Subject: Rail Monthly Highlights
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:13:14 -0500
To: guyperea@live.com
From: wsdot@service.govdelivery.com
In this issue:
- Good: another trainset gets gussied-up; Bad: loaner trainset doesn't have Business Class or Wi-Fi
- Project highlight: Public invited to review Point Defiance Bypass study findings
- Project highlight: Rail work progressing at the Port of Vancouver
- Statewide Rail Plan hosts stakeholder meeting
- September on-time performance
- Customer Compliment
Good: another trainset gets gussied-up; Bad: loaner trainset doesn't have Business Class or Wi-Fi
The Mt. Adams trainset is undergoing deep cleaning on the entire trainset and the bistro and lounge cars are receiving a facelift. The bad news is the loaner Superliner equipment running between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., for the round trip known as trains 510 and 517 do not have Business Class or Wi-Fi. The good news is the trainset on the other Seattle-Vancouver, B.C., round trip, trains 513 and 516, still have Wi-Fi and the loaner trainset for trains 510 and 517 offers an upper deck to enjoy our spectacular views. This is the third of five trainsets that will receive these much needed upgrades. The Mt. Adams, all-shiny and spiffed-up, will be back in revenue service in time for the Thanksgiving travel season.
Photo of the Bistro car on the Mount Rainier trainset after its upgrade
Rail Project Highlights
Public invited to review Point Defiance Bypass study findings
Amtrak Cascades passengers are one step closer to more frequent and reliable service between Seattle and Portland with the completion of a study to reroute the service away from the congested Point Defiance train corridor to a lesser-used inland route. WSDOT and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published findings from the Point Defiance Bypass Environmental Assessment and the documents are available online for review. WSDOT will host two public meetings inviting people to view the study findings and offer feedback for consideration by FRA:
- Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Clover Park Technical College Rotunda Building, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd., Lakewood
- Thursday, Oct. 25, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at DuPont City Hall, 1700 Civic Drive, DuPont
Crews making progress at Port of Vancouver
WSDOT is investing in a number of projects designed to reduce freight and passenger congestion through Vancouver, WA. Crews recently started construction on an access improvement project at the Port of Vancouver, part of the port's West Vancouver Freight Access projects. The $40 million Port Access Rail Improvement project will provide a new rail connection on a trestle over the water that will pass under the BNSF Columbia River Bridge. The track will follow the river bank and connect with existing port yard tracks. These new tracks will be complete in 2014 and will allow the port to accommodate longer freight trains without disrupting the mainline, reducing the conflict between freight and passenger trains.
Sheet pile wall that will support new tracks
Advisory committee kicks-off the State Rail Plan; statewide workshops for public are next
WSDOT is developing a statewide rail plan that will The state rail plan will serve as a strategic blueprint for future public investment in the state's rail transportation system. Stakeholder advisory committee members convened to review the project work plan and schedule; provide input on the vision, goals and objectives for the plan; and receive a report on initial findings from the review of the existing system. Committee invitees included FRA, railroads, freight shippers, ports, MPO/RTPOs and passenger rail advocates. Tribes were invited to nominate a representative, consistent with WSDOT's consultation policies and procedures. Oregon DOT and British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, Washington State's partners in delivering intercity passenger rail, were also invited. This was the first of three stakeholder committee meetings. Two statewide public workshops will be held; October 30 in Spokane and October 31 in Seattle. Outreach also includes a public open house, stakeholder interviews and regional meetings to gather input before the final plan is published in December 2013.
Performance Measures
Amtrak Cascades on-time performance for September 2012 averaged approximately 79.6 percent, an improvement over the August average of 69.5 percent.
Customer Compliment
"My girlfriend and I had an awesome time this weekend on Amtrak Cascades. On Friday, we took the train down to Edmonds, Wash. Awesome view. We will definitely do it again. We want to thank Eric and the other crew members of train number 513. You guys made our experience the best. Thank you again." Jeff T
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