5 ms·

Some of the new additions would have a ton of ridership, even if the trains weren’t particularly high speed. Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Nashville to Atlanta are

by kgin 5y ago

Some of the new additions would have a ton of ridership, even if the trains weren’t particularly high speed. Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Nashville to Atlanta are the two that jump out to me.

mc32 5y ago
They show one going from SF to Reno. There is some kind of station at Truckee. I’ve never taken an Amtrack to Reno/Truckee. I would think if they promoted this more, you could have more skiers go the weekend to Truckee/Tahoe/Reno/Mt Rose a lot more to avoid getting stuck on I-80 during storms as well as avoiding 4-hr drives. I’m guessing it sucks. Also nice would be SJC to Santa Cruz.
- mason55 5y ago
  I’m guessing the problem is last mile. There is a train from Denver that takes you directly to one mountain (Winter Park) but getting a train to any other mountain adds a ton of time and expense because you need shuttles from the train stop. The ski resorts are necessarily far apart (because they’re huge) and the time most people want to go is in the worst weather to be driving shuttles all over. That Reno to Tahoe drive is still a hike and Heavenly/Squaw/Sierra at Tahoe are decently far apart.
  - naturalauction 5y ago
    I've actually taken this on existing infrastructure (Amtrak has a bus from Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe). The train to Sacramento from San Jose takes at least 3 hours and the bus takes another 3 (in winter weather). It's not terrible if you want to go to Heavenly but would be completely useless if you wanted to go anywhere else. Also, last mile transportation in San Jose/SV, especially if you were carrying around skis would be a pain. Add in the fact that it costs $60 each way and it just isn't worth it. There used to be ski busses that did the route (and presumably would take you right to the slopes) but I have no idea if they still run. Those seem like a much better option.
  - PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
    > the time most people want to go is in the worst weather to be driving shuttles all over. Doesn't that also mean its a bad time for people to be driving their own cars all over?
apostacy 5y ago
Notice the dotted line between Jacksonville FL and Mobile AL in the lower right? That is because of a "temporary" service suspension in 2004 from damage by hurricane Katrina.[1] Apparently even Amtrak thinks that by 2035 they won't be capable of restoring service. [1]: https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20081117/NEWS/801256449 https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20081117/NEWS/801256449
- db48x 5y ago
  It’s not a matter of capability, they just decided not to. They don’t own the rails, so they don’t have to maintain or repair them. I believe that CSX owns that line, and they repaired it in 2004. Amtrack could have restarted that service any time they wanted to.
treis 5y ago
For Nashville to Atlanta driving is going to be cheaper and way more convenient. Plus you're likely to need a car anyways at your destination. Few people are going to choose the train. This inexplicable fascination with trains is frustrating to watch. They're expensive to build and aren't comprehensive solutions. The first thing that needs to be done is to get people off of cars. The easiest way to do that is dump a bunch of money into on demand ad hoc shuttle bus size transport. Make public transport convenient and people will use it. If people use it then they will support it and cities will naturally build to depend on it. Edit:To illustrate the problem, I live about a mile from the center of downtown Atlanta. To get to the Amtrak station would require a bus, transfer to the subway, and transfer to another bus. It would take an hour to get to the station 6 miles away.
- redblacktree 5y ago
  At that point, just walk. At a comfortable pace, you'd be there in 80 minutes, and you'd have your exercise for the day.
  - ghaff 5y ago
    With luggage, in a city that is hot and humid for a decent chunk of the year. More realistically, you're going to catch a cab/Uber.
  - anaerobicover 5y ago
    I am a big proponent of walking to get around, but 6 miles in 80 minutes is closer to a jog than "a comfortable walking pace". Typical walking speed is 16-20 minutes/mile, and that's without carrying anything.
    - redblacktree 5y ago
      You're right. I did my math wrong. I was going for 20 minutes/mile and I have no idea how I arrived at 80. I think maybe I used 100 minutes/hour. Hah. I suppose it would be two hours.
- 5y ago
notsureaboutpg 5y ago
Why would Nashville to Atlanta have a huge ridership?

by kgin 5y ago

Some of the new additions would have a ton of ridership, even if the trains weren’t particularly high speed. Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Nashville to Atlanta are the two that jump out to me.

mc32 5y ago

They show one going from SF to Reno. There is some kind of station at Truckee. I’ve never taken an Amtrack to Reno/Truckee. I would think if they promoted this more, you could have more skiers go the weekend to Truckee/Tahoe/Reno/Mt Rose a lot more to avoid getting stuck on I-80 during storms as well as avoiding 4-hr drives. I’m guessing it sucks. Also nice would be SJC to Santa Cruz.

mason55 5y ago
I’m guessing the problem is last mile. There is a train from Denver that takes you directly to one mountain (Winter Park) but getting a train to any other mountain adds a ton of time and expense because you need shuttles from the train stop. The ski resorts are necessarily far apart (because they’re huge) and the time most people want to go is in the worst weather to be driving shuttles all over. That Reno to Tahoe drive is still a hike and Heavenly/Squaw/Sierra at Tahoe are decently far apart.
- naturalauction 5y ago
  I've actually taken this on existing infrastructure (Amtrak has a bus from Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe). The train to Sacramento from San Jose takes at least 3 hours and the bus takes another 3 (in winter weather). It's not terrible if you want to go to Heavenly but would be completely useless if you wanted to go anywhere else. Also, last mile transportation in San Jose/SV, especially if you were carrying around skis would be a pain. Add in the fact that it costs $60 each way and it just isn't worth it. There used to be ski busses that did the route (and presumably would take you right to the slopes) but I have no idea if they still run. Those seem like a much better option.
- PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
  > the time most people want to go is in the worst weather to be driving shuttles all over. Doesn't that also mean its a bad time for people to be driving their own cars all over?

apostacy 5y ago

Notice the dotted line between Jacksonville FL and Mobile AL in the lower right? That is because of a "temporary" service suspension in 2004 from damage by hurricane Katrina.[1] Apparently even Amtrak thinks that by 2035 they won't be capable of restoring service. [1]: https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20081117/NEWS/801256449 https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20081117/NEWS/801256449

db48x 5y ago
It’s not a matter of capability, they just decided not to. They don’t own the rails, so they don’t have to maintain or repair them. I believe that CSX owns that line, and they repaired it in 2004. Amtrack could have restarted that service any time they wanted to.

treis 5y ago

For Nashville to Atlanta driving is going to be cheaper and way more convenient. Plus you're likely to need a car anyways at your destination. Few people are going to choose the train. This inexplicable fascination with trains is frustrating to watch. They're expensive to build and aren't comprehensive solutions. The first thing that needs to be done is to get people off of cars. The easiest way to do that is dump a bunch of money into on demand ad hoc shuttle bus size transport. Make public transport convenient and people will use it. If people use it then they will support it and cities will naturally build to depend on it. Edit:To illustrate the problem, I live about a mile from the center of downtown Atlanta. To get to the Amtrak station would require a bus, transfer to the subway, and transfer to another bus. It would take an hour to get to the station 6 miles away.

redblacktree 5y ago
At that point, just walk. At a comfortable pace, you'd be there in 80 minutes, and you'd have your exercise for the day.
- ghaff 5y ago
  With luggage, in a city that is hot and humid for a decent chunk of the year. More realistically, you're going to catch a cab/Uber.
- anaerobicover 5y ago
  I am a big proponent of walking to get around, but 6 miles in 80 minutes is closer to a jog than "a comfortable walking pace". Typical walking speed is 16-20 minutes/mile, and that's without carrying anything.
  - redblacktree 5y ago
    You're right. I did my math wrong. I was going for 20 minutes/mile and I have no idea how I arrived at 80. I think maybe I used 100 minutes/hour. Hah. I suppose it would be two hours.
5y ago

notsureaboutpg 5y ago

Why would Nashville to Atlanta have a huge ridership?