NARP Blog

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

When seeking a long-term goal such as a world-class passenger train network that exceeds travelers’ expectations, it is important to celebrate small improvements. The Cardinal, which is the only Amtrak train serving Cincinnati, Charleston, W.Va., and other intermediate points—and the only direct link between Chicago and Northeast Corridor points such as Baltimore and Philadelphia, is one of only two overnight trains that run less frequently than once a day. To add to that, the Cardinal is given a shorter consist than all other overnight trains, often resulting in bedrooms and seats selling out weeks in advance of departure. The line is in great need of improvement, which is now beginning to happen thanks to the route performance review system put in place under the 2008 Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act [PDF summary].

Beginning with the departure of train 50 from Chicago on Tuesday, May 11, a baggage car was added to the Cardinal, which had been without checked baggage service for more than ten years. Although the number of stations where bags can be checked is limited to those staffed by Amtrak agents, the addition of checked baggage—a service so commonplace in air and intercity bus travel that it is taken for granted—should help to reduce delays and crowding that result by passengers having to bring large, heavy suitcases onto the train with them.

We hope that this will be the first in a series of significant improvements to long-distance service in the next few years, and that its success—combined with an infusion of new cars and locomotives—will provide further impetus to run the Cardinal daily.

Here is the baggage car on train 50, shown on Wednesday morning, May 12, in Charleston, WV (photos by Charles Riecks)

Yet the Charleston station crew is still waiting for power baggage carts to be delivered. In the meantime, this is what they are using:

—Malcolm Kenton

P.S.—Check out the winners of Amtrak’s “Trainsportation” video contest for Illinois college students.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

At a groundbreaking held on Monday, work officially kicked-off on Chicago’s Englewood Flyover, a critical prerequisite to enable the Windy City to serve as the hub for the Midwest high-speed rail network.

By building a “flyover” bridge to separate traffic along two railroads, the project will ease congestion on one of the worst rail bottlenecks in the U.S. This will improve on time performance while simultaneously easing congestion for the 130 passenger trains and freight trains that move through the hub every day. If you’ve ever ridden a train in the Midwest, you’ve probably seen these delays first hand (a few NARP Council Members were held up at this congestion-point on their way out to our Council Meeting being held in Los Angeles this week).

Since the 1990s, Midwestern states have planned an intercity passenger train network that connects the 40 largest cities in the Midwest with over 60 roundtrips from downtown Chicago each day. The Englewood project will benefit passengers traveling along an improved corridor from Detroit, which has been awarded several grants for construction projects to increase speeds to 110 mph. Travelers from Cleveland, Indianapolis and Cincinnati will also see fewer delays thanks to the new bridge. The project is part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE), a public-private partnership between the state, city and railroads aimed at untangling Chicago’s infamously snarled railroads where conflicts cause delays across all modes of travel.

The event was attended by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn (D), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D), U.S. Congressmen Bobby Rush (D) and Dan Lipinski (D), and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D). While the movement of passengers and freight is certainly important politically—insofar as it is important to the local economy and to commuters—it is probably the 1,500 jobs the project will immediately create that attracted these political heavy-hitters
“The Englewood Flyover will make life easier for tens of thousands of commuters every day and put people to work immediately,” said Governor Quinn. “This vital project will eliminate a problem spot and set the stage for future passenger rail growth while boosting Illinois’ position at the economic engine of the Midwest.”

That sentiment was made more explicit by Secretary LaHood.

“Projects like this one are exactly why President Obama has made transportation such a big part of the American Jobs Act,” said Secretary LaHood. “We have workers on site today, American factories producing new supplies, and when the project is completed, people and goods will move more quickly and easily through the Midwest, making the region a better place to start a business or hire new workers.”

Considering the banner September the Federal Railroad Administration has had, you can’t blame the White House for using this as a platform to speak up for the infrastructure component of the American Jobs Act. It will be interesting to see who’s listening.

You may register to post comments in response to NARP-generated postings on the Blog. By registering you agree 1) that all comments will be relevant to the respective posting and 2) not to post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, or that violate any laws. We reserve the right to permanently block postings from any user who does not abide by the above terms. NARP reserves the right to remove, edit, or move any messages for any reason.

NARP blog

One Step at a Time: Checked Baggage Returns to Cardinal

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Posted by Malcolm Kenton

U.S. and Illinois Departments of Transportation break ground on Chicago high-speed rail project

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Posted by NARP

©2010 National Association of Railroad Passengers | » NARP website

» Recent Entries

» Blogroll

» Terms of Service for Comments

» Monthly Archives