Will segmented train routes work?

   An issue that is bound to be heavily debated in coming months is the idea of breaking up long distance Amtrak routes into segments
that involve a series of day trains covering the same routes. 

   The idea originated with anti-Amtrak sources in the Administration, but actually dates back further, having been proposed by various think tanks with anti-rail orientations. 

   The apparent money- saving idea is that there would no longer be a need for sleeping cars and the crews to man them. The day trains would cover the same route, but there would be no overnight operation, so that travelers whose routes included an overnight portion would have to occupy hotel rooms between train segments. 

   The National Association of Railroad Passengers has been performing comparison analyses of existing long distance routes and the segmented routes that would most likely substitute for them. The results are so weighted in favor of the long distance routes that no logical justification could be made for the segments.

   Rather than creating cost saving for Amtrak, the segmenting would actually either yield no savings or raise costs, while reducing patronage to such an extent that the segmented route would fail altogether. 

   Of course, creating a route failure might be the ultimate aim of the anti-rail originators of this scheme. 

   Amtrak President Kummant and other company officials continue to mention this plan while being fairly noncommital and saying it would be evaluated carefully. If the evaluation is indeed done carefully and rationally, it would seem that no possible case could be made for segmenting. 
 
 

     Maybe it's time that people writing news items about trains, whether in print or online, acquired some experience with and knowledge of the topic they are covering.

     In earlier times, trains, especially of the passenger variety, were more common, and most people probably knew something about how they operated. If a writer had declared that the train "rounded a corner", he or she would have been roundly ridiculed. But in today's world, such impossible phrases are found too often. And even some railfans insist on saying "the engineer blew his whistle" when he actually sounded his horn. 

     Some of these gaffes are simply amusing, but when they spread incorrect information or cast passenger trains in an undeservedly bad light, they become more serious.

     A case in point is the March 27 online and onair report from a Savannah GA TV station that an "Amtrak train derails, strands passengers in Savannah." 

     What actually happened was that a CSX freight train had derailed and blocked the line used by Amtrak. The derailment occurred near one of the Richmond VA stations the morning of March 27 and blocked one track, disrupting freight and Amtrak service. There was no derailment of an Amtrak train. The train that "stranded passenger in Savannah" was the Palmetto. 

     Amtrak was having difficulty busing passengers around the derailment because of a shortage of buses. 

     The station promised more news at 6:00. Let's hope it was corrected news.

Book by March 31, 2008 and receive a discount of up to 50% based on regular adult peak period fares aboard VIA Rail’s Canadian traveling between Toronto and Vancouver; the Ocean traveling between Montréal and Halifax; and the Chaleur traveling between Montréal and Quebec’s Gaspé region. The discount is available for travel through June 14, 2008, for Comfort and Comfort Sleeper services on the Ocean and Chaleur trains and until May 31, 2008 for Silver & Blue class service on board the Canadian. 

 VIA’s sleeping car services feature cozy bedrooms with duvet bedding, towels, a shower kit, and turn-down chocolates. All trains feature tastefully decorated dining cars serving locally-inspired cuisine and a selection of fine wines and spirits.  Tickets are subject to availability.  Visit viarail.ca/50eastwest for complete conditions. 

Customers traveling in VIA 1 (first) class can now enjoy deep discounts along VIA Rail’s Windsor to Québec City Corridor service.  With fares starting as low as CAD $79 (the exchange being virtually equal to the U.S. dollar) travelers can book a ticket that includes complimentary meal and beverage service and access to relaxing Panorama Lounges located in many Corridor stations. Sample fares include travel from Toronto to Montréal for CAD $149, representing a discount of over 30%.  Pay-for-demand wireless Internet service is also available on-board the Corridor.  Space is subject to availability and must be booked at least one day prior to travel.

There are also bargains for seniors, in which a traveler aged 60 or older can bring a companion of any age for half the usual fare.

   Columnist Wes Vernon reported on Jan 28 that likely GOP presidential candidate John McCain would kill off Amtrak if he were elected president.

   Vernon was discussing influential conservative rail advocate Paul Weyrich's reaction to McCain's candidacy. Weyrich said he would leave the GOP if McCain were the candidate.

   Vernon wrote: "Weyrich knows that Senator McCain, throughout his career, has been very anti-rail, and in that respect 'would be [even] worse than the present [Bush] administration,' whose Transportation Secretary Mary Peters (a big highway booster) has fought tooth and nail (as commission chairman) to block the pro-rail efforts of Weyrich and others allied with his 9-to-3 [National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study] commission majority."

   Vernon also reported "The Arizonan has said shutting down Amtrak —  if he's elected — would be 'a non-negotiable issue' for him. Short-sighted, indeed."

   French President Sarkozy on Feb 2 unveiled the new AGV train (Automotrice à Grande Vitesse) to be built by Alstom and brought online probably in 2014.

   The AGV is to replace the TGV and will run at 224mph compared to the TGV's 186. 

   Italy, however, should see the trains sooner, in 2011. 

   The new trains will lack power cars on the front and rear, as power will be supplied from all the coaches. This will results in more passenger space, bringing capacity up from 485 to 650 per trainset. 

   The trains will use 15% less energy than the current TGVs.

   Bombardier and Siemens are promoting their competing high-speed trains, the Zefiro and Velaro respectively.

   Rail advocates were quick to note that while such bountiful high-speed rail development is taking place in Europe, the U.S. lags far behind in this area, one that is essential for the coming era of fuel and global warming challenges.
Photo courtesy of Alstom.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), an international roadway safety organization founded in 1969, released to its members its 2009 surface transportation reauthorization policy titled, "Toward Zero Deaths," during ATSSA's 38th Annual Convention and Traffic Expo, held Feb. 8-12 in New Orleans. more

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