My plan is a comprehensive rework of the existing services.
It's a route rationalization by cutting the network up more than cutting the network down.
No new routes but breaking up and rerouting existing routes and segments to do the following:
- Reduce end-to-end distance (theoretical improvement in reliability/on-time performance/frequencies)
- Reduce emphasis on very long journeys (not competitive with driving or flying)
- Free up capacity on corridors (increased corridor frequencies/reliability)
- Reduce duplication of stops in territory covered by other services (decreases travel time, delays)
- Reroute to serve population centers (increase in ridership/revenue)
Yes, I realize doing most of these things requires big investment, but is the idea to make Amtrak cost less or be more cost-effective?
I tried to cover every service. Corridors mainly just need to do minor continued improvement.
Acela Express - Continued improvement
Adirondack - Nonstop NYP-ALB combined with Ethan Allen Express
Auto Train - Continued improvement, especially around terminal operations
Blue Water - Continued improvement
California Zephyr - Split CHI-DEN & DEN-EMY, reroute PCT-OMA via IAIS (adding stops Moline, Iowa City, Grinnell, Des Moines, Atlantic)... further splitting may be possible at SLC and OMA
Capitol Corridor - Continued improvement
Capitol Limited - Reroute via Youngstown
Cardinal - Shorten and split CHI-CIN & CIN-WAS. Reroute LAF-IND adding stops Frankfort, Lebanon, and Speedway.
Carolinian - Shorten WAS-CLT
Cascades - Continued improvement
City of New Orleans - Split and reroute CHI-MEM (via Grand Crossing) & MEM-NOL
Coast Starlight - Shorten and split, PDX-EMY & EMY-LAX
Crescent - Shorten and split, WAS-ATL & ATL-NOL
Downeaster - Continued improvement
Empire Builder - Shorten MSP-SPK with CHI-MSP, SPK-SEA, SPK-PDX as independent connecting routes with added frequency; drop GLN on CHI-MSP portion (service left on Metra and Hiawatha Service)
Empire Service - Continued improvement
Ethan Allen Express - Nonstop NYP-ALB combined with Adirondack, extend via Burlington NYP-SAB (later NYP-MTR)
Heartland Flyer - Split and extend, FTW-SAS & FTW-KCY (via Wichita)
Hiawatha Service - Continued improvement
Illinois Zephyr/Carl Sandburg - Continued improvement, drop stop at LAG (devolve to Metra)
Illini/Saluki - Continued improvement, reroute via Grand Crossing
Keystone Service - Devolve smaller stops on PHL-HAR segment to extended SEPTA commuter service
Lake Shore Limited - Limited stops in New York, BUF-ALB-NYP, better connections with Empire Service for "local" stops
Lincoln Service - Continued improvement, drop stop at SMT (devolve to Metra)
Maple Leaf - Continued improvement (per Empire Service), reduce Canadian stops (devolve to GO Transit)
Missouri River Runner - Continued improvement
Northeast Regional - Continued improvement
Pacific Surfliner - Limited stops in Metrolink/Coaster commuter territory
Palmetto - Change termini, WAS-JAX
Pennsylvanian - Change termini, PHL-CLE (via Youngstown)
Pere Marqutte - Continued improvement, consolidate route with other Michigan Services, adding stops at NBU and MCI
Piedmont - Continued improvement
Southwest Chief - Split and reroute, CHI-KCY, KCY-DEN (added stops at Manhattan, Salina, Hays, Colby, Burlington, Limon), & DEN-LAX (reroute via Williams)
San Joaquins - Continued improvement
Silver Star - Shorten and split WAS-TPA & TPA-MIA (as state-supported corridor)
Silver Meteor - Shorten WAS-MIA
Sunset Limited - Split and reroute, SAS-NOL & LAX-FTW (incl. reroute to Phoenix and new stops at Odessa/Midland, Abilene, and Weatherford on ELP-FTW segment)
Texas Eagle - Shorten, split, and reroute, FTW-SAS & FTW-MEM (via LRK)
Valley Flyer/Shuttle - Limited stops NHV-HFD-SPG, local stops devolved to increased CTrail frequencies
Vermonter - Shorten NYP-SAB (later NYP-MTR)
Wolverine - Devolve DET-PNT segment to future MItrain commuter route