Comments on: Fresno Rail Consolidation Is Dead. But Is It HSR’s Fault?

By: Spokker

Spokker — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:26:01 +0000

Did they consult Richard first?

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:21:27 +0000

Okay, this answers my question.

And yes, California’s approach of running 350 km/h trains through downtowns is novel, at least in the first world. JR West only runs 300 km/h trains through downtowns, and JR East is about to run only 320 km/h trains through downtowns.

By: adirondacker12800

adirondacker12800 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:32:52 +0000

If calling train that runs from Oakland to Redding a San Joaquin instead of Capitol Corridor North makes you happy go for it. The people getting on in Fresno to get to Bakersfield and Sacramento are going to get on the HSR train. The demand south of Sacramento, once HSR arrives, for conventional trains, is going to be almost non existent.

By: adirondacker12800

adirondacker12800 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:40:43 +0000

It’s not just the CHSRA….. they wanted to build four tracks worth of freight line through or around Fresno. The Alameda corridor, serving one of the busiest ports in the world, gets by with three.

By: jimsf

jimsf — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:29:26 +0000

Its not as thought amtrak and the state of california are not aware that hsr is being built. No doubt they are discussing this behind the scenes. Personally I wouldn’t be surprised if, well never mind. But needless to say, if they were planning on getting rid of san joaqin service, then they wouldn’t be making plans to add more trains and extensions.

By: jimsf

jimsf — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:26:06 +0000

yes but amtrak californian plans to extend san joaquin service by adding more trains and also running train to north of sac to redding.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:42:16 +0000

Just put the unneeded equipment to use on Capitol Corridor.

By: jimsf

jimsf — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:27:40 +0000

Well, not everyone thinks of fresno as a joke. Ive been there, I have friends there, I see the good and bad about it like every other part of cali, and it has a lot of good selling points and huge potential due to its dead center california location, water, recreation, weather, ample housing stock, gorgeous if under utilized downtown, the list goes on. Im rooting for fresno to shake off that tired image.

By: Paul H.

Paul H. — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:03:25 +0000

I’m alright with rail consolidation dying if it means taking the already allocated funds and either grade separating the BNSF line completely through the city of Fresno north of downtown ( I would say 9 or 10 major grade separations, not sure how much that would cost though, I’m guessing more than $100 million though) or using the funds to secure the maintenance hub south of downtown Fresno.

I just want people that don’t live in Fresno to understand that CA HSR is EASILY the most important infrastructure project on the horizon (maybe ever) for the city of Fresno. It’s what the city needs to makes it downtown viable to attract business and residents to locate their. I can see the city growing to well over a million people by 2025, and approaching 2 million by 2040. This city has been the joke of California for decades and I see high speed rail as the economic powerhouse to make this city great. For this reason alone, I believe the system should be built, and I would say build it even at TWICE the cost it is expected to built now… it’s that important to this city.

By: jimsf

jimsf — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:28:38 +0000

see, there’s another one from one of the groups mentioned.