TSS wrote:NSSD70ACe wrote:
As for the PM, I figure that once we begin to see the new coaches arriving, there will probably be enough equipment to add a second round trip of the PM using the old equipment (refurbished Amfleet I's) until the Amfleet replacements begin to arrive. There might even be enough to add a GRR-DET PM, if the demand is there and CSX is willing to play ball.
The PM is a good train—ridership seems solid and it’s reasonably dependable in terms of timekeeping, in contrast to the somewhat similar Hoosier State. But with only one run a day and no state-owned trackage to provide a sunk-cost justification, I have always thought of it as the weakest of the Michigan trains and more likely to go should political or budgetary winds blow the wrong way.
But you seem to have a far more optimistic assessment. I hope you are right—I would enjoy the flexibility of two round trips.
My optimistic assessment comes from seeing the potential of a more flexible PM. When CSX did their route rationalization or whatever, the PM was on the chopping block. It got saved, but that doesn’t mean it’ll happen again unless some major traffic materializes (IIRC, the PM was put up for review even after the addition of the two manifests from NY state).
I figure if CSX puts the line up for review and possible sale, maybe MDOT/Amtrak can make a play for it much in the same way they did with NS for the Michigan Line. Keep CSX on as the “designated freight operator” and upgrade the line for faster speeds. That’ll grow ridership and possibly create demand for more trains.
DaveO: not sure if you were referring to me with the “Which train is NS going to remove for the second PM consist”, but in case you were, you wouldn’t have to remove another train. I’m talking a second PM no earlier than the 2020s when the new cars begin to arrive. That way, more of the heritage fleet will be freed up for starting or expanding service elsewhere. Ideally, the cars would be all rehabbed AM-Is or even the Amfleet replacement depending on when Amtrak places the order for the new corridor coaches.
If you meant time slots on NS, well, we’re just going to have to figure that out. Amtrak says corridors are their future. If that is indeed true, that means new and expanded services, which means negotiating with host railroads for more slots.