Since NJT is fauning over starting uo New York Penn to Atlantic city service. Amtrak should restore service on the Desert wind from Chicago to
Las Vegas.
Las Vegas.
Railroad Forums
Amtrak Desert Wind Los Angeles LA - Las Vegas NV Past Present Future
- Discussion related to Amtrak also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corp.
Moderators: GirlOnTheTrain, mtuandrew, Tadman
While I am in at least partial agreement with the sentiments about restioraing at least a portion of the Desert Wind route (Mornings to Vegas and Evening returns to SoCal as opposed to the DW which called on Vegas at 7 AM roughly westbound and 8:40 PM Eastbound), I'm not sure I see the correlation with NJT's proposal to restore Atlantic City service.
"Government isn't the solution to our problems, government IS the problem."
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Both are gambling meccas. in Amtraks case running service either from california or from Chicago may just help the bottom line. Amtrak lost a whole market when it lost the Desert Wind. Amtrak need to tap into that market at a resonable price and without pricing itself out of the market as as
I also suggested on the NJT Atlantic city
I also suggested on the NJT Atlantic city
Where do you propose to find the funding to pay for this?
EVERY Amtrak train loses money. That means there has to be funding within Amtrak's annual DOT grant, or CA and NV sign up for 403(b) service.
Please show me the money trail, gentlemen.
John Perkowski
Throwing the $$ wet blanket
EVERY Amtrak train loses money. That means there has to be funding within Amtrak's annual DOT grant, or CA and NV sign up for 403(b) service.
Please show me the money trail, gentlemen.
John Perkowski
Throwing the $$ wet blanket
John_Perkowski wrote:Where do you propose to find the funding to pay for this?They could do what is done in everywhere else in Nevada -put slot machines and blackjack tables on the train for use while within Nevada (I'm half kidding).
EVERY Amtrak train loses money. That means there has to be funding within Amtrak's annual DOT grant, or CA and NV sign up for 403(b) service.
Please show me the money trail, gentlemen.
John Perkowski
Throwing the $$ wet blanket
We will have ot get the money fro m the states that the train will service, whether the train goes fronm chicago or california. With the
budget defiect the way i t is we need to have state money, Las Vegas sponsorship as with the NJT AC adventure and affordable price so Amtrak compete with my dominating bus industry
budget defiect the way i t is we need to have state money, Las Vegas sponsorship as with the NJT AC adventure and affordable price so Amtrak compete with my dominating bus industry
Given that Las Vegas casinos seem to have money for anything, why can't the casinos simply fund a train of their own?
There are already casino jets, casino busses, and the casinos seem to know everything there is about hotels and restaurants. They have the money to buy and maintain equipment. All they need is a railroad operator (read: an engineer, a conductor and a locomotive) - and I'm sure UP will gladly oblige - for the right price.
There are already casino jets, casino busses, and the casinos seem to know everything there is about hotels and restaurants. They have the money to buy and maintain equipment. All they need is a railroad operator (read: an engineer, a conductor and a locomotive) - and I'm sure UP will gladly oblige - for the right price.
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Erik Halstead - Portland, Oregon
Erik Halstead - Portland, Oregon
Which would be harder, finding the money to re-start service to Las Vegas, or the rail to run a train on? An outside provider would most likely find the cost for the rights to the freight track access unreasonable, given the schedule treatment similar to Amtrak. Only a government entity, with either more money or political power, could pull it off...
Unless George Bush somehow talks UP into it. Maybe it's been his idea of privatization all along.
Unless George Bush somehow talks UP into it. Maybe it's been his idea of privatization all along.
Amtrak attempted to restore service to Las Vegas a few years ago, with one run leaving SoCal early in the morning, arriving in Vegas early afternoon, then turning around mid-to-late afternoon, arriving in LA between 11 and midnight. Amtrak even had the equipment lined up to use on this run, they were running time trials, andhad funding secured. Union Pacific wanted nothing to do with the project as it is, part of UP's requirements for the service was that Amtrak had to fund double-tracking the entire line and cede priority.
Best I think you one can hope for is what Ashman mentions - corridor type service between LA and Las Vegas only. Course, this requires cooperation with the Union Pacific RR and it doesn't appear that this will happen any time soon! The trainset was supposed to be the Talgo that has since been sold to the State of Washington (or Oregon) I believe. It runs on the Amtrak Cascades route with the rest of the Talgos. I remember the advertisements in various Amtrak literature for startup of this service "to commence at a date to be announced." I think it was 2001 or 2002.
when people go to vegas, they want to get there and get back, not spend 2 days on a train getting there each way
give me a break...
give me a break...
crazy_nip wrote:when people go to vegas, they want to get there and get back, not spend 2 days on a train getting there each wayActually, I'm not much for going to Vegas at all as I despise that town. I derived absolutely no enjoyment from my long weekend there a year ago in February (although part of that was from having a touch of laryngitis courtesy of the flu and lost my glorious singing voice for a short period).
give me a break...
That said, I don't believe the issue with the delay in startup had all that much to due with lack of potential riders. One of the excuses I recall dealt with the impact this new train would have on a certain species of desert tortoise. I remember a number of us here on this forum had a field day with THAT one at the time it was first discussed about 6 years ago.
"Government isn't the solution to our problems, government IS the problem."
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Jishnu wrote:CalTrans (Amtrak California) might get to Reno way before anything will ever make it to Vegas.Well..... Assuming there are no desert tortoises around Donner Lake to protect, you may well be right.
"Government isn't the solution to our problems, government IS the problem."
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Done the LV-LA trip on I-15 a few times and it sux. I-15 is 2 lanes past Barstow slow as hell too many cars crazy aggressive drivers. 5-6 hrs of torture. Approx 200,000 people per weekend make the drive and a ton more during conventions. Anyone who leaves LA on a friday afternoon must be insane.
Seems like common sense to have rail service. LA union Station is in downtown its very convenient.
Flying is not worth it its the same travel time door to door and LAX location is terrible.
Why no rail service?
Seems like common sense to have rail service. LA union Station is in downtown its very convenient.
Flying is not worth it its the same travel time door to door and LAX location is terrible.
Why no rail service?