[KevK]

Yet another idea for a choo choo to and from California. This time it is a "party train" downtown L.A. to LV. $90 roundtrip, 5.5 hours each way. First it was a regular train. Then a "speedy train" and now a "party train". Seems like somebody always has an idea for a train. Do you think this one will work or fail?

The PARTY Train:
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2010/0..._next_year.php

The SPEEDY Train:
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

The REGULAR Train That FAILED:
is being touted as offering a more reliable ride than Amtrak service between LA and Vegas, which was canceled in 1997 and often took over six hours because of freight traffic on the Union Pacific rails. The difference is that Las Vegas Railway Express is paying extra money for rail access allowing the "X" train priority over the freight trains.

[yellowsnow]

I have to brave the Sunday traffic on I15 S and I'm all for it! Anything that brings the people here and doesn't clutter up the freeway sounds good to me.

[von949]

Im all for it.

[ChrisKLAS]

Originally Posted by KevK

is being touted as offering a more reliable ride than Amtrak service between LA and Vegas, which was canceled in 1997 and often took over six hours because of freight traffic on the Union Pacific rails. The difference is that Las Vegas Railway Express is paying extra money for rail access allowing the "X" train priority over the freight trains.

Anything that runs from here to LA on existing rails would operate over two railroads:

- UP from Las Vegas to Yermo
- BNSF from Yermo to Redondo Jct. (from here just a few short miles on the LA Terminal RR to LA Union Station)

Freight traffic is down quite a bit on the UP Cima Sub (Vegas-Yermo) over the past few years due to the recession and improvements made on UP's Sunset Route (via southern Arizona) which allows them to move traffic more efficiently that way. Although traffic is lighter, this is a mostly single track route, with passing sidings, and low speed limits (25-35mph) all the way down the western face of Cima Hill. I can see, maybe, the UP giving these trains some sort of priority if it's in their best interest.

From Yermo to Redondo Jct. (via Barstow, Victorville, Cajon Pass, Riverside, and Fullerton), however, the train would be operating over some of the most congested rails in North America. Over 150 freight trains per day, on average, ply these rails bringing goods out of the SoCal ports to head east on BNSF's transcon route via Kingman, Flagstaff, Albuquerque, and all the way to Chicago. Though an upgrade from double to triple main lines on Cajon is nearly complete, it's still slow going (23mph speed limit on the entire pass) and I just can't see BNSF delaying hot intermodal trains which make them mega $$$$ to allow a Vegas passenger train to have priority.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to ride the rails from Vegas to SoCal (as if you couldn't tell), but for most people, the ride (on existing rails) would simply be too long.

[Jukesgrrl]

Back in the days of the bar car, every train was a party train.

[StaggerLee22]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

Anything that brings the people here and doesn't clutter up the freeway sounds good to me.

Agreed.
Who cares how they get to Vegas----JUST GET THEM TO VEGAS!

Too bad they can gamble on the way to Vegas though.
We need them to spend the money in a casino.

[Bart9399]

A high speed train to Las Vegas? Never gonna happen. Here's the money quote from the above mentioned June 2008 article:

The money is the largest cash infusion in the project's nearly 20-year history. It will pay for environmental studies for the first leg of the project.

California and an environmental study? It's over before it started. Ain't gonna happen.


g.

[Spraynard Kruger]

This idea is derailed before it ever started. There will most likely never be a viable rail system between Vegas and LA. The rights of way are just too expensive.

[DarkWolf]

Originally Posted by Jukesgrrl

Back in the days of the bar car, every train was a party train.

We still have and use them. LIRR , Metro North , MBTA , NJT all have a form of the bar car , now its a cafe car aswell. There were plans to scrap them months ago on a popular line , but public outrage was huge. So now there keeping them. We also have private cars on some lines.

Originally Posted by Bart9399

A high speed train to Las Vegas? Never gonna happen. Here's the money quote from the above mentioned June 2008 article:



California and an environmental study? It's over before it started. Ain't gonna happen.


g.

I think private $$$ will be used to build the Desert Express , but i think it should go all the way to Union Station in LA.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by Bart9399

A high speed train to Las Vegas? Never gonna happen. Here's the money quote from the above mentioned June 2008 article:



California and an environmental study? It's over before it started. Ain't gonna happen.


g.

While I agree with you that it is not likely, I disagree that it is not possible. It is possible. Especially if Hairy Read is re upped as Senate President. He can bring home the cash to make it happen.