TENN TRAXX Rail System
Concept Stage
A regional passenger rail system serving the Cumberland Corridor and connecting at several points with the Eastern Seaboard...several Amtrak points and other regional passenger rail systems in the Southeast.
The "Untrained"
Some in “untrained areas” have asked, “Are the facilities different between freight and passenger terminals?”
Yes, you can’t treat people like freight.
Freight: Only needs expedited routing, climate control sometimes for food & medical, and tracking – major freight routing and classification works at freight yards.
Passengers: Rest rooms, restaurants, communications platforms, expedited routing, tracking, access to medical attention, policing, reasonable climate control, comfort and convenience – passenger routing happens at passenger train stations.
Freight does not complain (though it can be spoiled), passengers can and do complain.
The Status of Passenger Rail in the U. S.
From the Brookings Institute Report on Passenger Travel:
Several Federal oversight agencies are reformulating policy and working through the changes for governing transportation and the development path forward. We see possible improvements coming in funding design criteria for new rail projects towards more fiscally responsible and sustainable plans as a positive trend.
Amtrak is still growing and needs investment to continue meeting growing ridership demands as well as maintenance of some aged infrastructure. Amtrak needs locomotives and rolling stock to meet attrition of train sets and growth rates in ridership. Domestic manufacture of these at least approaches justification.
Regional passenger rail systems must be constructed within the unserved pockets of the Amtrak system to develop the economic strength and improve the efficiency of rail passenger traffic flow. As this is accomplished, we will see solvency improve and sustain in the respective rail systems, and the economic growth of the regions served.
Transportation segments can be managed as individual P & L entities, but the more they become part of a regional interconnected system, the more efficient they become. This characteristic of “interconnected strength” will not only affect the regional rail systems, but will have a positive effect on Amtrak. In some areas, Amtrak has operating partners to accomplish this very well, particularly in the coastal areas, but there is ample room for improvement across the nation.
This is also why passenger rail should not be separated from freight rail.
The improvement or upgrading of an existing rail system to handle both freight and passenger traffic ends up enhancing both systems. Why shouldn’t a system be upgraded to improve traffic flow for both partners? Passing sidings, better switching, and other avenues of cooperation provide for better operating systems for both freight and passenger rail.
When freight rail is combined with passenger traffic, multiples of billions of development dollars are saved and that savings can feed upgrades for more efficiency. This combined efficiency provides for lower freight rates and lower passenger ticket prices. The combination also shortens dwell time and aids schedule timeliness.
Will new routes or realignments be necessary? Not often, but today’s technology can give us improvements in some areas over just reconditioning old lines. We should take advantage of opportunities that still exist. A well planned passenger system should actually help host freight systems.
Current Board Members
Photo Credit: ms.akr
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TENN TRAXX News
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