Clarence Siman posted:If the Government is going to subsidize Amtrak, then consider the feasibility of using abandoned or embargoed rail lines in the rural areas. Have a totally dedicated Amtrak line, or perhaps start a Trails to Rails campaign. Yes I know that the lines will have to be totally rebuilt, but at least Amtrak won't have to share the lines with freight.
The real key is dedicated (or passenger-prioritized) trackage like the Northeast Corridor. Some routes were abandoned in favor of more efficient routes between locations. The less efficient routes, if they could support the speed, could be resurrected for passenger-only service. Adding another track (or two) to an established mainline would eliminate some traffic conflicts, even keeping freight a priority. But it takes money, which is the real problem. The fare box doesn't cover the costs, which is the same problem with mass transit in general.
The local commuter trains here are full, and while I doubt the fares cover the costs, I don't think they're having the losses that long-distance routes experience.
I ride a commuter train four days a week (Metrolink) which shares a multi-track route with BNSF Railway. On my trip from Irvine, CA to Los Angeles, we literally zig zag around freight trains and Metrolink keeps a good schedule. Sharing the route with the Orange County line is Amtrak's Surfliner, which also keeps a pretty good schedule between San Diego and Los Angeles. The entire run from San Diego to Los Angeles is on BNSF trackage. Most BNSF freight traffic out of Los Angeles runs toward Riverside/San Bernardino railroad east of Fullerton, but still on multi-track mains. Amtrak's Southwest Chief and Metrolink's 91/Perris line share this route and stays pretty close to schedule.
Now there's the other areas. North of Los Angeles (railroad west) is UP territory (old SP) and is single track along the coast. There the Surfliner slows down as freight (pays the bills) has priority. The Coast Starlight also runs this route and runs late. Another line is the Riverside line on the old UP trackage through Pomona South -- was notoriously late. The San Bernardino line (old SP/old ATSF Pasadena Sub) is on mostly single track (the freight traffic is minimal on that line and runs off-hours) and has high ridership and is pretty much on schedule.
