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Quad Cities passenger service delayed
Boy do I wish people would just get their sh…stuff together.
This should have been known when they decided to do it. Does this increase the cost too? Still, I’d rather they take the necessary time and money to do it right than end up with a slow service that is eliminated due to lack of ridership.
Let’s make this piece of The Rock a Mighty Fine Line again!
I’m not surprised. The Wyanet connector track is, in my opinion, the easiest thing to make. It’s the track upgrades and signals on the stretch between Wyanet and Moline that could take a while. IIRC, this line has been track warrant control ever since Iowa Interstate took over operations. They’ll have to re-signal the whole thing. The track is in fairly good shape, but I would think some upgrades will have to be made to be able to support 79+ MPH Amtrak trains. The top speed on IAIS now is 45.
I’ll bet the planning didn’t consider the requirement to install PTC, even though the timing overlapped. That will probably be the biggest part of the project. On the other hand, IAIS will have to install PTC anyway because it hauls ethanol, and that also (so far) has a deadline of the end of 2015.
That’s true, Robert; the maximum speed in “dark” territory anywhere is 49 mph. This will not do for passenger service to be competitive with the automobile.
I wish they could route the train threw ottawa Illinois it be so much easier to go to Chicago.
Just an observation:If FH/WA and fed agencies can spend on other public transportation interest ie, highways and airports,
why not MORE rail??? Circuitous routes defeat the purpose of efficient rail transport and do not serve potential user needs. For example, the entire “old” Rock Island and its branch to Peoria metro area. The would serve a potential of in excess of 500,000 possible users in addition to the Quad cities. Joliet, Ottawa, La Salle/Peru, Peoria metro. Transportation Planning 101!!
Passenger trains can run 59 in dark territory unless that has changed recently.
Why does the United States take centuries to do anything? Stupid bureaucracy. Get it done, stop wasting time and money.
I’m sorry but this delay is all on IDOT and the IAIS not getting their stuff together. The funding is there, but the preliminary studies failed to account for the track condition (virtually unimproved since the 1960’s Rocket) and what it would take. This is a failure at the planning stage. For a change, Congress had nothing to do with it - the money’s been allocated!
Don’t just blame bureacracy. That’s easy to do!
Blame a Congress that is not willling to help develop a fair and balanced transportation policy, let alone provide the
money for specific projects–such as the needed train to
and through through the Quad Cities to Iowa City.
It’s time to face the fact of a reactionary Republican House regarding transportation and other serious problems.
Don’t just blame bureacracy. That’s easy to do!
Blame a Congress that is not willling to help develop a fair and balanced transportation policy, let alone provide the
money for specific projects–such as the needed train to
and through through the Quad Cities to Iowa City.
It’s time to face the fact of a reactionary Republican House regarding transportation and other serious problems.