Passenger Trains > UP seems to be improving

I posted a couple of days ago that the performance of the CZ seems to be improving, and that continues this morning.  6(16) is less than 30 minutes late in Nebraska and 6(17) is 51 minutes late in Utah.  5(16) is less than 30 minutes late around Elko, NV.  5(17) is still on BNSF track in Colorado, and seems to be doing fine and should arrive in Denver on time.

This is a major, major change to what we have seen all summer.  Perhaps things are looking up at UP.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/23 04:09 by Chessie1963.

chessie1963

You are so right!

The CZ was such a hideously late train for so long, I could no longer stand to
check it's on-time performance anymore.  Too much "human suffering" as I called it.

Then, something mysterious happened.  The CZ magically became a good time keeper all through September, so far.

My guess is -- the new guy at UP got a phone call from the STB -  saying something like...
"we're getting ready to fine the UP millions in the "Amtrak-Sunset" Case - but things will
go easier on you if you dramatically improve Amtrak handling before the trial"

PS:  Today's Sunset into LA is over 4 hours late

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/23 06:43 by ronald321.

it improved last year at this time

-mow season is over on donner and the rio grande

-heat restictions are gone

this will last till snow and ice season, but the winter is better than the summer

there are cold weather restrictions too

we get some wind restictions with fall

UP did extend some sidings on the nev and utah portions i guess last summer, not sure of they did anything this summer



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/23 10:26 by dan.

Amtrak needs UP & other majors to operate 9000' trains; to give passenger trains a true perference; to communicate to their dispatchers and yards how the railroad now operates.  

Amtrak in turn needs to repair repair repair their equipment, so it does not crap out away from the home terminal.  

Results will be 85-90% on-time operations (for both freight & passenger).  

You are right about Amtrak equipment.  It probably frustrates the freight railroads when Amtrak ties things up with a locomotive failure or two on a busy railroad.

I do think that UP may be improving, however.  New CEO with an operating background, the STB breathing down UPs back, and importantly, new intermodal contracts with truckers that will require a fluid network that actually delivers on time.  

This may all come together to bring improvements.  Fingers crossed.


MEKoch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Amtrak needs UP & other majors to operate 9000'
> trains; to give passenger trains a true
> perference; to communicate to their dispatchers
> and yards how the railroad now operates.  
>
> Amtrak in turn needs to repair repair repair their
> equipment, so it does not crap out away from the
> home terminal.  
>
> Results will be 85-90% on-time operations (for
> both freight & passenger).  



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/23 10:57 by Chessie1963.

Fred Frailey near the end of his time writing for Trains noted that UP had many fewer freights on all of the main lines.   Unfortunately the dogmaof PSR doesnot seem to include "scheduled" passenger trains.   Some yearsback,theCoast Starlight NB lost timemost nights of the week being blocked by drag freights too long for any siding.  Then there was the evening when a UP biz car was on the rear.  bHigh green all the way to Portland. 

BrynMawr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>  Then there was the evening when a UP biz
> car was on the rear.  bHigh green all the way to
> Portland. 

The industry believes that passenger trains are bad... except that kind.

TAW