Western Railroad Discussion > Arizona Improvements

Arizona got 60 million from the Feds for various projects around the state.
1. Rehab 34 miles of the Arizona Eastern RR which includes replacing old bridges and converting tanks cars into a fire train.
2. Flagstaff Amtrack Station to get a 2nd boarding platform on the south side.
3. Grand Canyon RR to get battery powered locomotives to make it the canyon and back on one charge.
4. Kingman Amtrak station will get a siding, control point and crossover. 
 

Some discussion on the Pax board yesterday  https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,5937776

That didn't cover other projects included above.

Yeah.  I wonder why they didn't mention the Arizona Eastern and the GCRY.  Thanks for that news.

On the Flagstaff one I wonder if this will be part of the 3rd main through the area. Currently the stub end of the former industrial lead is on the south side so will be converted into a 3rd main for this project or removed. For Kingman is that related for possible longer stops in being a crew change point for Amtrak. The AE basic maintnence they got funds for may be due to crossing reservation lands. The locals there love to burn things. Here is a local link with details https://ktar.com/story/5620501/arizona-infrastructure-projects-funding/

A&E, OK, GCR..ok... 

2nd platform at flagstiff for 2 pax trains a day?    IDK

passing siding near Kingman....I think the BNSF should pay for it

Elephant in the room.... Passenger service back to Phoenix...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/01/24 16:13 by pdt.

Also Arizona & California Railroad will get 22.7 million for replacement of 36 miles of rail which will complete the 69 mile track rehabilitation project. Deteriorating 90# rail will be replaced with 115# rail. When I was out there a few weeks ago, it seemed as though they were definitely a few sloworders.

Assuming that BNSF goes ahead with the Wittman IM facility there has to be an increase in the LA to PHX traffic,
some of that only makes sense to go over the A&C. I wouldn't be totally shocked for the BNSF to try and buy the
Parker line back. As to the Flag thing, it is such a hassle to do the Hula to get the SWC to the corect platform
that from an operational standpoint it least they can quit holding 5 trains so Amtrak can cross their one WB a
day to the station platform. 
 
Out 
 

Is GCRY butchering some F40s or getting completely new?

Still no Amtrak service to Metro Phoenix. 

HardYellow Wrote:
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> Still no Amtrak service to Metro Phoenix. 

UP would have to put the trackage Buckeye and Wellton back in service. Six trains a week is not exactly a compelling business plan.

The Phoenix line has about a dozens bridges washed out or burnt between Saddle and Growler. The line will be built from the ground up.

pdt Wrote:
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> A&E, OK, GCR..ok... 
>
> 2nd platform at flagstiff for 2 pax trains a
> day?    IDK
>
> passing siding near Kingman....I think the BNSF
> should pay for it

Given the vast sums of public money lavished on the highway network that freight trucking pounds to gravel at dismaying and expensive frequency I don't mind any public investment that boosts overall throughput for freight trains however incrementally given the presence of Amtrak LD service (which I think is a loser personally, but LA-Kingman-Flagstaff strikes me as a viable pax corridor with more than one round trip per day, suitably scheduled).

>
> Elephant in the room.... Passenger service back to
> Phoenix...

LA-Phx-Tucson over the out of service direct line to Phoenix proper strikes me as another viable pax corridor with more than one round trip per day, suitably scheduled. Rebuilding the burned out bridges over the washes seems to me to be a good investment in that light. The rest of the ROW looks pretty good still (check out Archie Moreno's rail cart rides over this line on YT). Might also improve asset utilization and O/D schedule velocity for UPRR IM trains direct from the ports to their new Phoenix ramp such that the business could grow and take share from trucks running that same route from the ports.

If UP rebuilt the Buckeye line for IM service you'd see BNSF make a major move to reacquire
the A&C. Is that in the back of UP's thought process and a reason why it's not happening? The
line could be put back in service nearly 100% on Federal money got one train a day each way,
why wouldn't you do that? As I've pondered, if Wittman goes in UP may be forced to make the
love to stay competitive. Phoenix is no longer an out of the way place in the desert "sticks". 

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If UP rebuilt the Buckeye line for IM service
> you'd see BNSF make a major move to reacquire
> the A&C. Is that in the back of UP's thought
> process and a reason why it's not happening? The
> line could be put back in service nearly 100% on
> Federal money got one train a day each way,
> why wouldn't you do that? As I've pondered, if
> Wittman goes in UP may be forced to make the
> love to stay competitive. Phoenix is no longer an
> out of the way place in the desert "sticks". 
>

Yup, that's why I suggested corridor passenger service as another justification and source of public funding, making the project public-private.

And BNSF should re-acquire the A&C for the reasons you cite. UP would still have an operating cost advantage (mileage, grades) from the ports to Phoenix and would also be able to kick in PNW-Phoenix domestic volume (where both roads could kick in Lathrop or Stockton domestic volume to Phoenix).
> Out