To: SVRTC MIS; Please seriously consider the following proposal as part of the analysis of option #3, commuter rail on the Alviso Line. -------------------------- The Alviso Line is quite busy, with freights, Amtrak, and ACE. This line is planned for new double track from the Santa Clara Caltrain Station to Newark via Alviso. These improvements are being funded with State transportation dollars via the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority. Construction of the first segment of this work from Newark to Albrae is to start soon (completion in the spring of 2002), but the 3 miles of single track between Albrae and Alviso in the protected marshlands may take several years to get approved. At present, it looks like the near-term plan is to have a 3 to 4 mile single track section in the middle of the double track line for a number of years (due to the time necessary to obtain needed environmental permits and funding). The long-term objective is to double track through the wetlands as a final phase. One proposal to alleviate congestion in the near term and to immediately add track capacity for additional passenger trains is to use public funds to rebuild the former WP line. The purpose of rebuilding the ex-WP line is to use it for UP's freights only, between the Tamien area to Niles. This would remove all through UP freights from the Coast Line (between just south of Tamien station and Newark via the Alviso Line). Additionally, all local switching on Alviso Line, north of the Santa Clara Caltrain at CP Coast up to Newark, would be limited to non commute hours. (This would require an agreement with UP, for ten years, until the wetlands double track was done.) Another benefit would be the removal of most of the freight trains between Tamien and CP Coast which conflict with Caltrain and the other passenger trains. No longer would long through freight trains need to snake their way through Diridon station and tie up all of the station approaches. The net result is that (except for off-peak freight yard access near Diridon and Santa Clara) the entire Alviso and Coast Line from just south of Tamien to Newark would be free of UP's through freights. This would increase track capacity for passenger trains on the line and would allow commuter and Amtrak trains easier movement over the line and shorten travel time. Although commute trains would have to take their turns crossing the single track section through the wildlife preserve between Alviso and Albrae (at Drawbridge), passenger trains are much shorter than freights, making dispatching easier. The total cost of rebuilding, signaling, improving grade crossing protection, closing selected streets, adding necessary sidings, and adding other necessary rail line improvements,, etc. is estimated somewhere between $60 million and $70 million for about 24 total miles of line. Although intended for primary use over the next ten years, a rebuilt ex-WP line will still be useful for through freights long after the Alviso line is completely double tracked. By this time, the rail line via Alviso will have a dozen or more ACE trains, two dozen Amtrak Capitol Corridor trains to and from Sacramento, Dumbarton Rail between Niles and Newark, and possibly commuter rail from Union City to San Jose. Presently, here is the list of UP freight trains that operate via the Alviso line and are candidates for diversion over to a rebuilt ex-WP line. These are the current usual "daily" Coast Subdivision freights that use the (ex-SPC) Coast Sub mainline between Newark and Santa Clara via Alviso. Some of these train run 7 days per week, some as little as 4 days per week on some weeks. Northbound: MWCPD (Merchandise West Colton to Portland) - through San Jose between 4 AM and 9 AM. ILCOA (Intermodal Los Angeles to Oakland) - through San Jose between 9 AM and 12 Noon MSJRV (Merchandise San Jose/Santa Clara to Roseville) - departs Santa Clara yard around 10 AM to 2 PM Southbound: QRVDO (Quality Manifest Roseville to Dorlores Yard L.A.) - follows AMT #11 south/through San Jose 9 AM to 1 PM QRVML (Quality Manifest Roseville to Montclair) - follows AMT #11 south/through San Jose 10 AM to 3 PM IOALB (Intermodal Oakland to Long Beach) - Departs Oakland early afternoon/through San Jose between 3 PM to 10 PM MRVSJ (Merchandise Roseville to San Jose/Santa Clara) - Arrives Santa Clara yard 5PM to 8PM ------------------------------------ Another knowledgeable party describes this freight traffic via the Alviso line as follows: MSJRV/MRVSJ-- Roseville/ San Jose Turn Northbound leaves San Jose in early afternoon, while the southbound gets into town late afternoon. Lumber, paper, hoppers, etc. South QRVDO- Roseville to Dolores Quality manifest Sometimes runs ahead or directly behind #11, but can run past Alviso anytime between 9am and early afternoon. Mostly lumber and paper. QRVML- Roseville to Mira Loma Quality Rolls through Alviso in the early afternoon, and is of the same makeup as the RVDO IOALB Oakland-Long Beach baretables Multiple sections of this train run daily, with the first getting through there before ACE, or else they are stuck at Newark. North ILCOA- LATC Shops Yard to Oakland stack train This train used to run via Warm Springs. If it hasn't been delayed too long doing work at Oxnard and Guadalupe, it will get to San Jose around 10am. It will either be held at Lick for all the Amtrak/Ace madness or brought up to Santa Clara. It might even be let through! If it has been delayed, the afternoon is more likely MWCPD West Colton to Albina Yard (Portland) Manifest Empty centerbeams and other junk runs through late afternoon/evening, but can be seen anytime. Random trains to Benicia, etc. often ply the rails as well, but they are extras that have no schedule and often run only once a month if at all. --------------------- Please seriously consider this recommendation. William G. Wullenjohn Sr. Fremont, CA 94536-7130 bwullenjohn@home.com |