Passenger Trains > An Amtrak Question For Phoenix AZ Fans

I know that Phoenix lost its Amtrak service several years ago. Can anybody tell me the general feeling about Phoenix loosing its Amtrak service? Good, bad or indefferent?

Phil

Phil Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know that Phoenix lost its Amtrak service
> several years ago. Can anybody tell me the general
> feeling about Phoenix loosing its Amtrak service?
> Good, bad or indefferent?
>
> Phil


I suspect, Phil, that it's about the same as in Columbus, Dayton, Las Vegas, Boise, and Bismarck.

Yawn. Oh, well.

reindeerflame Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Phil Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I know that Phoenix lost its Amtrak service
> > several years ago. Can anybody tell me the
> general
> > feeling about Phoenix loosing its Amtrak
> service?
> > Good, bad or indefferent?
> >
> > Phil
>
>
> I suspect, Phil, that it's about the same as in
> Columbus, Dayton, Las Vegas, Boise, and Bismarck.
>
>
> Yawn. Oh, well.


As a former resident of Phoenix, had there been significant daily service, the objection would have been less muted. A tri-weekly train has little impact on travel habits. Restore the Sunset to daily, return to Phoenix, add day services to LA and Tucson, the story would be different.

Is the UP line from Phoenix to Welton still in service? I know the original post SP merger plan was to embargo it, but did that ever happen? If its still active, why wouldn't Amtrak move back (and why wouldn't UP wan them to)?

Dave

Phil Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know that Phoenix lost its Amtrak service
> several years ago. Can anybody tell me the general
> feeling about Phoenix loosing its Amtrak service?
> Good, bad or indefferent?
>
> Phil

i have lived in Arizona for the past 11 yrs and have watched the phoenix news on most nights. if the people of Phoenix want Amtrak service restored, i have not seen anything about it on the news or read about it in the local newspapers.........

66

David,
I too am a former resident of Phoenix. From Buckeye to Welton, no trains run on the line. The only train using that segment would have been the Sunset which means that Amtrak would have to bear the full cost of maintaining the line. I heard that the UP wanted $2 million per year for maintenance. So Amtrak decided to move the train. The last I heard, the AZ Department of Transportation is still very highway oriented. The governor and the Republican dominated Arizona legislature makes the governors in Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida look like liberals when it comes to anything rail.

agent1522 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> David,
> I too am a former resident of Phoenix. From
> Buckeye to Welton, no trains run on the line.

Thats not quite true, the west end from Wellton to Roll is still in use, it is known as the "Roll Industrial Lead". And the line is still in service out to the switch to the Power Plant at Palo Verde.

Indiference. It's very hard to get excited about the loss of a tri-weakly train when Southwest Airlines has 100 flights a day out of Phoenix.

Bob

bnsfbob Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Indiference. It's very hard to get excited about
> the loss of a tri-weakly train when Southwest
> Airlines has 100 flights a day out of Phoenix.
>
> Bob


Yes.

When Amtrak has 100 trains a day in a location, that's when people will notice and care if service is discontinued.

Thanks much for the replies. From what I'm reading, loosing the Sunset Ltd was not a big deal or loss for Phoenix.

reindeerflame Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> bnsfbob Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Indiference. It's very hard to get excited
> about
> > the loss of a tri-weakly train when Southwest
> > Airlines has 100 flights a day out of Phoenix.
> >
> > Bob
>
>
> Yes.
>
> When Amtrak has 100 trains a day in a location,
> that's when people will notice and care if service
> is discontinued.


Try telling that to people who take the Arizona Shuttle and the Dog to Falgstaff to catch the Chief!