Passenger Trains > Yuma, Az backs efforts to keep Amtrak Service

I saw this on Facebook this evening.

I wish the folks in Yuma luck on this effort.

City backs efforts to keep Amtrak, has plans for a new station

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/12/19 19:50 by GP25.

Sure that this item from Yuma, has been created by a group of Rail Advocates of California-Arizona-New Mexico for a daily Sunset.

They are trying to get grass root support from Cities - C of C - Politicians - Movers & Shakers.

They have dived into the capital costs for track and stations improvments, including getting back into Phoenix.

 

Several years back I rode the Sunset from Yuma to L.A.  There were maybe 20-25 UP employees that boarded, and rode to Colton Yard where a special stop was made.  Not sure how common that is, but would those kinds of favors help the Sunset in UP management's view? 

It unfortunate.  The only advocate for commuter rail between Phoenix and Tucson, has given up a seat in the state legislature to run for Mayor of Tucson. He gave up. Union Pacific wanted a yard in Pichaco. The state dragged they're heals on environmental issues..UP gave up. Now there is modern yard in.Santa Theresa NM instead. Now this for a stop so short you can't even get an air/ smoke break. Yuma will give up also sadly. -Matt

I have friend who is an engineer on the LA-Yuma run.
He works West Colton to Yuma and probably uses Amtrak when it is convenient..

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

This is exciting news! Glad to hear it, and exactly what is needed so that it is known and heard that advocates are not sleeping. Rail passengers are alive and well, moving and shaking. This area has a special interest within because I was out there at the time just before, during, and just after Amtrak came in. I frequently rode between Tucson and Phoenix at the Harrison St. station. The fare was $5.50 then OW. In the months before Amtrak came in SP bowed to the ICC, I forget the exact date, it may have been late 1970. Before, it was a daily train with an Automat food car. After it became tri-weekly (which it has been ever since), with the full-service dining car restored. Whenever I was on, there was always sufficient time to support the diner. It was also the early days of NARP which I had already become a member of. Today's Richard Anderson is yesterday's BF Biaggini of SP. The Sunset Limited still runs. Current efforts are needed against current obstacles. There are still dedicated rail passengers. Richard Anderson is not, and doesn't belong in any rail passenger environment.

I see that All Aboard Arizona appears to be united with RAILPAC as part of a "Steel Wheels Coalition".  United action is important, necessary and effective. 

How do senators McSally and Sinema feel about this? And about Amtrak in general?

Posted from Android

GP25 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I saw this on Facebook this evening.
>
> I wish the folks in Yuma luck on this effort.
>
> City backs efforts to keep Amtrak, has plans for a
> new station



12 passengers per day use Yuma Amtrak*. Equivalant to about 6 autos, or one shortbus.

One higway lane can carry about 2000 autos per hour, about 4000 people.

 *Per Yuma mayor.

Maybe they are striving for 36 per day, for people who will not ride a bus or do not (or cannot) want to drive hundreds of miles. Ditto for every other small city or town along the route. 

Well. If the Sunset Limited had Daily service.
I am sure there would be more then 12 people per day.
That will be getting on and off the train in both directions.
And maybe with possible future corridor service coming
down the pike. Maybe there could be even more. 

And that is one thing that many advocates are trying to do.
Is get the Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle to run Daily. 
And to get more Amtrak type service through the Southwest.

Duna Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> GP25 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I saw this on Facebook this evening.
> >
> > I wish the folks in Yuma luck on this effort.
> >
> > City backs efforts to keep Amtrak, has plans for
> a
> > new station
>
>
>
> 12 passengers per day use Yuma Amtrak*. Equivalant
> to about 6 autos, or one shortbus.
>
> One higway lane can carry about 2000 autos per
> hour, about 4000 people.
>
>  *Per Yuma mayor.

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

Duna know nothing.............except concrete and automobiles.

A day train out of LAX about 9 a.m. (daily) could operate to Phoenix (with AZ owning and fixing the out-of-service track); then down to Tucson.  Yes, such service would do well.  Alot more than 12 people per day.  THere are many people who do not want to drive for very good and safe reasons.  They also don't want to fly.  We need to give them a safe timely alternative.  

 

LAX-PHX-TUS   is a natural Corridor, that could support several trains.

Anderson wants the states to pay for it, less then 750 miles remember