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Re: (erielack) NS/AMTRAK HAPPENINGS HERE
Thanks! Enjoyed reading this. Too bad Ohio gave up on this with $200 a barrel oil coming in five years. Lackawanna Lance
- -----Original Message-----
From: Pieter K Terwilleger <01pterwi_@_charter.net>
To: EL Mail List <erielack_@_lists.railfan.net>
Sent: Sun, Dec 19, 2010 12:50 pm
Subject: (erielack) NS/AMTRAK HAPPENINGS HERE
Hi Paul B!
Thanks for your input!
The State of North Carolina has made a substantial investment in the Piedmont and Carolinian, aboard which I am a Volunteer Train Host (I'minactive presently) on each as far as either Raleigh or Rocky Mount, with and extra Piedmont "Noon Train" added this year. The ridership has been growing substantially. Double tracking sections continues between Charlotte and Greensboro. Asheville is eager to institute passenger service to Salisbury to connect with these trains, and the folks at NCDOT are encouraged by the City of Asheville and the State's interest in making this a reality.
My Train Host "Boss", Ms. DeBrew, sent us this news:
"The state-owned Piedmont, which travels four times daily between Raleigh and Charlotte with stops in six other North Carolina cities, had the largest percentage increase in the nation, 46 percent. One reason for this increase is that mid-day service was added in June.
North Carolina’s Amtrak ridership saw an increase of more than 100,000 riders in the last fiscal year. Ridership was up from 688,595 to 791,157. Ticket revenues were up more than 19 percent.
Amtrak National ridership, which includes all trains that run throughout the country, grew by 5.7 percent over 2009 from just over 27 million to 28.7 million passengers in 2010. Revenues were up nearly nine percent in 2010.
“We are pleased to see that more and more people are taking the train,” said State Transportation Secretary Gene Conti. “We are confident that as we add more schedule options and increase travel speed, this trend will continue.”
Teshena B. DeBrew
Operations Program Coordinator
NCDOT Rail Division
On another note, last week I was in touch with the NS regarding quashing the rails to trails concept on the A&S Line. As regards freight ops, the response was, and I quote, "Mr. Terwilleger – A rail line cannot be converted to trails unless and until the line is abandoned. While that line segment is currently inactive, it has not been abandoned, and Norfolk Southern has no plans to do so, because it has the potential to carry traffic again at some point in the future. I hope this helps."
While there are always the nay-sayers who caution that NS is hiding the real truth, with the exception of one major washout near here, the rest of the line is in excellent condition, with high-railer trucks on occasion spraying for weeds and kudzu, plus fallen trees being cleared. It gives the people in Tryon a start when a truck suddenly appears on the rails, using its vehicle horn to blow for the grade crossings. Interestingly enough, the crossing flashers are dark, and no one from the truck flags the crossings.
Just thought this might be of interest............
Pete
- --------------------------------------------------
From: "Paul Brezicki" <doctorpb_@_bellsouth.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 6:24 AM
To: "EL Mailing List" <erielack_@_lists.railfan.net>
Subject: Re: (erielack) Last Ore Train of The Season On EL 2nd Sub
> Yes, the chip train and the Belmont coal travel the S-line via Salisbury. > As for HSR...don't count your bullet train chickens before they hatch. The > anti-rail GOP has regained considerable power, and they're trying to kill > HSR initiatives in several states, including Ohio and FLorida. Retention > of the Saluda line for possible resumption of freight service is possible, > although unlikely. The current reroute has entered its tenth year. > Restoration of passenger service to Asheville is a pipe dream, as there is > insufficient population to support it. There are dozens of corridors that > are far more deserving of attention. Washington-Atlanta, which you > mentioned, would serve the large population centers strung along the > Piedmont, including Charlotte and Greensboro/Winston-Salem. Funding for > new passenger trains is not unlimited, and as BNSF's Matt Rose recently > said, needs to be carefully allocated where it will have the greatest > benefit.
>
> Paul B
>
>
> From: "Pieter K Terwilleger" <01pterwi_@_charter.net>
> Subject: Re: (erielack) Last Ore Train of The Season On EL 2nd Sub
>
> Hi RJ:
>
> Please tell Rex I live in Tryon, NC, Western North Carolina. I'm at the > foot
> of Saluda Grade on NS. We haven't had any trains through here since early
> December 2001. Apparently the unit coal and wood chip trains go by way of
> Black Mountain. If traffic builds, NS may take the loaded trains on that
> route, and bring the empties back down Saluda Grade (A&S Line) to relieve
> congestion.
>
> We have the "Rails to Trails" idiots here who want to submit reams of
> paperwork to NS in hopes they will convert Saluda Grade. It's always the
> same answer and NS has grown tired of repeating themselves. The A&S Line > has
> NOT been abandoned, and as such cannot be converted to anything. It will
> continue to be railbanked for the foreseeable future in case traffic > merits
> reopening the line.
>
> With the prospects, however long, becoming brighter and brighter for high
> speed rail from Washington through Spartanburg, SC to Atlanta, and > Asheville
> having a plan, as such, to upgrade the rails to Salisbury, NC so passenger
> service can connect there with Amtrak, it would be absolute stupidity to
> eliminate the Asheville - Spartanburg line.
>
> Pete
>
>
>
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>
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