CALTRANS WANTS LOCAL AMTRAK RUN BAKERSFIELD-L.A. TRAIN WOULD STOP IN A.V.Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer PALMDALE - Passenger train advocates are seeking a study on whether it would be feasible to run a single Amtrak Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corp., authorized to operate virtually all intercity passenger railroad routes in the United States. Amtrak was created by Congress in 1970 in response to more than two decades of continuous operating deficits by privately run train daily between Bakersfield and Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. via the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley . Union Pacific, which owns the rail tracks Rail tracks are used on railways (or railroads), which, together with railroad switches (or points), guide trains without the need for steering. Tracks consist of two parallel steel rails, which are laid upon sleepers (or cross ties) that are embedded in ballast to form the , says such an effort is a waste of time and money. ``We are going to use every means at our disposal to get this idea back on the table,'' said Palmdale Councilman Rick Norris, vice chairman of the San Joaquin Valley Noun 1. San Joaquin Valley - a vast valley in central California known for its rich farmland Calif., California, Golden State, CA - a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes Rail Committee, a state Department of Transportation advisory panel. Passenger train advocates and Caltrans want Union Pacific to study the idea of running one train from Bakersfield over the Tehachapi mountains Te·hach·a·pi Mountains A range of southern California extending from east to west between the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges north of Los Angeles. and through the Antelope Valley to Los Angeles. Union Pacific calls the idea impractical and that such a study would be a waste of money. ``We're not trying to be the bad guys in this, we're trying to be realistic,'' said Union Pacific spokesman John Bromley. The tracks over the Tehachapi mountains are close to capacity from freight trains, officials said. Passenger service would require additional construction, which would be cost prohibitive because of the mountainous terrain. The steepest grade of California's rail system, the Tehachapi tracks pass though numerous tunnels and the 127-year-old ``Tehachapi loop.'' To avoid too steep a climb, the tracks go around a hill and back over themselves. Because the route is so steep and has circuitous cir·cu·i·tous adj. Being or taking a roundabout, lengthy course: took a circuitous route to avoid the accident site. routes, the distance could be covered by cars or buses on Highway 58 much faster than a passenger train, officials say. Passenger train advocates acknowledge the Tehachapi route does have heavy freight traffic, but a study could show there is capacity for one passenger train. Norris said state money could pay for rail improvements needed for a passenger train. Norris said he will discuss the idea with Michael Dukakis, the former Massachusetts governor who now serves on the Amtrak board. Dukakis is scheduled to speak at a Jan. 10 meeting of the San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee. Trains traveling through the San Joaquin Valley end at Bakersfield, but Amtrak does have a bus connection between Bakersfield and Los Angeles Union Station that includes Antelope Valley stops. CAPTION(S): map Map: Proposed Amtrak route between Bakersfield and Lancaster Daily News |
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