August/September/October 2016
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Washington Rail News August/September/October 2016 www.AllAboardWashington.org Publication of All Aboard Washington A Not-for-profit Consumer Organization “Moving forward...On Rail." Amtrak Cascades look toward 2017 as infrastructure first one going into production. We’ll be getting eight of those total, with the first construction improvements continue one delivered in mid-December. They By Zach Shaner essentially a third main line to the east of won’t go into service right away, there’s a Next year is a big year for the Amtrak existing tracks near Kelso, freeing up a lot whole bunch of testing they have to Cascades. The 2009-era stimulus projects of capacity there. There’s a new bridge undergo. The eight will arrive about two will complete, Seattle and Portland will get across the Coweeman River, and there’s a weeks apart, and they’re more powerful two additional trips, and those trips will be lot things that go along with it. All Kelso (4400 hp vs 3200 hp), more fuel efficient, faster and much more reliable. In June, I projects will be done late next spring. and they have the top tier in terms of EPA sat down with Janet Matkin (Rail Commu- emissions testing. Each of them will have nications Manager), David Smelser (Cas- 30 days of corridor testing, with the goal of cades HSR Program Manager), and Jason putting them in revenue service in the first Biggs (Rail Operations Project Manager) to half of 2017. discuss the next year and a half for the Then there is the slide prevention work up Cascades program. Responses have been north, which will close out in three months lightly edited for clarity. or so. We’ve repaired six locations, and What is the Rail Division working on for since we’ve had them done we’ve not had Amtrak Cascades over the next 6-12 Cascades 506 crosses the Coweeman a single track-blocking incident in an area River, where a new bridge for the Kelso months? where we’ve worked. We’re still having third main train is under construction. slide impacts in areas we haven’t been On the capital side, our federal program able to work, but the actual work has been had 20 different projects in it. Twelve are What’s your statutory deadline for all very successful. complete and eight are still in construc- these stimulus funded projects? Septem- tion. The Point Defiance Bypass is obvious- ber 2017? What is the operational impact of the ly one of them, and other well-known ones September is when the money disappears, King Street track upgrades? Will there be are Freighthouse Square, all the track and but you’ve got to back off that a ways. a 7th platform, or just improved signal improvements, and the Tacoma Functionally, we need all the bills in by the switching? Trestle project that’s being administered first of June 2017. We need to get those by Sound Transit. There are 3 projects in paid and invoiced to the Federal Railroad Kelso that are all under construction with Administration (FRA), so the work needs to BNSF. Those three projects involve a by- be wrapped up by April/May 2017. pass track to the Port of Longview and Beyond Point Defiance, Tacoma Trestle, the Kelso projects, what are the remaining projects? One is the “Corridor Reliability Upgrade-South” project, which involves replacing rail, ties, and ballast, cleaning up areas of Construction of Track 7 and upgrading the slow orders. That one is almost south approach at King St. Station are th complete. Slow orders frequent- underway. The 19 century hand thrown switches will finally become history in the ly limit trains to 25-30 mph, and 21st century. each of these is intended to up- grade those sections to run at The westernmost track (Track 7) will be maximum speed of 79 mph. developed for use – it’s currently used only for storage – but the biggest deal is the The new third main track is in place south of the Kelso The new Siemens Charger automation of the remaining hand-thrown station but is not in service yet, pending completion of locomotives are still on their other nearby construction. Three photos by Jim Hamre way, and we just got word that switches approaching King Street. We’ve the steel has been cut for the (See Cascades, page 3) page 2 Valley is seen as a long range goal for AAWA. encouragement of the use of light rail for From the desk of We feel we are now at least a year ahead of their patrons. I soon received most pleasant the Executive where we had hoped to be on this issue, separate replies from the hotel’s General Director primarily due to the strong support within Manager and Director of Marketing and by the Yakima Valley. Communications reinforcing their strong More good news is the fine cooperation support of the passenger rail mode. Made Lloyd H. Flem of several people associated with Western my afternoon. Washington University in helping make Some Good news; Election 2016; See arrangements for our October 8 AAWA Every election season I remind AAWA meeting in Bellingham. In addition to empha- You at the Picnic! members that although AAWA cannot, as an sis on rail issues that impact Northwest organization, endorse candidates for public All Aboard Washington and others who Washington, on October 8 we will be making office, as individuals we can and should do have sought to preserve rail infrastructure affirmative contact with WWU campus so. And every election season I ask you to on the Eastside (of Lake Washington) Rail groups that are concerned about look at the records of incumbents and the Corridor are up against a cabal of forces that environmentally-sound transportation. The seem determined to turn this irre- positions of all candidates. Now you placeable resource into JUST an- obviously will consider positions in other recreational trail. (AAWA addition those which deal with pas- favors trail and rail – we always We feel we are now at least a year senger trains, but hopefully you who have!) We may not win that one. But, ahead of where we had hoped to be on read this newsletter will put rail issues in other issues we are sup-porting, among those you look at. For candi- there is some good news! [train service east of the Cascades], dates you like, consider a monetary First, leading citizens of Yakima primarily due to the strong support donation or some form of campaign and Kittitas counties have begun labor, such as addressing envelopes, what will probably be a long and within the Yakima Valley. placing yard signs, doorbelling, or if you arduous process of restoring inter- have good writing skills, letters to newspapers, on-line blogs, etc. city rail passenger service to the Yakima meeting is set for the Viking Union on the I am now to the point of feeling comfort- Valley (via the Stampede Pass – original NP – WWU campus. Scheduled time is noon to 4 able that Washington’s state rail program line). AAWA is serving to advise these private PM. A lunch of healthy locally-produced food will remain a permanent part of the state and public-sector folks, but the people of the is planned. Travel to and from Bellingham by transportation budget. Members of the Leg- Yakima Valley will be doing the heavy lifting. train will be a challenge for many of us living islature who favor highways only are few and A July 6 meeting held at the offices of the south or east of Seattle. But overnight in the getting fewer. The Legislative Rail Caucus is Yakima Chamber of Commerce, chaired by pleasant city of Bellingham could be a nice fully bi-partisan. We applaud them. AAWA Board member and Cle Elum resident break for some of us. My only comment about the presidential Louis Musso, had we three Western The potential and challenges associated race is that both Hillary Clinton and Donald Washington AAWA people who carpooled to with an Amtrak Cascades stop in Blaine will Trump have expressed support for public Yakima convinced that strong efforts by the certainly be on the program. We also will investment in public infrastructure, including people who will most benefit will be made to invite rail advocates and public officials from intercity passenger rail. bring back rail passenger service that has the greater Vancouver, BC area to join us. been gone since the early 80s. WWU’s Professor Tom Roehl, whose WWU The Valley people attending the July 6 International Business School students did Coming up much sooner than the meeting were not simply railfans lamenting such a fine job in their research concerning Bellingham meeting is AAWA’s Annual Picnic the absence of passenger train service. They the feasibility of a Blaine station, will be with Meeting, this year on Saturday August 13, were pragmatic “establishment” individuals us. I also hope Ms. Lora Sonnen, the student again at Lacey’s Rainier Vista Park. Olympia- who see return of the train as having lead on the Blaine project can also attend. Lacey area AAWA members will meet Am- economic and social advantages for their Lora’s work was of sufficient high quality that trak trains and shuttle Picnic attendees to citizens. the WSDOT Rail, Freight and Ports Division and from Centennial Station and the picnic Restoring passenger rail in the Yakima hired her for WSDOT’s Seattle office to head site, a short ride away. work on intermodal connectivity, which AAWA will provide hotdogs and burgers happens to be another of AAWA’s 2016 task and soft drinks.