Bill Lindley, Editor
ARPA has received from Amtrak a preliminary schedule for the Sunset Limited. Here are the notes which accompany the times [my emphasis added Ed.]:
"Operates SuTuFr from Miami. Operates 1 hour later from Miami. Running time increased 15 minutes Miami to Jacksonville. Station time at Jacksonville increased 5 minutes. Running time increased 11 minutes Jacksonville to Pensacola reduced 11 minutes Pensacola to New Orleans.
"Station time at New Orleans increased 70 minutes. Running time increased 13 minutes New Orleans to Houston. Station time at Houston increased 5 minutes. Running time reduced 3 minutes to San Antonio. Station time at San Antonio increased 30 minutes.
"Running time reduced 5 minutes San Antonio to El Paso increased 27 minutes El Paso to Tucson. Station time at Tucson increased 8 minutes.
"Train rerouted between Tucson and Yuma via Gila Line bypassing Coolidge, Tempe and Phoenix. Stop at Maricopa, AZ to commence sometime in August 1996. Running time reduced 3 hours 20 minutes Tucson to Los Angeles."
We do not know at this time whether there will be a Thruway bus from Phoenix, Tempe, or Coolidge, or what the details of that would be, although it is likely some sort of bus service may be provided from Phoenix to the stop at Tucson. A notice at the Phoenix station indicates that location will continue to be staffed for the time being.
What will be the impact of this on the ridership of the train? Let's look at some numbers.
This leads to the conclusion that 1/12 of all passengers are traveling to or from Phoenix or Tempe.
Now note that the PTJ figures are for New Orleans to Los Angeles. If we consider only those passengers on the train west of El Paso, and assume that about half the passengers on the entire route ride west of there, the Phoenix and Tempe figures would be more like 1/6 of all passengers on the train.
If we look at the ridership from another angle, we can see how this works. The 15,000 passengers per year would account for about 50 passengers per train (six trains a week, fifty two weeks a year). If the Superliner train carries 300 passengers, then these 50 passengers would, again, account for one sixth of that.
And if half of the persons traveling to Phoenix are coming from the West (Yuma, Indio, and Los Angeles) it is questionable how many would ride the train to Tucson and take a two-hour bus ride back to Phoenix.
With the Sunset Limited undeniably leaving Phoenix, has the Arizona Rail Passenger Association lost its purpose? Hardly.
First, ARPA must push for regional rail. Continued worsening of the pollution problem in Phoenix, and this state's unrelenting population growth, are finally putting a focus on rail transportation. This is the time for a renewed effort to establish regional rail.
Second, we must work to ensure that the Phoenix West Line is not abandoned. We believe the loss of these eighty-six miles of railroad line would be a blow to not only to Phoenix but also to the state of Arizona and the entire Southwest. This line is an important link between the nation's second largest city and its seventh largest city. The nation's fastest growing region should not lose this piece of its infrastructure.
Third, we should continue to seek new options for long-distance passenger train service in Arizona, and continue to seek enhancement of those services still present. There have been several suggestions for possible new services; and while not every proposal will be acted upon, no action takes place unless something is first proposed. ARPA can provide motivation and information which might make some of the plans reality.
According to the Arizona Republic, Phoenix finally has topped a million people, and Maricopa County's population has increased by 20 percent in five years, to nearly 2.6 million, according to figures released Thursday [23 May] from the 1995 special census. The figure given was 1,149,417, which when compared to the 1990 census, would make Phoenix the nation's sixth largest city, ahead of San Diego, Detroit, and Dallas.
San Diego's new Coaster regional rail system has been a great success; Amtrak serves San Diego with numerous daily trains; and Dallas is building both a light rail system and a regional rail system. Shouldn't Phoenix follow the example of these progressive cities and get busy building rail transportation?
The May 11 Arizona Republic editorial had this to say about the departure of the Sunset Limited from Phoenix:
"The end of passenger [rail] service here is a historic and sad event, to be sure. But shutting down service might help efforts to bring high-speed passenger rail to the Valley [Amtrak President Thomas] Downs said he believes the potential for high-speed rail exists in Florida, Portland- Seattle- Vancouver and Los Angeles- San Diego. Why shouldn't Phoenix figure into these long-range plans? High-speed rail between Phoenix and Tucson or Phoenix to San Diego should not be beyond the realm of possibility Phoenix might prove to be a hot ticket for Amtrak. Amtrak's final departure from Phoenix should give due pause for lost nostalgia. But it should also allow the Valley to turn its head toward perhaps the quicker arrival of the future."
There is a growing public awareness of rail passenger transportation. This was exemplified by an article in the Accent section of the Mesa Tribune recently. The writer commenting on a preview of the film Mission: Impossible wondered whether the governor and other elected officials who attended were taking notes on possible uses of rail passenger service here in Arizona.
The message is getting out: Rail should be part of the solution to our congestion, pollution, and development problems. We must now act on following this message with the action to bring Arizona Rail to reality.
Bill Lindley
Notes from a questions answered by Thomas Downs, Amtrak President, at the National Association of Railroad Passengers Spring Board Meeting, April 1996.
Renegotiation of contracts with railroads: BNSF hangup was mail and express; they may be worried about Amtrak as a competitor for this business. Amtrak believes mail can be developed as major revenue stream. There will be a $25 - $30 Million increase in operating costs with the new contracts.
There has been An almost intentional comedy of errors, starting with the SP / UP map error which showed the Phoenix line on the post-merger map. Mr. Downs said the process has been drawn out to minimize criticism during merger.
At insistence of letter writers, to force the issue, Mr. Downs wrote letters to UP and SP heads. Responses were: UP - Can't discuss, inappropriate with merger talks; SP - Have made decision to abandon.
Downs asked Symington personally about rail project but saw no enthusiasm; Downs cannot believe a rail link from Los Angeles to Phoenix is not in Arizona's interest; and that Phoenix is not an insignificant loss to Amtrak, but without support from the state, city, or county, that Amtrak had no choice in the matter.
Downs is desperate not to leave Scottsdale and Phoenix, which is a growth market. He said, We haven't done near enough to market to retirees. And, while other cities are partnering with Amtrak, he was disappointed such was not happening here.
Amtrak will try to provide service from Phoenix and Scottsdale. The town of Maricopa said they are interested in helping build a station to tie into their casino market; the feeling was that a town of 2,500 cares more about rail service than Phoenix and Scottsdale combined.
"Even perceived fatal threats can be managed."
"The tide is turning with respect to public perception of rail passenger service."
"Dissatisfaction [is increasing] with air service meals, seat spacing, congestion at airports..."
"No new highway capacity of any meaningful amount is planned or funded."
"I sense in the American public than rail passenger service fills a nice in the transportation system of the United States."
[Massachusetts] Governor Weld: "I am an avid train supporter also a fiscal conservative and pragmatist."
"A new rail system will have same capacity as 'Son of Logan' new Boston airport, at 1/5 the cost" ($1 Billion vs. $5 Billion)
"Rail appeals to realists not any particular party"
"Rail works best in markets where it's too short to fly, too long to drive."
"The future is ours to win or lose."