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0 pointscoalteddy2y ago0 comments

The reason is probably because, in the EU, passenger rail transport is prioritised over cargo. For example in Switzwerland rail cargo is mainly transported during the night because thats the only time the network isn't working at it's limit for the passenger trains.

In Canada, to my understanding, it's the other way round where passenger trains have been reduced because of the need for more cargo train trips. The USA might be similar.

0 comments

WirelessGigabit2y ago

In the USA most railroad are owned by the railroad company. When Amtrak wants to use a piece of rail they pay the railway.

But the USA is VAST. Freight trains are LONG. Not much of America's West is actually double track. And when you have a shorter Amtrack and a long freight train the Amtrack loses. The Amtrack has to wait until the freight train has passed.

As the freight trains run on PSR [1] there is no fixed time as to when they pass and thus the Amtrack can not run reliable.

As such it is easier for me to drive from West Los Angeles to Las Vegas, or even to drive to LAX and then fly to LAS than it is to take the train.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precision_railroading

rascul2y ago

Amtrak blames freight trains for not following the law and the DoJ for not enforcing the law. Which is just one side of the story.

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/p...

zuppy2y ago

wendover did a good viedeo about that a while ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQTjLWIHN74

the law says that passenger trains have priority, but nobody respects or enforces that.

pests2y ago

I believe you, but why does your source claim otherwise?

"Under PSR, freight trains operate on fixed schedules, much like passenger trains, instead of being dispatched whenever a sufficient number of loaded cars are available."

So do they leave on a fixed schedule, or is there no fixed time? It sounds like the previous system had no fixed time (leave when ready) whereas in the PSR world - there is in fact a set schedule.

WirelessGigabit2y ago

They don't leave on fixed time. This is a big part of the union complaints. The engineer needs to be on standby and be there in 2 (?) hours when the train is 'full'.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dgezn/the-worst-and-most-eg...

1 more reply

stvltvs2y ago

AFAIK, Amtrak discontinued passenger service between LA and Las Vegas years ago.

ajmurmann2y ago

Yeah, I understand that in the US the rail is actually owned by cargo train companies, so they give their trains priority.

pests2y ago

Which is against the law.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

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WirelessGigabit2y ago

In the USA most railroad are owned by the railroad company. When Amtrak wants to use a piece of rail they pay the railway.

As the freight trains run on PSR [1] there is no fixed time as to when they pass and thus the Amtrack can not run reliable.

As such it is easier for me to drive from West Los Angeles to Las Vegas, or even to drive to LAX and then fly to LAS than it is to take the train.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precision_railroading

rascul2y ago

Amtrak blames freight trains for not following the law and the DoJ for not enforcing the law. Which is just one side of the story.

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/p...

zuppy2y ago

wendover did a good viedeo about that a while ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQTjLWIHN74

the law says that passenger trains have priority, but nobody respects or enforces that.

pests2y ago

I believe you, but why does your source claim otherwise?

"Under PSR, freight trains operate on fixed schedules, much like passenger trains, instead of being dispatched whenever a sufficient number of loaded cars are available."

So do they leave on a fixed schedule, or is there no fixed time? It sounds like the previous system had no fixed time (leave when ready) whereas in the PSR world - there is in fact a set schedule.

WirelessGigabit2y ago

They don't leave on fixed time. This is a big part of the union complaints. The engineer needs to be on standby and be there in 2 (?) hours when the train is 'full'.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dgezn/the-worst-and-most-eg...

1 more reply

stvltvs2y ago

AFAIK, Amtrak discontinued passenger service between LA and Las Vegas years ago.

ajmurmann2y ago

Yeah, I understand that in the US the rail is actually owned by cargo train companies, so they give their trains priority.

pests2y ago

Which is against the law.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse