About rail service
Jack W. Traylor,
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
I WAS THE LAST person to get on or off a passenger train in Emporia, back in May 1997, when I boarded Amtrak No. 4 at 4 a.m. en route to Kansas City on the final day of service of the Southwest Chief to Emporia.
The train still runs during the night each way through Emporia, but it does not stop. I am pleased to learn of local efforts to re-establish railroad passenger service. I ride Amtrak passenger trains several times each year at various locations across the country — the trains run close to or at capacity and I consider it an excellent way to travel.
Last fall I had a great trip on The Heartland Flyer from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City and back for business. It will take consistent and continued local support to re-establish rail passenger service in Emporia. But smaller towns across America have done it, and Emporia area residents can do the same. Don’t give up.
Jack W. Traylor
Dayton, Tenn.
Comments
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Posted by smith_ron (anonymous) on September 2, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What time of the night does the train come through town?
Posted by sunshine (anonymous) on September 2, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It would be great if the rail service in Emporia was reestablished. I hope it happens.
Posted by slreed (anonymous) on September 2, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I worked for 15 years and had people help from all across the state concerning getting rail service from St. Louis to Springfield and Branson and on the Tulsa. Last year in Missouri the highway department tried to convince the State Legislature to help get funding for Amtrak from Stylus to Branson and on. They say it will help relieve traffic on interstate 44 and help drivers have other options. Rolla, Lebanon, Springfield, Branson and many other cities could benefit from the economic development it could bring
Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden has spent many years promoting the idea that additional routes will increase traffic in general on Amtrak. . What about those gas prices? If Biden becomes vice president he will bring more Rail Passenger Service to Missouri and the United States.
Sincerely,
Steven L. Reed
1441 South Estate Ave.
Springfield, MO 65804
stevenlloydreed@hotmail.com
Posted by create (anonymous) on September 3, 2008 at 6:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's good to know that Joe Biden has an active interest in extending rail service in this country. Thanks for the info.
Amtrak passes through Emporia around 2:30 or 3 a.m. It's whistle has a unique sound.
Here's information from March, 2008 that mentions
Emporia among others being considered for Amtrak rail service. It's something to keep an eye on. This report informs us that we will know more by the fall of 2009.
I look forward to taking the train. I'm sure that taxi service will become more available as will hotel accomodations. Perhaps a hotel will be developed to be built nearby the new train station. Perhaps a new corporation will form for just that reason. TIF anyone? Never can tell. ...'board!
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentSer...
Posted by bdprotheroe (anonymous) on September 4, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are many reasons I support such an endeavor. First and foremost, my family has a long running history of employment with the railroads. Thus, nostalgia is the reasoning behind that one. Also, it is important in this day and age, with gas prices soaring and an aging population that may prefer not to drive, that we seek out and provide for various transportation options.
In California, an initiative (http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/) is under way to provide for high speed rail service between San Francisco’s new Transbay Transit Center (http://www.transbaycenter.org/TransBay/c...) and Los Angeles. What a tremendously ingenious idea; the cost of railway travel is less expensive than flying, takes less time than driving (less mileage on the car) and less pollutants.
I’m thinking of all the smaller communities between the two cities, and how they will benefit. Whether citizens of the “in-between areas” are seeking to go to work, visit family, go to a sporting event or go shopping, they can just jump on board the train.
Likewise, I think Emporia, the State of Kansas, and the Midwest Corridor could benefit from similar rail development. Of course, nothing happens overnight. But… at least the tracks already exist. Now, you just need community support. It all begins with homegrown activism.
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, CA
Posted by bdprotheroe (anonymous) on September 4, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Speaking of economic impacts, someone has to build these new trains. Topeka has a long history with the railroad (has anyone seen the railyards, lately?). And, Wichita already has the infrastructure in place to build airplanes (“Air Capital of the World”). This is just another opportunity for Kansas businesses and workers.
Strike while the iron is hot!
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, CA
Posted by gazette_reader (anonymous) on September 4, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd really like to see the rail service come to town. When we had an ailing family member in the Kansas City area and were going there at least once a week, we really wished we could have taken a train.
Posted by bdprotheroe (anonymous) on September 4, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
On another note, as cities like Emporia look for new employers to come to town, increased rail service would allow local citizens to quickly commute to and from work that exists in cities like Topeka, Wichita and Kansas City/Johnson County while maintaining their lower cost of living in Emporia. Commuter towns (a.k.a. bedroom communities - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedroom_com...) have long been in existence on both of the coasts. With rail transportation in Kansas, there’s no reason why Emporia and other similarly sized communities cannot benefit from the same. Just another tool to help decrease what has already been seen in Kansas; rural flight (a.k.a. rural exodus - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rural_fligh...).
Just imagine. Hop on board a train in Emporia at 7:30 AM, arrive in Topeka in less than 45 minutes, and then catch the evening train home at 5:30 in time for dinner. And, with your laptop in tow, you could work while on the train, read a newspaper or book.
And, with a little urging of your employer is all it would take to implement a Transportation Reimbursement Incentive Program (TRIP - http://www.amgtransit.com/index.htm), the amount you would spend on the rail transportation to and from work would be a pre-tax saving for you!
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, CA
Posted by USNretired (anonymous) on September 4, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If someone can provide the right numbers to prove a potential for sufficient profit, it will probably get a chance. I enjoyed the train systems in both Europe and Japan, as well as riding to the Shrine Circus with my classmates growing up here. Light rail is always more popular in the more heavily populated areas, such as the coasts. Brian - I like your image and also imagine going to see friends in Norfolk or San Diego on a train so I don't have to drive or find a motel or restaurants en route Some journeys are ends unto themselves, but others are just bad trips. ;)
Posted by bdprotheroe (anonymous) on September 5, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't tell you how much of a benefit it is for me to ride CalTrain from San Francisco to points along the peninsula (Silicon Valley) and to San Jose; for work and to visit friends. It certainly beats renting a car, dealing with traffic, paying for gas ($4.75/gallon, I think) and all the other headaches.
I can't wait for the high-speed rail. I'm not a fan of LA, but certainly would like to visit friends in the southern half of the state more often.
BP
Posted by wyse_guy (anonymous) on September 5, 2008 at 10:52 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
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