tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941801736271521741.post4532593126738257939..comments2012-11-20T09:43:54.284-05:00Comments on California Normal Speed Rail: How to plan rail servicecrzwdjkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06394805356595604336noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941801736271521741.post-54332131531138751212009-06-18T13:57:58.034-04:002009-06-18T13:57:58.034-04:00@ urbanist1962: Modern signalling systems allow 3 ...@ urbanist1962: Modern signalling systems allow 3 minute headways without difficulty, so fitting in around trains runnign every 15 minutes would be easy.TomWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13453251490705724225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941801736271521741.post-54003670131174226742009-05-10T01:46:00.000-04:002009-05-10T01:46:00.000-04:00I'm not suggesting any particular operational plan...I'm not suggesting any particular operational plan for Caltrain or HSR. I'm suggesting that they need to work together on one, in order to identify the most effective way to provide capacity for expected future demand, and that you really need to take into account the transportation system as a whole to make these plans. In general, though, I think that a shared mostly four-track right of way is a more flexible solution to meet the needs of HSR and Caltrain, given that Caltrain needs both local and express service (HSR is not a substitute for Caltrain expresses for several reasons). A multiple track system also provides redundancy in case of failures. Imagine having two two-lane roads next to each other with no connection for 45 miles, versus a single four-lane road. Of course the proper thing to do would be to run some simulations and figure out just what sort of track and schedule you need to meet the ridership demand with adequate capacity and reliability.<br /><br />And let's not drag Altamont vs. Pacheco into this, because that sort of debate is liable to open a great many cans of worms that I frankly don't want opened here. Anyhow, this blog isn't supposed to be about High Speed Rail, it's supposed to be about Normal Speed Rail, and I promise I'll post more when I get some free time, in approximately a month.crzwdjkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394805356595604336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941801736271521741.post-3823169743732601062009-05-09T00:40:00.000-04:002009-05-09T00:40:00.000-04:00Caltrain and HSR signed a Memorandum of Understand...Caltrain and HSR signed a Memorandum of Understanding last month regarding a joint planning process. It's my understanding that Caltrain and HSR might indeed end up sharing tracks, whacked out as that sounds, because the right-of-way is so constrained, but nothing has been decided yet. Urbanist1962 is correct this could limit Caltrain's ability to increase local/limited stop service in the future.<br />It would be better if HSR were routed on the Altamont to provide cross-bay service and to have less of an overall impact on Caltrain and the communities south of Redwood City along the tracks.<br />For more information check out www.bayrailalliance.orgEco Creativehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14676957047256168538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4941801736271521741.post-78884950978604476142009-05-08T20:49:00.000-04:002009-05-08T20:49:00.000-04:00Are you suggesting that CalTrain and HSR should sh...Are you suggesting that CalTrain and HSR should share actual tracks? Sorry, but CalTrain needs to evolve into an electrified urban rapid transit service running every 15 minutes or better all day. No way can you share tracks at that frequency.<br /><br />Cheers, Jarrett at www.HumanTransit.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com