Quote Originally Posted by McRib View Post
Amtrak discontinued the desert wind in 97. It served vegas till amtrak went on a cost cutting rampage. The track is still there but inundated with freight trains that have priority. Id imagine the amtrak ride being long due to them having zero priority on both UP and BNSF's lines
As far as the venture you are referring to, the UP agreed to it, but wanted a huge amount of money for the upgrades needed to the track to handle 80+ mph trains. I thought it had gotten that, but the BNSF was a different story. Originally, the idea was YOU(the passenger) drive to Victorville, pick up the train, and go to Vegas. Problem was, who wants to drive halfway to VV and get on a train? turns out, not a lot. So they decided to try and extend it to Fullerton, interesting idea, but now you have to get BNSF and UP to give up a slot on Cajon pass. That slot is worth millions, literally. BNSF wanted a bucketload of money, and the UP wanted that and the first born son of everyone on the board of directors. I had heard that's where it fell apart, and came to a halt. And on top of that, do you guys see all those ratty looking Metrolink cars going back and forth, alongside the newer ones Metrolink bought from the Koreans after thy freaked out after Chatsworth? The ones they are getting rid of are sitting in sidings everywhere awaiting whatever disposal Metrolink can find to get them gone. Our Vegas friends were going to buy a bunch and refit them to be luxury cars. Color me unimpressed, color you in wait and see mode. The real story on the Chatsworth incident merits a string all on it's own, so I wont go into it here. But needless to say, Fullerton might have been a bridge too far. Last I heard they were going in a different direction. As for the desert wind, let s be clear here. BNSF LOVES Amtrak money, Amtrak is the second largest customer to BNSF, just slightly behind UPS at 30+million per year. In startling contrast, UP HATES Amtrak and all things Amtrak, and just barely tolerates our presence, I remember when I worked for the UP and heard over and over how Amtrak sucked and no one wanted them around on our tracks blah blah blah. So I feel we might see the Desert Wind again some day, Amtrak has enough skin in the Game UP will play ball, and they can get BNSF to do anything they want at 30+ million a year. But not until Amtrak gets a little more streamlined first.....