Passenger Trains > FRA Long Distance Passenger Rail Suggestion-Pioneer 2.0

I wanted to get some feedback from TO about a suggestion that I submitted to the FRA Long Distance Passenger Rail Study Group.
It is called the Pioneer (Version 2.0).   Routing: Portland-Boise-Ogden-Cheyenne-Denver-Colorado Springs-La Junta-Amarillo-Ft Worth.
It would have 32 stations and connect 8 urban centers. It is about the same length as the original Pioneer route.
The new Pioneer would connect to: The Cascades, the Coast Starlight, the Empire Builder, the California Zephyr, the Southwest Chef, the Heartland Flyer, and the Texas Eagle.

The new Pioneer 2.0 is in Blue on the map below:



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/23 10:25 by scott9915.

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I think that would be an excellent route if there could be convenient connections in all Directions at Denver. Could it be extended downto Houston?

B &O Bill



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/23 10:10 by bandob.

vancouver to galveston!

or florida or even portland to slc i'll take anything

I would tie this in with well needed (and probably necessary) Southwest Chief reroute to Pueblo to make use of that facility and urban metro area.  This would allow a better connection between the two trains and eventual Front Range Rail 

This sounds and looks like a great idea. Would love to see it.

pueblo reroute would suck, you going to reroute a train for no riders?   where is the market  who will ride, there are people on the train that are in established to riding patterns  you want to delay them three hours?

The santa fe connecting train had a coach for six passengers

What would the 32 stations be?

I like it. Hope your vision reaches the right people.

scott9915 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I wanted to get some feedback from TO about a
> suggestion that I submitted to the FRA Long
> Distance Passenger Rail Study Group.
> It is called the Pioneer (Version 2.0). 
>  Routing:
> Portland-Boise-Ogden-Cheyenne-Denver-Colorado
> Springs-La Junta-Amarillo-Ft Worth.
> It would have 32 stations and connect 8 urban
> centers. It is about the same length as the
> original Pioneer route.
> The new Pioneer would connect to: The Cascades,
> the Coast Starlight, the Empire Builder, the
> California Zephyr, the Southwest Chef, the
> Heartland Flyer, and the Texas Eagle.
>
> The new Pioneer 2.0 is in Blue on the map below:

I would say it would be better to have it go to Seattle. Easier to swap locomotives and cars out, especially if any needs to be repaired. 

 

Anything new would be good, but the obvious problem is that the current regime wants to operate less trains, not more

SCAX3401 Wrote:
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> What would the 32 stations be?

Here are the 32 stations: 

Portland, OR 
Troutdale, OR
Multnomah Falls, OR
Hood River, OR 
The Dalles, OR 
Hermiston, OR
Pendleton, OR
La Grande, OR
Baker City, OR
Ontario, OR

Nampa, ID
Boise, ID
Shoshone, ID
Pocatello, ID

Ogden, UT

Evanston, WY
Green River, WY
Rock Springs, WY
Rawlins, WY
Laramie, WY 

Greeley, CO
Denver, CO
Colorado Springs, CO  
Pueblo, CO
La Junta, CO 

Boise City, OK

Amarillo, TX  
Clarendon, TX
Childress, TX  
Vernon, TX
Wichita Falls, TX
Ft Worth, TX 

List list would be open for changes if warranted.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/23 13:35 by scott9915.

Macster Wrote:

>
> I would say it would be better to have it go to
> Seattle. Easier to swap locomotives and cars out,
> especially if any needs to be repaired. 
>
Washington State DOT has come out publicly that they are against the restoration of the Pioneer.
Therefore it has to start in Portland.

                 Boise City, Oklahoma is there but there is no depot, nothing. Not even a portable toilet, The line from Las Animas, Colorado to Amarillo, Texas is also south bound only. To get back north from Amarillo, Texas you would have to go through Dalhart, Texas up through Trinidad, Colorado and then north to Pueblo. Non signaled so its all 49 mph too.If you are stuck behind a manifest or coal train, there you are. Not many sidings left. Many facing point switches were removed when both lines were converted to directional running many years ago.
                 Someone may have mentioned moving the SWC to Pueblo, no point in doing that.
                 Just guessing on Clarendon, Childress and Vernon, Texas - very doubtful they have and station facilities any more either.

All,

I think a route that would actually offer more local traffic potential and only be a few hours longer, plus have the huge advantage of little capital investment is east from La Junta to Newton and then south.  Also this route could allow traffic from the east to connect at Newton to DFW.  Perhaps a connection for St Louis and KC west to Denver and the northwest could be done at Newton or La Junta.

Just an idea.

Jeff N
Olathe, KS

sfn2633 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> All,
>
> I think a route that would actually offer more
> local traffic potential and only be a few hours
> longer, plus have the huge advantage of little
> capital investment is east from La Junta to Newton
> and then south.  Also this route could allow
> traffic from the east to connect at Newton to DFW.
>  Perhaps a connection for St Louis and KC west to
> Denver and the northwest could be done at Newton
> or La Junta.
>
> Just an idea.
>
> Jeff N
> Olathe, KS

I  agree completely Jeff. I'd been thinking along that line myself.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/23 15:00 by ts1457.

I sent in a similar sugestion, except I extended the train to New Orleans via Shreveport.
This permits cycling the equipment through Chicago exchanging consists with the City of NO.
Running via Houston makes the connection with the Crescent iffy.
I suggested extending the Heartland flyer St Paul to Houston via KC and Dallas.

.           Pioneer
.2300 New Orleans  0600
.0700  Shreveport  2230
.1230    Dallas    1615
.1430  Fort Worth  1415
.2130   Amarillo   0645
.0430    Pueblo    2215
.0815    Denver    1915
.0900    Denver    1700
.1945    Ogden     0545
.2315   Pocatello  0245
.0345 Nampa(Boise) 2315
.1415   Portland   1115
.1505   Portland   1045
.1830    Seattle   0722


 

think a better idea , quicker???used to be anyway, via Newton, KS

Question to this post, what is your source for Washington state not wanting Pioneer service into Seattle? I have never seen this from any DOT source.

wdkerr
Tacoma, WA

Posted from iPhone

dan Wrote:
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> think a better idea , quicker???used to be anyway,
> via Newton, KS

Population wise , on one hand you have Amarillo at about 200,000 amid Wichita Falls at 100,000 versus Wichita KS at 400,000 and Oklahoma City at around 1.4 million

I know which way that I would go.

I calculate Pueblo to Fort Worth via Newton about 2 hours longer than via Amarillo. 
The Amarillo line could be faster now that it has PTC.
The schedule would not match up with the Heartland Flyer.