Passenger Trains > How Biden's proposed $80 billion for rail would be divvied up

$39 billion for Northeast Corridor modernization
$16 billion for Amtrak National Network
$20 billion for intercity passenger rail
$5 billion for freight rail and safety grants


The Administration summary being circulated does not define what precisely is meant by "intercity passenger rail"

I don't get the "$16 billion for Amtrak National Network". Is that Amfleet-2 & Superliner replacement ? It certainly isn't adding any routes or train frequencies. 

I have a better description for this....

"The Shell Game".

That $16Billion for long haul trains looks very good to me -- considering the ENTIRE Amtrak budget  for a whole year is around $3B.

That's the equivalent of 5 years  budget for the entire Amtrak network.--just for the long haul trains,

Unless I'm reading the figures wrong -- this is an overwhelming amount, just for the LD trains.

If the Democrats can pass this Bill (with no Republican votes) -- it's possible to have a passenger train system beyond what most
of us have ever witnessed.

 

If even 20 percent of this proposed spending winds up going into actual railroad operations, I'll be amazed.  The reality is, most will line the pockets of federal, state, and local politicians, along with the various consultants who will "study" implementing the proposed services.  When a mile of new service (that is, something that exists where it hasn't before during the pre-COVID Amtrak era) is instituted, come talk to me.  Otherwise, I'll remain the skeptic I am.

Mike Derrick
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/21 14:09 by ShortlinesUSA.

         Shortline is probably more correct than any one would believe. Most stimulus money is siphoned off into the pockets of friendly, crooked political hacks and buddies to bolster their schemes.

         Get the Delorian out and up to 88 mph to see the future so you wil believe and understand it.

"skeptic" is being polite. IMHO

dcfbalcoS1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>          Shortline is probably more correct
> than any one would believe. Most stimulus money is
> siphoned off into the pockets of friendly, crooked
> political hacks and buddies to bolster their
> schemes.
>
>          Get the Delorian out and up to 88
> mph to see the future so you wil believe and
> understand it.

And your evidence that “most” stimulus money corruptly disappears is what... ?

John Webb
Trinidad, CA

Damn! -- just heard Joe Biden say he is willing to "compromise" with the Republicans.  

You know what that means.  We will see the above amounts for passenger rail cut to shreds

The Dems are being wimps on this Bill -- they have the power to pass it on their own--but looks like they can't pull the trigger.
(what a waste of political power--even on a bill with voter approval from both Dems and Repubs,).  So frustrating.

Winnemucca Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dcfbalcoS1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >          Shortline is probably more
> correct
> > than any one would believe. Most stimulus money
> is
> > siphoned off into the pockets of friendly,
> crooked
> > political hacks and buddies to bolster their
> > schemes.
> >
> >          Get the Delorian out and up to 88
> > mph to see the future so you wil believe and
> > understand it.
>
> And your evidence that “most” stimulus money
> corruptly disappears is what... ?

I don't think anyone is talking about the money "corruptly disappearing," rather the point being, only a fraction will ever get approved or used/utilized. 

jdhenchman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> $39 billion for Northeast Corridor modernization
> $16 billion for Amtrak National Network
> $20 billion for intercity passenger rail
> $5 billion for freight rail and safety grants
>
>
> The Administration summary being circulated does
> not define what precisely is meant by "intercity
> passenger rail"

It means forget any meaningful improvement.

TAW

Dream on about this ever happening...

Marty Harrison
Knob Noster, MO



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/21 15:52 by livesteamer.

How many of you naysayers have contacted your politicians and stated that you want your favorite flavor of Passenger Rail to be part of this package?

HELLOOOOOOWWWWW!!!!

$%^&$#^&  Crickets

Brian

ShortlinesUSA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If even 20 percent of this proposed spending winds
> up going into actual railroad operations, I'll be
> amazed.  The reality is, most will line the
> pockets of federal, state, and local politicians,
> along with the various consultants who will
> "study" implementing the proposed services.  When
> a mile of new service (that is, something that
> exists where it hasn't before during the pre-COVID
> Amtrak era) is instituted, come talk to me. 
> Otherwise, I'll remain the skeptic I am.
>
> Mike Derrick
>  

Agreed, the proposed routes Amtrak showed were just corridors which isn't bad, but as long as they ignore the LD Routes, I'm with you Mike!

Posted from Android

Pro-Amtrak

Happy to explain -- because, maybe you are unaware of the Republican position to defeat  this infrastructure Bill.;

Mitch McConnell has said on TV, that Repubs. in the Senate have no intention of passing this bill -- that it cost too much;
that it's not right for America, bla-bla-bla.

If anything, I am stereotyping the Dems as Wimps - because they could pass the Bill on their own, if they has the guts.
They're wasting their political power.

The only way Amtrak will get the amounts shown above, is if the Dems pass the entire bill under reconciliation rules---no comprising!



 

Same ol' Tax and Spend". Joe must think this is the 60's again.   ×   

The politics aside, I can see equipment-station-signal orders that would mean a bright future:
  - 200 CAF single level long distance cars to fill out long distance eastern trains (this could be ordered very soon so that CAF keeps right on cranking out new cars)
  - Rebuild 200 P42s at WABTEC in Erie, PA.  It gives them 5-7 years more life, until new reliable passenger power is available
  - Order 400 Superliners for new services.  
  - Station rebuild projects can be the economic engine for big cities and small towns (Cleveland, Salt Lake City, Youngstown, Las Vegas, NM, etc.)
  - Numerous track-signal improvements: service thru PHX, welded rail and CTC between ABQ - Newton, welded rail and CTC from Cary, NC to Columbia, SC, etc.  

 

MEKoch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The politics aside, I can see
> equipment-station-signal orders that would mean a
> bright future:
>   - 200 CAF single level long distance cars to
> fill out long distance eastern trains (this could
> be ordered very soon so that CAF keeps right on
> cranking out new cars)
>   - Rebuild 200 P42s at WABTEC in Erie, PA.  It
> gives them 5-7 years more life, until new reliable
> passenger power is available
>   - Order 400 Superliners for new services.  
>   - Station rebuild projects can be the economic
> engine for big cities and small towns (Cleveland,
> Salt Lake City, Youngstown, Las Vegas, NM, etc.)
>   - Numerous track-signal improvements: service
> thru PHX, welded rail and CTC between ABQ -
> Newton, welded rail and CTC from Cary, NC to
> Columbia, SC, etc.  
>
>
 
A new train station isn't going to stimulate economic development in Youngstown. Any good business will avoid that area.  The people who love there are against economic development unless it's the steel mill reopening. 

altoonafn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MEKoch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The politics aside, I can see
> > equipment-station-signal orders that would mean
> a
> > bright future:
> >   - 200 CAF single level long distance cars to
> > fill out long distance eastern trains (this
> could
> > be ordered very soon so that CAF keeps right on
> > cranking out new cars)
> >   - Rebuild 200 P42s at WABTEC in Erie, PA. 
> It
> > gives them 5-7 years more life, until new
> reliable
> > passenger power is available
> >   - Order 400 Superliners for new
> services.  
> >   - Station rebuild projects can be the
> economic
> > engine for big cities and small towns
> (Cleveland,
> > Salt Lake City, Youngstown, Las Vegas, NM,
> etc.)
> >   - Numerous track-signal improvements:
> service
> > thru PHX, welded rail and CTC between ABQ -
> > Newton, welded rail and CTC from Cary, NC to
> > Columbia, SC, etc.  
> >
> >
>  
> A new train station isn't going to stimulate
> economic development in Youngstown. Any good
> business will avoid that area.  The people who
> love there are against economic development unless
> it's the steel mill reopening. 

Reread MEKoch's post.  MEKoch wrote about station rebuild projects, not building new stations.

There are, in fact two train stations in Youngstown which have been repurposed for other businesses:

• The former B & O depot at 624 Mahoning Avenue which had been used for a restaurant/brewpub and continues to serve that function as the Boxcar Lounge at the B & O. 
• The former Erie station which is now Erie Terminal Place at 112 West Commerce Street.  It also houses a brewpub and other street-level businesses.  I have no idea how much of the rest of the building is used, but businesses are obviously not avoiding this part of Youngstown.  Maybe you do not consider them "good" businesses.

In 2015, my girlfriend and I went to Youngstown to ride on a Norfolk Southern excursion to Youngstown.  Although Youngstown is not too far from where I live, we opted to stay overnight before the day of the excursion.  I was unable to find any. hotels located within the City of Youngstown.  Recently a Doubletree Hotel opened in the Stambaugh Building at 44 East Federal Plaza in Downtown Youngstown.  Don't know how many other businesses have opened recently in Youngstown, but the opening of this hotel is a good omen.

Your reply would have been more reality-based if you focused on the prospects or lack thereof of passenger rail returning to Youngstown.



 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/21 17:57 by RuleG.

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Winnemucca Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > dcfbalcoS1 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > >          Shortline is probably more
> > correct
> > > than any one would believe. Most stimulus
> money
> > is
> > > siphoned off into the pockets of friendly,
> > crooked
> > > political hacks and buddies to bolster their
> > > schemes.
> > >
> > >          Get the Delorian out and up to
> 88
> > > mph to see the future so you wil believe and
> > > understand it.
> >
> > And your evidence that “most” stimulus
> money
> > corruptly disappears is what... ?
>
> I don't think anyone is talking about the money
> "corruptly disappearing," rather the point being,
> only a fraction will ever get approved or
> used/utilized. 

Winnemucca used the word "most" in reference to money disappearing which is not much different than you claiming that "only a fraction" will ever get approved or used/utilized.