas because of an increase in freight traffic on the lines. Since Amtrak didn't own the lines, they were stuck at the previous stop, I presume. That was the biggest issue. A faster train with better locations for stops only does so much if it's not a dedicated line, and less so if passenger rail has the lowest priority.
I also don't believe UP is wrong to say, "Don't disrupt our business," nor do their customers who rely on them want that. (I don't think you're saying that either, urbancore.) They heavily invested in the lines (albeit with, I assume, massive federal and state subsidies over the decades). I'm not sure how the maintenance agreements work - if it's solely UP or if the state/feds subsidize that as well. I also know that BNSF has to pay UP to operate on their lines and vice versa. It's a big confusing mess before Amtrak or others are added to the mix.
All said, a dedicated passenger line will provide the greatest success, but it would also be at the greatest cost.
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Running "on time" would be critical, indeed. A deal breaker for me to ride. I've ridden the bus (Greyhound) when I was younger to Corpus, SA, Dallas, etc. and it was a complete shit show. I've since taken the newer private busses to Houston to pick up cars I've purchased, and they were amazing...clean, cheap, and ON TIME.
Who would the primary rider this for? Tourists? Commuters? Students?
If we built another line, would it fit next to the current line? I think it would be a tight fit in a few places...maybe they could share a track in some areas and split off. I imagine it will be quite difficult to build along side TexDot rebuilding/repairing I35.
I drove to SA yesterday to pick up a Google Fiber extender (Google apparently doesn't have a retail store here any longer....boooo).....I left at 10am and was home by 12:35. (2.5 hours is pretty good) Granted I went to North Star Mall, not downtown, and I live in Zikler....so it wasn't so bad...but construction is ongoing all along I-35 damn near the entire distance. It seems to me construction has ALWAYS been ongoing in the Aus-SA corridor. Traffic was stop/go in a few areas, but typical 80mph/bumper to bumper driving....something I've always noticed about that drive. Feels like what driving Nascar must be like.
Nonetheless, I wouldn't take a train if I can drive it quicker myself. Time is important to me, especially as i age.
If there was a train to take.
I would have to drive to the station...pay for parking downtown + train ticket
Arrive at least 30 min early. So leave my house at 9am (comparing a hypothetical to my actual trip yesterday)
Board a train at 10a.
I would guess at least a 4 hour run time considering the train would stop 7 times (according to the previously proposed LStar Map)between downtown Austin and NStar Mall (SA Airport).
Walk in the heat/rain/cold from the SA Airport or take an Uber (more money)
Hit the Google Kiosk in the mall = 1 hour
Repeat trip in reverse...hopefully the train has a return trip within an hour.
4 Hour trip to DT Austin (est arrival 8pm....4+4+1+1)
Back home at 8:30-9p?
I happen to live very close to the DT train depot, so it would be easy for me to get there and get back, but most of Austin would need to commute to the depot 30-60 min, each way.
9am to 9pm door to door, and that is to say, zero delays. Which I would find completely unacceptable, yet would completely expect from any gov run agency, when I was a student before I had a car, my transportation was CapMetro....for a good couple years. Can't tell you how many times I was late, or I had to board hours early to be sure I wasn't late. in 1989, I was fired from the Olive Garden for being 10 min late.....due to the bus.
I can imagine the trip would cost at least $75-100 rt. My gas cost me about $25, i used about 1/4 tank RT.
I could get some work done. But I have talk and pace on the phone quite a bit, when I work. Probably not a great passenger experience for others, or me. I could gaze out the window, lets be honest...this route is hardly scenic.
I can only imagine this train would be used by enthusiasts, of which I am one. But I'm not an enthusiast at any cost. Taxpayers will most certainly subsidize a train 9 to 1 or more? I find that repugnant.
The cynic in me, which I push down everyday as a lifelong optimist, says this is an exercise that politicians and rail industry people use to raise money to study what they already know is improbable.
I can't see commuters riding it unless they lived and worked very close to the depots.
I can't see concert goers riding it, unless they arrived a day early and spent the night to ensure they did not miss their reservation/show.
I can't see students riding it, because who has that kind of time? and would the run times fit with students chaotic schedules. Doubtful.
So that leaves train geeks, retirees/wayward youth traveling the nation on the rail...the odd person who happens to live close to the depots, and parents who want to take their kids on a train ride (which would probably cost $200 RT for a fam of 4)
I understand everyone wants the US to have a train network like Asia or Europe, but we don't have near the density (in 90% of the country)to warrant the expense, that and we love our cars with zero sign of giving them up. With birth rates at historic lows and trending lower, anti density laws in most cities that aren't already dense, and the probability that autonomous cars will be commonplace long before a rail line would be up and running...I just don't see the need based on our current and/or future circumstances.
I know I'll get trashed here for my opinion, so lets go!