Texas Eagle Proposed Schedule Change

And Reroute

 

 

 

Heartland Flyer Proposed Schedule Extension

 

 

By Tim Geeslin

President

Texas Association of Rail Passengers

March 3, 2003

Texas Eagle Xpress

Read Down      Miles   Dp                                                         Ar     Read Up

08:25 PM          0                    Chicago, IL                          CT             11:15 am    

09:20 PM          37                  Joliet, IL                                                 10:14 am    

10:07 PM          92                  Pontiac, IL                                              10:07 am    

10:42 PM          124                Bloomington-Normal, IL                         09:36 am    

11:15 PM          156                Lincoln, IL                                              08:55 am    

11:50 PM          185                Springfield, IL                                         08:25 am    

12:56 am           257                Alton, IL                                                 07:16 am    

01:55 am           284       Ar     Saint Louis, MO                            Dp    05:35 am    

02:05 am                        Dp                                                          Ar     04:38 am    

06:42 am           453                Popular Bluff, MO                                  12:55 am    

07:37 am           513                Walnut Ridge, AR                                   11:52 PM   

09:55 am           634                Little Rock, AR                                      09:50 PM   

10:50 am           677                Malvern, AR                                           08:31 PM   

11:15 am           694                Arkadelphia, AR                                     10:07 PM   

12:40 PM          774                Texarkana, AR/TX                                 06:53 PM   

02:40 PM          840                Marshall, TX                                          05:41 PM   

03:25 PM          864                Longview, TX                                         04:45 PM   

04:15 PM          912                Mineola, TX                                           03:45 PM   

06:40 PM          991       Ar     Dallas, TX                                     Dp    12:50 PM   

07:00 PM                       Dp                                                          Ar     12:40 PM   

08:20 PM          1022     Ar     Fort Worth, TX                             Dp    11:40 am    

10:20 PM                       Dp                                                          Ar     09:40 am    

11:05 PM          1054              Weatherford, TX                                    08:55 am    

12:40 am           1128              Eastland, TX                                           07:20 am    

01:45 am           1187              Abilene, TX                                            06:15 am    

02:35 am           1227              Sweetwater, TX                                     05:25 am    

03:25 am           1264              Snyder, TX                                             04:35 am    

05:20 am           1346     Ar     Lubbock, TX                                 Dp    02:40 am    

05:35 am                        Dp                                                          Ar     02:25 am    

06:50 am           1446              Clovis, NM                          MT             11:10 PM   

08:35 am           1577              Vaughn, NM                                          09:25 PM   

10:15 am           1685              Belen, NM                                             07:45 PM   

11:00 am           1716     Ar     Albuquerque, NM                          Dp    07:00 PM   

 

Texas Eagle Xpress: Four equipment sets would be required, which is the same as currently required to run the Texas Eagle between Chicago and San Antonio.  However, the sleepers and dining car would be utilized more efficiently with two overnights each direction versus one night.  This schedule would also allow the Texas Eagle to connect with all the eastern/western trains at Chicago, the Kansas City trains at St. Louis, and would open up the snow skiing areas of New Mexico to Texas travelers.  Fort Worth and Albuquerque based crews could operate and service the train with Lubbock being the crew change point.  A wye in the yard limits at Albuquerque, which is used to turn the American Orient Express equipment, could be used to turn the TEX equipment.

 

 

 

Connecting/Thru Car Service to California

Read Down      Miles   Dp                                                  Ar     Read Up

05:28 PM          1716              Albuquerque, NM        MT             12:29 PM   

07:51 PM          1889              Gallup, NM                                    08:55 am    

09:32 PM          2017              Winslow, AZ                                  07:11 am    

10:29 PM          2075     Ar     Flagstaff, AZ                          Dp    06:15 am    

10:34 PM                       Dp                                                  Ar     06:10 am    

11:12 PM          2105              Williams Jct., AZ                             05:35 am    

01:23 am           2248              Kingman, AZ                                  03:25 am    

01:18 am           2315              Needles, CA                PT              01:22 am    

03:50 am           2484              Barstow, CA                                  10:58 PM   

04:26 am           2521              Victorville, CA                                10:02 PM   

05:40 am           2568              San Bernardino, CA                        08:50 PM   

06:00 am           2578              Riverside, CA                                 08:29 PM   

06:42 am           2614              Fullerton, CA                                  07:45 PM   

08:40 am           2640     Ar     Los Angeles, CA                    Dp    06:45 PM   

 

Connecting/Thru Car Service: The Texas Eagle currently runs thru cars to Los Angeles on the Sunset Limited three days per week.  The trip time would be 88 miles and 5 hours shorter respectively running these cars on the Southwest Chief.  In addition, existing connections to the Sunset Limited in San Antonio would be maintained with the proposed schedule.

 

Infrastructure:

      Fort Worth-Sweetwater (UP): CTC from Fort Worth to Clyde (east of Abilene) and Automatic Block Signal (ABS) dispatched by Track Warrant Control between Clyde and Sweetwater. According to August 2002 Trains Magazine, this track has welded rail and averages 11 trains per day.  BNSF has trackage rights between Fort Worth and Sweetwater.  When Amtrak starts operating over the TRE line a switch could be installed at the west end, which would allow Amtrak to avoid Tower 55 in Fort Worth completely. 

      Capital Requirements: A measure of capacity based upon the maximum lengths of freight trains and sidings was developed using the December 9, 2001 Union Pacific Timetable.  If the maximum length of freight trains on the Baird sub is 9000', then it can only handle 6.2 trains per day total.  If the maximum train length is 7000', then it goes up to 10.4 trains per day total.  However, if the maximum train length is 6500', then it can handle 34.4 total trains per day. If the 11 trains per day run 7000', then the sub is at capacity.  However, extending 3 sidings between Weatherford and Cisco in excess of 7000' will bring the capacity up to 26.6 total trains per day.

 

 

      Sweetwater-Albuquerque (BNSF): Track conditions are good and all CTC except for 17 miles between Belen Junction and Isleta in New Mexico, which is Track Warrant Control.  Maximum freight speed is at least 55 mph.  The route is single track from Sweetwater to Lone Star Junction (east of Clovis) and double track (with 3 exceptions) from Lone Star Junction to Belen Junction.  Running times are based on 55 MPH Clovis-Slaton and 79 MPH Belen-Clovis.

      Capital Requirements: Amtrak could be expected to help with some of the cost of finishing the double track on the Clovis sub division (Pecos River at Ft. Sumner, long fill through Vaughn, and Abo Canyon), which is 15 miles (in 4 separate pieces). Considering the terrain and bridges, cost could be as high as $5 million per mile.  In addition, some crossing signals may need to be retimed for 79mph. Perhaps Amtrak could get a FRA loan to build the extra double track on the Clovis sub and then charge BNSF a trackage rights fee to service the loan. 

 

Station Staffing Requirements:

      Chicago, IL: Open daily from 5:30 am to 9:30 PM. No Change

      Joliet, IL: Open daily from 11:30 am to 7:00 PM.  Station hours would need to be adjusted to close at 10:00 PM.

      Bloomington-Normal, IL: Open daily from 7:00 am to 8:00 PM.  Station hours would have to be extended to 11:00 PM.

      Springfield, IL: Open daily 6:00 am to 8:30 PM.  Station hours would need to be adjusted to close at Midnight.

      Saint Louis, MO: Open daily 4:00 am to 4:30 PM and from 6:00 am to 11:30 PM.  Station hours would need to be adjusted to remain open until 2:00 am.

      Little Rock, AR: Open daily from 11:00 PM to 8:00 am.  Station hours would need to be adjusted.

      Texarkana, AR/TX: Open Monday through Friday from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM.  Station hours would need to be adjusted to open at 11:30 am and close at 7:30 PM.

      Marshall, TX: Open Monday through Friday 4:00 PM to 11:30 PM.  Station hours would need to be adjusted to open at 11:00 am and close at 6:30 PM.

      Longview, TX: Open daily from 10:00 am to 7:30 PM.  No change.

      Dallas, TX: Open daily from 12:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Station hours would need to be adjusted to open at 11:30 am and close at 7:30 PM.

      Fort Worth, TX: Open daily from 12:30 PM to 8:30 PM.  Station hours would need to be adjusted to open at 9:00 am and close at 11:00 PM.

      Abilene, TX: Projected station hours would be from 1:00 am to 6:30 am.

      Lubbock, TX: Projected station hours would be from 2:00 am to 6:00 am.

      Albuquerque, NM: Open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 PM.  Station hours would need to be adjusted to close at 7:00 PM.

 

Note: Station hours retrieved from Amtrak web site.  Proposed schedule change can be tweaked to optimize staffing requirements.

 

New Station Facilities:

      Weatherford, TX: None

      Eastland, TX: None

      Abilene: Depot has been completely restored.  The city is in the process of building an intermodal facility downtown next to the tracks.  The city has set aside $100,000 for Amtrak’s use when service commences.

      Sweetwater, TX: Santa Fe station in use on the main line as yard office.

      Snyder, TX: In use as a section foreman facility by BNSF.

      Lubbock, TX: Station owned and used by BNSF.

      Clovis, NM: General office building similar to Temple in use by BNSF.

      Vaughn, NM: In use as a section foreman facility by BNSF.

      Belen, NM: Unknown

Connecting Missouri Service

Read Down      Miles   Dp                                               Ar     Read Up

03:05 PM          0                    Kansas City, MO        CT             01:10 PM   

03:24 PM          10                  Independence, MO                      12:41 PM   

03:41 PM          23                  Lee’s Summit, MO                       12:25 PM   

04:24 PM          65                  Warrensburg, MO                        11:41 am    

04:54 PM          94                  Sedalia, MO                                 11:07 am    

06:08 PM          158                Jefferson City, MO                       09:54 am    

06:53 PM          202                Hermann, MO                              09:04 am    

07:21 PM          231                Washington, MO                          08:36 am    

08:03 PM          270                Kirkwood, MO                            07:59 am    

08:45 PM          283       Ar     Saint Louis, MO                  Dp    07:30 am    

 

Heartland Flyer Proposed Schedule Extension

Read            Down          Miles   Dp                                    Ar    Read           Up              

04:25 PM      08:25 am     0                    Ok City, OK                    09:55 PM    12:55 PM   

04:50 PM      08:50 am     20                  Norman, OK                    09:11 PM    12:11 PM   

05:09 PM      09:09 am     35                  Purcell, OK                      08:51 PM    11:51 am    

05:34 PM      09:34 am     57                  Pauls Valley, OK              08:26 PM    11:36 am    

06:30 PM      10:30 am     102                Ardmore, OK                   07:31 PM    10:31 am    

07:14 PM      11:14 am     141                Gainesville, TX                 06:45 PM    09:45 am    

08:55 PM      12:55 PM    208       Ar     Fort Worth, TX        Dp    05:25 PM    08:25 am    

11:25 PM      01:25 PM                 Dp                                    Ar     04:58 PM    05:58 am    

12:07 am       02:07 PM    237                Cleburne, TX                    04:00 PM    05:00 am    

01:15 am       03:15 PM    311                McGregor, TX                 02:51 PM    03:51 am    

01:58 am       03:58 PM    336                Temple, TX                      02:25 PM    03:25 am    

02:51 am       04:51 PM    374                Taylor, TX                        01:22 PM    02:22 am    

03:45 am       05:45 PM    409                Austin, TX                        12:31 PM    01:31 am    

04:27 am       06:27 PM    439                San Marcus, TX               11:32 am     12:32 am    

07:10 am       09:10 PM    492                San Antonio, TX               10:00 am     11:00 PM   

 

Connecting Services:  The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is studying the possibility of adding a second frequency between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.  Two equipment sets would be required to run between OKC-FTW.  Extending the schedule from FTW to SAS would only require one additional set. Equipment could include 2 coaches, Café/Lounge car and 1 sleeper (converted Transition Sleeper for overnight FTW-SAS only).  If the equipment is operated in push/pull configuration, an hour could be removed from the timetable southbound between San Marcus and San Antonio.  In addition, these services could connect with eight Trinity Railway Express weekday trains in Fort Worth as noted below:

 

From OKC       From SAS     To DAL      From DAL     To OKC     To SAS

                         05:58 am       06:22 am     08:04 am         08:25 am    

12:55 PM                               01:36 PM    01:07 PM                           01:25 PM

                         04:58 PM      05:15 PM    04:49 PM       05:25 PM   

08:55 PM                               09:22 PM    11:18 PM                           11:25 PM

 

Existing Amtrak and TRE services effective October 27, 2002 and December 9, 2002 respectively.

 

Infrastructure:

      Fort Worth-Temple (BNSF): Current route of Amtrak’s Texas Eagle. This stretch of railroad is the fastest passenger main in Texas, with the Texas Eagle averaging over 51 MPH between Fort Worth and Temple. Arrival/Departure into Fort Worth requires crossing Tower 55 one of the busiest rail intersections in the country. 

      Capital Requirements: The Fort Worth to Cleburne portion of the route is currently under study by the North Central Texas Council of Governments for possible extension of the Trinity Railway Express.  Because the Dallas/Fort Worth area has clean air attainment challenges, Tower 55 is also under study to keep freight/passenger rail fluid through the area. In addition, this route is part of the South Central High Speed Rail Corridor, which would allow the Texas Department of Transportation to apply for federal funds for grade crossing improvements.

      Temple-San Antonio (UP): Current route of Amtrak’s Texas Eagle. Due to freight congestion and circuitous routing into the San Antonio station, the average timetable speed is 30 MPH. The route between San Marcus and San Antonio is especially problematic with an average timetable speed of 20 MPH.

      Capital Requirements: A commuter rail feasibility study was completed and a commuter rail district recently formed between Austin and San Antonio. In addition, this route is part of the South Central High Speed Rail Corridor, which would allow the Texas Department of Transportation to apply for federal funds for grade crossing improvements.

 

Station Facilies/Staffing Requirements:

      Fort Worth, TX: Open daily from 12:30 PM to 8:30 PM.  Station hours would need to be adjusted to open at 9:00 am and close at 11:00 PM.

      Cleburne, TX: Unmanned station.  The station is an intermodal facility housing the Cleburne area transit agency.  The station will be a future commuter rail stop.

      McGregor, TX: Unmanned station.  Station is in the process of being renovated.

      Temple, TX: Open 5 days a week from 11:00 am to 7:30 PM.  Station hours would need to be adjusted.

      Taylor, TX: Unmanned station.

      Austin, TX: Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to Midnight.  Station hours would need to be adjusted to open at 12:00 Noon and close at 3:30 am.

      San Marcus, TX: Unmanned station. The station is an intermodal facility housing the San Marcus area transit agency.  The station will be a future commuter rail stop.

      San Antonio, TX: Open daily from 11:00 PM to 10:30 am. Station hours would need to be adjusted to open at 9:00 PM and close at 10:00 am.

 

Note: Station hours retrieved from Amtrak web site.  Proposed schedule change can be tweaked to optimize staffing requirements.  Staffing requirements also included running a second train between FTW-SAS.

 

Conclusion: This proposal is an opportunity for the various entities, Amtrak, Texas Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, North Central Texas Council of Governments, Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council, Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail District, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad to work together on a project that benefits all the entities involved.