Western Railroad Discussion > IOANP out of its timeslot

Early Sunday 11/2/25 I went out for a foggy-morning bike ride (with lights!!) in Oakland CA, and caught the IOANP (Intermodal Oakland-North Platte) leaving town way out of its usual timeslot.  The attached shot shows it rolling south through Oakland JLS at 715am, when its usual departure time is anywhere between 1130am and 3pm.   I was wondering if this was perhaps the IOANP from 11/1/25 leaving really late?  Anyone know?   On the IO Group "Heads Up Norcal" other fans reported it at Niles Junction, so it was definitely heading the usual IOANP route - just off the usual schedule.  

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The IOANP does not originate on Sundays in Oakland. It does operate the other 6 days of the week.

The pictured train was an extra move to Lathrop.

Interesting! Thanks for the info.

Posted from iPhone

ble692 Wrote:
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> The IOANP does not originate on Sundays in
> Oakland. It does operate the other 6 days of the
> week.
>
> The pictured train was an extra move to Lathrop.  

Just curious why UP routes a train Oakland to North Platte over a longer slower Altamont Pass.? Is there a in route  pick up, set out in Lathrop? Thanks for the info.

Yes it usually works the intermodal facility in Lathrop.

Posted from iPhone

clickclack Wrote:
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> ble692 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The IOANP does not originate on Sundays in
> > Oakland. It does operate the other 6 days of
> the
> > week.
> >
> > The pictured train was an extra move to Lathrop.
>  
>
> Just curious why UP routes a train Oakland to
> North Platte over a longer slower Altamont Pass.?
> Is there a in route  pick up, set out in Lathrop?
> Thanks for the info.

As was mentioned, the work in Lathrop is part of the reason. Also, the Capital Corridor has worked with UP since the SP merger on ways to improve time keeping for the passenger trains. I don’t recall if there’s any binding agreement, but one of the options was to route some traffic over Altamont to Oakland.

Nathan

Posted from iPhone

With PSR, the IOANP (eastbound) and INPOA/ICBOA (westbound) are the only regular UP intermodals in and out of Oakland. So they are very long trains.

Posted from iPhone