Comments on: Southern High-Speed Advances http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/01/09/southern-high-speed-advances/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:43:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jim http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/01/09/southern-high-speed-advances/#comment-52309 jim Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:33:15 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=591#comment-52309 The VA Legislature has asked DRPT a couple of times to investigate electrifying Washington-Richmond. Each time DRPT has come back with "it's too expensive." And that has been under Democratic governors. My assumption is that DRPT's highest priority is to increase the capacity of the RF&P sub and doesn't want electrification to distract from that priority. They put in an ARRA proposal to fully triple track from Alexandria to ACCA (quad track from the Long Bridge to Alexandria and lay new passenger only double track round ACCA), which would roughly double the passenger train capacity of the corridor (it's a very heavy freight corridor already). And the substance of the ARRA proposal has found its way into the NEC Master Plan. If and when that construction is funded and takes place, I imagine DRPT will be open to considering electrification. We will discover by August 6th whether Gov. McDonnell will prove "do-nothing" with respect to intercity rail. If VA resubmits its ARRA proposal (or some significant subset) against the $2.5B HSR pot (which this time will require matching state funds!), then we will have to think of him as a do-something governor. If not, not. The VA Legislature has asked DRPT a couple of times to investigate electrifying Washington-Richmond. Each time DRPT has come back with “it’s too expensive.” And that has been under Democratic governors.

My assumption is that DRPT’s highest priority is to increase the capacity of the RF&P sub and doesn’t want electrification to distract from that priority. They put in an ARRA proposal to fully triple track from Alexandria to ACCA (quad track from the Long Bridge to Alexandria and lay new passenger only double track round ACCA), which would roughly double the passenger train capacity of the corridor (it’s a very heavy freight corridor already). And the substance of the ARRA proposal has found its way into the NEC Master Plan. If and when that construction is funded and takes place, I imagine DRPT will be open to considering electrification.

We will discover by August 6th whether Gov. McDonnell will prove “do-nothing” with respect to intercity rail. If VA resubmits its ARRA proposal (or some significant subset) against the $2.5B HSR pot (which this time will require matching state funds!), then we will have to think of him as a do-something governor. If not, not.

]]> By: Cameron Slick http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/01/09/southern-high-speed-advances/#comment-52279 Cameron Slick Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:48:41 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=591#comment-52279 Electrifying Virginia makes way too much sense not to do it, but with a do-nothing conservative as their head of state, it's unlikely to happen. It could not be justified for HSR alone, but will dozens of commuter trains, a few other long-distance trains to Florida, along with many freight trains, the costs and benefits could be shared by multiple parties. Electrifying Virginia makes way too much sense not to do it, but with a do-nothing conservative as their head of state, it’s unlikely to happen. It could not be justified for HSR alone, but will dozens of commuter trains, a few other long-distance trains to Florida, along with many freight trains, the costs and benefits could be shared by multiple parties.

]]> By: Ocean Railroader http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/01/09/southern-high-speed-advances/#comment-24980 Ocean Railroader Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:29:08 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.wordpress.com/?p=591#comment-24980 They need to extend the NEC Catenary down along this line from Washingtion DC to Florida They need to extend the NEC Catenary down along this line from Washingtion DC to Florida

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