Anticipating all of the negativity (even here) from these certain individuals that only are concerned about money,
their money, that can't see the big picture, the following quotes are from elsewhere (no reference will be given and is not needed ) what also could be typical comments from the uneducated American public and my responses.
So many of these are just plain comical:
honestly what can rail do better,
1. An alternate to other modes that aren't crowded and usually more dangerous,
2. Ability to get up and walk around, not be restricted to your seat,
3. Chance to meet and actually talk to others (other than who is sandwiched in on the row you sit),
4. Ability to actually see the countryside up close,
5. Not everyone wants to fly or can fly (fearful of airplanes etc.),
6. Most stations are in or near the actual downtown area instead of being 10, maybe 15 miles away,
7. Food or at least snacks & drink is usually available (depending on type of train service)
8. Everyone isn't in a hurry!
Until they FIX the railroad lines and congestion and get the trains running on a regular basis - maybe even reaching the thruway speed limit, it's a waste of time and money.
The American public has no clue about railroad operations and that comment is a prime example. Amtrak operates up to 79 MPH within most of the state. 110MPH in an area east of Schenectady.
The tracks (for the most part) don't need "fixing" as you and others put it. Most track is FRA class 4. Within terminals (cities) it's Class 3, in limited areas it may be Class 2 (from Wikipedia):
Track:..... Freight: ... Passenger:
Excepted <10 mph . not allowed
Class 1.. 10 mph ... 15 mph
Class 2.. 25 mph.....30 mph
Class 3.. 40 mph ....60 mph
Class 4.. 60 mph ... 80 mph
Class 5 ..80 mph ....90 mph
Class 6.. 110 mph
Class 7 . 125 mph
Class 8 ..160 mph
Class 9 ..220 mph
The problem passenger trains can't operate properly is when the 'host' railroad operates freights on the same tracks, especially when they are THREE miles ,long. CSX among others got a bug up their ass thinking three mile, 300 plus car trains are ok. They aren't. Unfortunately due to little FRA regulation there is no limit. Not all trains are that long. Two miles and less is more the norm.
Passenger trains get stuck behind some of these often, due to numerous reasons. This is nothing new, but worse now than it was when there were dedicated passenger and freight tracks. What is truly needed is a 3rd track for passenger, with no freight interference. That is well known for the longest time with the DOT, but expensive and numerous factors would have to be considered.
I think it's an over priced boondoggle of political pork throwing tax payer money around like drunken sailors on a service that 100 people will use a day. Its a vastly ineffective use of resources. No one travels by rail.
We will NEVER get our invested money back from the station. The rail age is over. (rail is great for freight, not so much pax)
A. Blanket statements based on 'everything has to make a profit' or break even is narrow minded.
B. Does the Interstate break even or make a profit? How many billions has been poured into that and continues to need more mostly because it is overbuilt and can't be maintained.
C. Rail transportation is one, if not the most efficient way to move freight and people.
D. Statements like "No one travels by rail" and "The rail age is over" couldn't be further from the truth. Just because YOU don't, doesn't mean everyone else doesn't.
I didn't know that people were clamoring for rail travel in WNY?
I'd be clamoring for some more discount airlines to serve the BUF airport so that people can take nice vacations without spending too much.
I say bulldoze it, if someone wants to travel not by air, they can take Megabus
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1. There is plenty that you aren't aware of based on your post that I responded to in the old thread that had the outside interference that I flagged claiming the Depot is surrounded by "projects" which and never was true (among other things).
2. Airlines fares are way too cheap since air travel is already heavily subsidized by the federal gov't. and always has been.
3. The "buldoze" statement only reflects a 'head in the sand' narrow minded, backwards mentality. This isn't the 60's.
4. Comparing rail travel with a bus is like comparing riding in a truck vs a car both that ride a heavily subsidized Interstate Highway System that is another bottomless pit.
No one in my age group (in his 30's) takes trains anywhere. I have never been on an Amtrak train.
Awful wide, blanket inaccurate statement to make. As the the 2nd point; that's your loss. Remarks that one would expect hearing from a typical SUV loving suburbanite that has been blindly brought up around the automobile being the only way around.
I don't think that many people from the suburbs want anything to do with the area around Central Terminal. Has nothing to do with race, its that people don't want to be in a high crime area surrounded by projects.
Clearly the problem. Why did it get that way? Answer; from the 'white flight' of the 50's courtesy of all the expressways that were built making some neighborhoods less desirable to live in. As to your 2nd point, there are are no "projects" around the Depot.
Statements that show little, if any actual factual knowledge.
Previously the NF area was served by a sub 1000 sq foot train station that was proper for the amount of traffic it got.
The previous station was a freight only building that was turned into a makeshift station. Hard to find and nothing to look at in a less than ideal location.
Buffalo should be more focused on getting some ride sharing apps to come to town, like Uber, Lyft, or Fasten
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Completely irreverent statement. What does that have to do with passenger train travel?? Nothing! Ride sharing to NYC??
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CSX is nothing but a continuous joke. No matter who this Capitalist Hedge Fund puts in charge, it will never be a REAL railroad!