Quote:
Originally Posted by LAsam
The ridership from Merced to Bakersfield is going to be abysmal.
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It looks like they want to get real HSR trains for this segment instead of using diesel or electric commuter trains that could eventually be shifted to Caltrains or and eletrified LA metrorail. It actually makes a lot of sense to build shops only for HSR trains and get experience maintaining them and operating them instead of having a phase-out and phase-in of HSR at some future point.
Also, no doubt they will have all trains run local, so a trip from Bakersfield to Merced will involve no less than 3 full stops, which will add about 15 minutes to the trip. I also wonder if they'll operate HSR trains but not regularly run them at top speed in order to minimize wear.
I also would like to see an estimate for Merced to Sacramento, which has always been listed as Phase 2. The distance is roughly 120 miles. Assuming Trump is given the boot in November, the funding situation will be much different 12 months from now, and the line to Sacramento could be built quickly and possibly open at the same time as the initial operating segment between Merced and Bakerfield, and well before completion of the Pacheco Pass Tunnel.
The project needs wins. I think Bakersfield to Sacramento is a much bigger operation that proponents can point to than Bakersfield to Merced, and it'll likely cost less than the 13-mile Pacheco Pass Tunnel.