California Zephyr Potential HSR corridor for Chicago - Omaha

mtuandrew wrote:Also, Mr. Aficionado, technically the route was no accident - the historic California Zephyr traveled on the Burlington to Denver, then the Rio Grande to Salt Lake City. The major difference is the use of the ex-Southern Pacific from there to Oakland, rather than the ex-Western Pacific. The Rock Island was never involved, running its own trains to Denver and the West Coast in conjunction with the Southern Pacific.

Accident may not have been the right word. But Amtrak didn't choose the Q because it was the best of all possible routes between Chicago and Omaha; rather, it was the best of what was left (and kept the CZ on the same railroad all the way to Denver). Had Amtrak come along 5 or 10 years earlier, another route might have been chosen.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120213/NEWS01/702139949

Nice little map on the page.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is seeking public input for a study of a possible new passenger rail line that would connect the Omaha metropolitan area and Chicago.

The transportation department and the Federal Railroad Administration are jointly looking at five possible routes across the Hawkeye State.

...

The route through Des Moines would be an extension of the already-planned Green Line from Chicago to Iowa City. The portion of the Green Line linking Chicago and Moline, Ill., will open over the next few years, Martin said.

There has been talk of extending the Green Line to Des Moines and Omaha since that line was proposed. However, the four other lines also must be looked at to satisfy the requirements of federal funding for both the study and the railway.

Coincidentally, I believe the CZ is detouring Chicago-Omaha over the UP on 2/24 and 2/15 due to trackwork on BNSF. Might that be a viable HSR corridor?

Mike, the UP has gotten the Overland Route passenger train-free Elburn, IL to Weso, NV; save occasional detours, I'm certain they have every intention of keeping it that way. To my best knowledge, only Executrains and Employee Specials have operated Omaha-Cheyenne since A-Day.

disclaimer: author holds long position UNP

Jeff Smith wrote:http://www.omaha.com/article/20120213/NEWS01/702139949

Nice little map on the page.

The route through Des Moines would be an extension of the already-planned Green Line from Chicago to Iowa City. The portion of the Green Line linking Chicago and Moline, Ill., will open over the next few years, Martin said.

There has been talk of extending the Green Line to Des Moines and Omaha since that line was proposed. However, the four other lines also must be looked at to satisfy the requirements of federal funding for both the study and the railway.

I think that that's to demonstrate that they will not be wasting money on a bad choice. Furthermore, such studies could be useful starting points for further expansions of service.

Crossover project aims to improve CZ service
The work will let engineers weave around slower-moving freight trains.
Des Moines Register reports construction has begun on a $17.3 million track project aimed at increasing the reliability of Amtrak’s California Zephyr in southern Iowa by alleviating congestion and allowing faster speeds.
The powered crossovers will enable passenger trains to switch quickly from one mainline to another in an area that frequently experiences rail traffic bottlenecks.


Paid for by stimulus money, interestingly. Completion scheduled before summer 2012. Article is here:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... ak-service

Good to hear as I've been on the CZ when it's had to stop and have the conductor throw the hand switches.

Why do they have hand thrown switches on a busy mainline ?

David Benton wrote:Why do they have hand thrown switches on a busy mainline ?

$$$

HDR has completed the study and recommends the Chicago-Quad Cities-Iowa City-Des Moines-Council Bluffs route.

The initial review of the potential for Omaha service found the Iowa Interstate route, which also serves Des Moines, Grinnell and Newton, would draw up to 935,000 riders a year on five daily trains in each direction operating at speeds up to 110 mph.

That would require track, signal, and maintenance upgrades to Iowa Interstate's present track, which Lipka said now has a maximum 40-mph speed limit. He said Iowa Interstate operates up to 14 freight trains a day "and looking to grow even more" over segments of the 360 miles between Wyanet, Ill., and Council Bluffs.

http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/chicago ... udy-050212

The Chief wrote:Crossover project aims to improve CZ service
The work will let engineers weave around slower-moving freight trains.
Des Moines Register reports construction has begun on a $17.3 million track project aimed at increasing the reliability of Amtrak’s California Zephyr in southern Iowa by alleviating congestion and allowing faster speeds.
The powered crossovers will enable passenger trains to switch quickly from one mainline to another in an area that frequently experiences rail traffic bottlenecks.


Paid for by stimulus money, interestingly. Completion scheduled before summer 2012. Article is here:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... ak-service

And at the same time they're studying alternative alignments?

They want to show that they won't be wasting a lot of taxpayers' money on something that could have been better. When millions or even billions of dollars are at stake, it would be good to show that one is not going to mis-spend it.

It seems to me that the Federal Government sometimes goes to great lengths to avoid wasting money, to the point that these efforts involve a lot of money.