Hey there! First time viewer. Amtrak conductor out of Maine. I’ve absolutely fallen head over heels for this channel. Subscribed now and hoping you guys in PA get this done with your neighbors in Jersey and NYC. Your cautious optimism is infectious, despite the major setback we are gonna begin to feel for Amtrak and public transit funding. We will get thru this. Together.
What about the states of PA and NJ, Governor Josh Shapiro and Governor Phil Murphy, both Democrats? Can't the states do it without federal government assistance? I guess Joe Biden was a supporter of Amtrak and Trump is not. Do Democrats in general support passenger rail projects more than Republicans?
*Let's not forget, the ENTIRE thing was originally built in two years, soup to nuts. The bulk of it in just one. It's been over 40+ years to lay down new track and patch some concrete, and it's still not done. Let that sink in*
I supported him too, and if this project is successful, it'll be a part of a new golden age. Instead of sending money overseas, we can invest it here at home.
Specifically what new obstacles have been put in place? When did Trump state he would kill mass transit projects? I should remind everyone we are 34 trillion in debt.
Republicans only care about the debt when Democrats are in office. Spare me your hypocrisy. But to your point, read Trump's Project 2025. Read the transportation section. You'll get your answer there.
Chuck, greatly appreciate all you are doing! Please know that President elect Trump did not author Project 2025 and has stated on record that he has not even read it. It would be great to emulate Reading and Northern’s success. They’re always expanding business and passenger excursion programs with great success.
Too much positive hard work has been achieved to give up. I know Chuck won't give up, I won't give up prayer is strong. Chuck, again thanks for yr great work. I much appreciate and know so many others do.
Thank you Chick for another great update on the Lackawanna Cutoff! We all owe you a debt of gratitude for your work in helping to get this project done. This will bring in much needed business revenue for Scranton and the surrounding communities.
I love watching your Lackawanna Cutoff videos and the progress of this rail line Chuck. As a railfan, I was happy for the election outcome and I'm gonna stay positive and really hope everything still can keep moving forward and finish this project. I too think this will be a big benefit for commuters between Scranton and the North Jersey/NYC area and hope these new Senators or whoever realize it. I think some fall rail excursion's would be awesome too.
I don't agree with Chuck that we've come upon another red signal, this may be an amber one. With the $20 million allocated for the bridge replacement and track upgrades in PA and the near completion of the Roseville Tunnel improvements, progress continues. I remain optimistic.
I've been waiting for this update, for better or for worse. P.S. Chuck, really wished we saw you on 10/29 with the other officials and Mr. Malski at the presser/announcement in Scranton. Many of us in follower-land were thinking about you and commenting the same on here. Happy Holidays Sir. -SR
Chuck, thanks for all your efforts and the efforts of your team. You have been right all along, this is an important project for the national system. Keep us posted. Bob Walsh
Let's not forget that the President-Elect is an advocate of large Infrastructure. The Amtrak 2030 project is certainly a big infrastructure project. With some backing, these things can get done! Of course, we're now 8 years past MoS Operation Startup, so...
10 years to get a culvert done?What the hell? We're without passenger service to the Poconos for 54 years! As I've said before, I hope I live long enough to see it happen. I hope I live long enough just to see it go to Andover. I hope Chuck makes it, too.
@@1940limited 10 years. Incredible. It took 3 years to build the entire thing back in the 1900s. How the mighty have fallen…. Red tape will destroy this country.
Weh've had nothing but road construction on the main highways & expressways for the last 4 years with at least another year to go!! Here in Oregon, everything moves by roads!!
I have faith that this project will continue. However, we should not rest on our laurels. Remember the power of the pen, write to our new POTUS and the new Congressman and Seanator in Pennsylvania. Not email, regular mail! Chuck, thank you for all and your team do with the history and updates for the cutoff.
@LackawannaCutOff Not just that, but it may evidently show that people in support of such a project are so passionate about it, to where they sat down and wrote a personal letter in looking for support from the people you write to. Of course, the immediate outcome depends on the character of people in high positions, but even then, passion tends to overcome pure fury.
Well Chuck, all we can do is talk to the new representatives in Pennsylvania and hope they continue. I live in Pa., just a few miles out of Scranton. I think it would be great for traveling to New York and not having to deal with traffic. Can’t look at it as democrat or republicans. We need unity and keep working on the project. This isn’t a train excursion from steamtown. This is a project that benefits everyone from Scranton to New York.
Hi Chuck, I think it will go through because they invested so much into already. But they are using the track from landing. The y invested in the tunnel, and that's almost completed. The road is pretty clean to Blairstown. I don't know how much has to be invested in the Paulinski viaduct and Delaware bridge. Maybe just mostly a cleanup. The people voted so we have to give them a chance.
If there is an obvious need for this transportation corridor, it will happen, regardless of who is in power. The cool thing about the Lackawanna Cut Off is that it is, relatively speaking, an inexpensive project since the primary infrastructure already exists. I am still optimistic that it'll get done.
I disagree. Projects, even the most worthy ones, require public and political support. Cartwright's constituents weren't convinced that he deserved another term in Congress. That's not the political endorsement that this project needed.
You have put so much into this don't give up! To bad NJ Transit took so long t get the Andover section started maybe things be different now if it was already competed. I think too may people are into this to let it die.
I believe in the self-fulfilling prophesy...both optimism and pessimism can be contagious. That's why I choose optimism. And, remarkably, it does work.
I hope that the new senator and representative will take up the fight to restore service to the Lackawanna Cut-Off. This is one project that I hope the Trump administration does not cancel out of spit for Joe Biden.
3:42 Well thank God you're making lemonade out of lemons! It would be much worse if you were trying to create, say, orange juice out of lemons, or lemonade out of oranges!
Thank you as always Chuck. I always drive down airport road in Andover and wonder how cool it would be to see a train flying overhead while driving underneath. Maybe we’ll get lucky. Trump thinks our infrastructure sucks so maybe he’ll let this stand. Hope for the best. We can’t give up hope now. Definitely going to take pictures of the other viaduct in the next couple weeks.
Join the club! Discouragement is natural. It's why many projects fail. People give up. That's why we need to recharge our batteries and then move forward.
Is this a NJ Transit project or an Amtrak project? I thought NJ Transit was working on rebuilding part of the cutoff to a new station in NJ? Can the concrete Lackawanna bridges be reused? I hope maybe that the mostly Republican federal government starting next year will provide some funding for this project. Yes, a change in senators, president, etc. can cause a project to stall but I'm sure it will still get done.
The Port Morris-Andover section of the Cut-Off is a NJ Transit project. Everything west of there to Scranton is Amtrak. Yes, the concrete viaducts would need rehabilitation.
And to think, so many years ago one of the old Lackawanna Railroad conductors told me, kid you'll run the first revenue train up to Scranton if you behave yourself. Well, that didn't happen, I'm retired a little over six years now.
@LackawannaCutOff I really don't think it will happen now after what happened last Tuesday. Mccormick and Makenzie are to right wing extremist who have no interest in the future of passenger rail transportation.
I'd like to know why they have to be environmental studies.When the rail line existed once before Amtrak, tour up the tracks.For what reason that I do not understand why.Why was certain areas sold off that?I'd like you to explain
The federal environmental assessment dates back to 2006-7, but from what I hear that basically it still covers about 80% of what would be needed for the FRA review. It would, therefore, be an update, not a full EA.
From all the environmental $tudies those monies could have gone to rebuild the Cutoff. Back in the day a railroad just said where do you need the railroad to be built and that was that. Too much regulation anymore. Also, Conrail became the owner of the Cutoff in 1976 and they didn`t like the uphill grades here and there plus they did not want any other freight railroad to use their tracks to protect their bottom line so they ripped up the tracks in NJ in 1984. They almost did the same on the Pa side but backed off.
PA saved the line through tenacity and political connections. Building (or rebuilding) a railroad today is a big deal. But right now the chances of creating brand new rail rights-of-way are basically nil.
Hi Chuck, I've been following your channel for some time and would love to see that line up and running again after so many years of being out of service. I'm very curious as to if and how the "Railroad" can make a profit on this line and be able to recoup the rehab dollars to become profitable. Would it be mainly be through passenger or freight service or perhaps both?
Seeing as the money is already there and the infrastructure bill already long passed I think things will be ok. Perhaps you can do a video on the new people in office(local/state) and how to contacts them, now that Cartwright is gone its important to let the new guy know that this is an important project for people of rural PA. The Poconos alone has seen huge growth the last few years both domestic and tourism the time has definitely come for this line to be restored.
I heard supposedly if the project continues all the old Lackawanna signal bridges will be taken down ? I sure hope not , are they still intact on the New Jersey side ?
My take on this as much as I love Trump we disagree on passenger train services. I believe the Lackawana cut off should never had been abandoned. But now it's over due this area needs another type of transportation other then car or busses. I do believe that NEW JERSEY AND PENNSYLVANIA should get together with CSX / NS and pay for most of the bill make it mostly a 4 track line. And have NJT operate from Hoboken to Scranton. Drop Amtrack and the two fright railroads can use the line as well to relieve the congestion on the other fright lines coming into NJ .
I've explained this countless times. What you're talking about is pure fantasy. There is no possibility of long-distance freight service on the line. You're not going to get NS and/or CSX to go in on this for several reasons, but the most obvious is that there is no access to Croxton Yard. Overhead clearances, commuter operations, etc., etc. put additional nails in that coffin. Zero chance.
I often wonder if EL could have kept the lake Cities going 1 more year then turned it over to Amtrak maybe the entire line would have been preserved. We'll never know.
EL wanted to get out of the passenger business desperately, particularly after the mail contracts were cancelled with the government. EL had no interest in having Amtrak come in.
Thank you Chuck, I'm going to try and be optimistic and think that we'll be looking at a four year delay in the project. With Elon being put in charge of cutting the budget, I'm sure Amtrak will loose all it's funding leaving only the NEC and state supported routes remaining functional. Short term, my real concern is that they could cut off funding for projects already underway like Gateway, Portal Bridge, Baltimore Tunnel...etc. let's hope not. The price tag gets more expensive every year. Stopping and having to restart 4 years later would add Billions. Gateway's completion would allow for increased Scranton Service and possible expansion to Binghamton, Buffalo and beyond.
The one thing I hate is politics no matter what side a person is on. The party the individual wants they think in cases like this is the person is going to carry the torch (Kamela Harris) and the opponent (Trump) will kill it for what ever reason. I pray it will continue to go on but people should not let their emotions get the best of them because we don't know what is in the minds and hearts of who ever would have won no matter what the party is/was
Well, the presidential election was driven by forces which also affected the local elections in PA, although I believe Reps.Matt Cartwright and Susan Wild were specifically targeted by the GOP. I'm neutral towards politics. It's the nature of the beast. It can be used for good or evil. And constituents can fall either way. Be careful, watch out for the wolf in sheep's clothing.
i guess your prediction was off a little. I think it would be great to have rail service back but it needs to pay for itself. since the pandemic a lot less people work in the city. this hurts making this a needed service unfortunately.
Public transit doesn’t pay for itself through ticket sales, though ticket sales always supplement the budget. The value is realized through 1) increasing property values in the regions served, and 2) easing congestion on other transportation resources, including highways. If a $$ amount must be placed on it, look to increasing tax revenue as regions grow, and decrease in $$ lost by traffic-chocked arteries like Route 80.
@@okoko47 No transportation system fully pays for itself, it is fiction. Roads dont pay for themselves, taxes on fuel that pay for roads do not pay the full cost. Road taxes generated in Alabama is much less than is spent on them. Truck road use taxes and the taxes from diesel fuel do not cover the cost a truck inflicts on roads. Airlines are heavily subsidized, the cost of the FAA air traffic control system and the like is not born by the airlines and the fees airlines pay to use airports is nowhere near the cost , airports are run by government agencies that get money from other sources like bridge tolls, regional taxes.
It would be nice to see a detailed update on how the tunnel project is coming along. I also wonder how Amtrak plans to restore the line through people's backyards in Slateford after it having been dormant, or even non-existent for decades. It could decrease home values for them. I doubt anyone still lives there that remembers an active rail line through the town.
As much as people say it will be passenger only, I'm sure there will be a freight switching contractor running the line as well as the passenger trains. Most if not all NJT lines have limited freight service. It's good to help NJT recoup some money that they're not making on commuters. I would imagine those operators would be either Chesapeake & Delaware, or Delaware Lackawanna.
Good morning. I began watching your video today. I live on the other side of Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. I am pleased and relieved that Harris and Casey lost. They were dreadful on so many levels. Biden was one of the worst presidents this nation has to suffer through. As for the commenter that claims Shapiro is light years better than any Republican....go talk to the Little Sisters of the Poor. Allow me to fill you in on a railroad issue on this part of PA. In 1990, Conrail abandoned the old PRR Panhandle Line that connected Pittsburgh to St. Louis. This ended up forcing more freight traffic onto Interstate 70, which has always been busy anyway. It is not just Scranton that lacks Amtrak. Columbus, Ohio doesn't have Amtrak at all. Neither does Nashville. I think that expanding Amtrak is a great idea. Thing is, the federal government cannot continue spending trillions more than it takes in.
Great perspective. The trend in this country has been towards automobiles at least since the 50s. Even trucks can be faster and cheaper than railroads in moving freight. It's been a tough battle for the railroads for decades. I rode the cut-off many times under DL&W and EL but I dot' think I'll see it again.
The problem that has been festering for years is that it has become less and less lucrative to be a truck driver. The conditions and pay suck. The cost of fuel sucks. And the shortage of drivers is the result. That's why some trucks are being carried by rail.
@@1940limited Without getting into a long story, trucks for years have been favored by the government, they are heavily subsidized relative to rail. Long haul trucking causes heavy damage to roads. Drive on highways like route 80, see the traffic, the lost time. And there is a constant pattern of building roads or expanding existing roads to try and keep up. It isn't either or. Trains alleviate traffic, they work in combination with trucks. I recently drove on the approach road to Port Newark and it was total deadlock with trucks, took like 30 minutes to move 1/2 mile. Trains can be more efficient for situations like that. I read something about the ports on CA during the pandemic, trucks had no place to park waiting to load at the port, and traffic was horrendous. A big problem? There was no immediate rail Access to the ports that once existed, thanks to the huge subsidies trucking had and unfair pricing rules ( which were deliberate), rail withered and died. Unfortunately one of the blindedness of this country is the lack of term vision or planning. High speed rail in certain places could alleviate air traffic congestion, high speed freight rail could do.the same thing.
I have been a big fan of the Cutoff series! You linked it politically, and completely polarized me. Your cutoff shouldn't be financed if it cannot justify it's existence. A few nostalgic riders does not warrant your building of your model railroad.
With the nation as heavily divided as it has been since way before Trump, it's almost impossible not to introduce politics to practically every conversation. That said I'' prefer updates on construction of the cut-off and leave politics out of it, good or bad.
This election has really demoralized me. It's made me fearful for the future and feel utterly hopeless. I'm hoping that this will not be a setback and that this will end up being finished as originally intended. It's a service that is desperately needed in the area and many have been waiting for this for decades.
I think that the "Trump movement" will eventually fall apart. Not immediately, but when his supporters finally realize that they, too, have been screwed, All of this is predictable.
Republicans felt the same way in 2020. The country had enough of Biden's progressive movement and has sent it a clear rejection. I don't recall any setbacks in the cut off project during Trump's first administration other than the 10 year culvert fiasco, which had nothing to do with Trump.
I don't fully understand this election myself, but I think ppl are in for a rude awakening about campaign promises and reality.. it is very easy to go around promising you will wave a magic wand and ' fix gas prices') ( which right now are not that high, 2.79 where Iive. It is where it has been in real dollars), he can't wave a magic wand and make housing costs drop, insurance costs drop, he can't make food costs drop. His idea of getting rid of income taxes and paying for it via tariffs is basically putting the full tax burden on ordinary ppl ( tariffs are not paid for by foreign governments, that tells you how ignorant ppl are), it is a giant sales tax which are regressive. And they think jobs were lost to cheap labor offshore? The tech bros like Musk went for Trump bc they want AI unleashed without any guardrails..and no, it isn't to make people work more efficiently, it will be to reduce labor costs ie get rid of human labor. But they will convince themselves that the billionaires supporting the new administration care about ordinary ppl, when the same people sent 10s of millions of jobs to cheap labor and continue to. All I have to say is that history suggests that 98% of the promises made will never be kept. Biden at least promised infrastructure work and unlike trump, it happened. They are building new chip plants in the US , which not only is jobs but also security ( Taiwan makes most of the worlds chips outside china; given that Taiwan may fall to China w Trump as president since he says he doesn't care, chip tech is routinely stolen from taiwsnese factories by Chinese spies). Trump won't break up the food industry, where a few companies control 70% of the food industry. Given Trump's proclivities, he will think he has been given a mandate,but like 11m ppl didn't vote this year that did in 2020. If he goes on a rampage, he will see how fast ppls opinions can change, when he doesn't deliver on his promises, the way he didn't in 2016.
@darthmaul216 Just remember that everyone who does really support projects like this can write into him personally and passionately to ask for support of projects like this while staying outside of politics. When things like this are transformed into anticipated and exciting things to be done by people, and not political strifes, they get done with support from all directions much easier. :)
hello you and your friends just had to vote for your pal Donald Trump 😥so the amtrak budget will get cut badly at least for the next 4 years so go ahead and keep voting for your republican friends 😂
Good point! It's unfathomable to me how anyone could think Harris would have won. I also dont' see why Trump winning automatically kills the cut off project.
That's a rather broad statement with no specific examples and sounds strictly partisan. With PA going heavily red as it did this week, it seems democrat governors could be on the chopping block in the next election cycle. MI and WI may be facing the same scenario.
Biden said he supported but did not push for it. If Biden was committed, it would be a done deal. Trump view is unknown, but should not be negative. Casey has been useless, Mccormick will support. Chuck, your political views should stay out of the discussion
@@daviddelguercio9324 1. It's his channel, lol. Either watch or don't, follow, or don't. 2. His political views follow FACTUAL support regarding the cutoff and intercity rail support in this country since the 70's... It's fine you have an emotional reaction to this video - actually, it's great - but people need to remembered their place and their manners.
@@LackawannaCutOffyou brought it up and I thought it had no place either especially with your views. Those same supporters had been supporting you. You sound just like a liberal democrat.
For the first time in at least 4 years, things look great for the country. To imply the Cut Off project is dead just because Trump won the election I believe is over reacting. But since we've been 54 years without passenger service to NY, it is difficult to be optimistic we'll ever see it again.
At the end of the day, HOW DOES THIS PROJECT HELP DAILY COMMUTTERS TO NYC or lessen road traffic on I80? AMTRAK is only talking about rail service 3 times a day, and none of those times are when daily commuters would be traveling. And its still a 3 hour train ride both ways. That is ridiculous when most people can drive, and it takes 2 ½ hours in peak traffic. Snail rail (traditional steel wheel) is ridiculous when places like Europe, Japan and especially China have completely rebuilt their HSR network and particular both China and Japan have developed and implemented MAGLEV trains that can travel at average speeds of 280+ mph. And cut distances of 300 miles down to 1 hour. From the very beginning all I kept thinking was, this is 3 times a day off peak was to satisfy MARTZ bus company to keep their cash cow and monopoly on commutter transportation. America needs to rebuild AMTRAK along its interstate highways with MAGLEV technology and make train transportation the dominant means of travel for trips under 1000 miles. A route on I80 from NYC to San fran and on I95 from Bangor MA to Miami FL would pay for itself in both frieght and passenger service . When people can travel from NYC to Miami in 7 to 8 hrs or from NYC to Chicago in 4 to 5 hrs or NYC to San Fran in 11 hours on dedicated MAGLEV guideways instead of Amtrak 19 ½ to 29½ hours or coast to coast 4 days (without delays from frieght traffic would change the way we live work and play in America. Those small towns that are dying in middle America that desperately need tax dollars and jobs would immediately get an injection of services, money and youth. American young people, couples, families and employers would leave the big cities for homes they can afford because they could easily Commute on a daily basis 200 miles or more in less than 1½ hrs and still return home in time for school meeting and family sports. Companies can easily move goods and services quickly large distances. HOMES would be affordable and farmers, fishermen and industries that requires skill labor but need lots of space could easily get there good into different markets and recruit those workers because the obstacles of living to far away is negated. It's exactly this old world style of thinking that has put the rest of the world on the same footing as America. We have been sleeping while the rest of the world has not only caught up to us but surpassed us the technology that will spur jobs and lead those nations best suited to dominate these high paying industries.
At present there is ONLY ONE high speed maglev line in service, between a METRO station in Shanghai and the airport. 31 km. No more. All the remaining worldwide high speed lines have rails and wheels and trains can run as fast as 320 km/h. Get your facts straight. Oh, by the way, the Japanese Maglev is a BIG white elephant that needed subsidies and it is unprofitable BEFORE starting operations and they have no idea of when (or if some day) the line will start operations.
@LackawannaCutOff We spend $850 BILLION with a B yearly on our military defense. In the last 6 years, we have given Ukraine and Israel over $200 billion that they won't repay, for the defense OF THEIR COUNTRIES. Why can we not accomplish this? I'll tell you why exactly!! Its just what I said! AMERICAN lazy ass, old ways of thinking and doing business ... smfh the refusal to think ahead for the future of this country is why China, is kicking our teeth in. Imagine the good paying jobs a national project like this would bring to poor communities all over the nation. 25 Billion a year from the military budget and this could be done in 20 years. Concrete and American steel, from American mines, smelted in American factories, copper wiring, chips, and technology from silicone valley, manufacturing plants to build the cars and new engine maglev technoligy reopened in the rust belt, Midwest and south. All the while developing new and improved technologies, braking and switching systems. Young American Engineers in science, math and computer systems developing new systems, designing new infrastructure and writing code for this new technology. It's this antiquated way of thinking that has stopped American ingenuity and is causing more economic problems in this country. We simply cannot compete on a global scale with China. They won't follow traditional norns and rules, but we do and to be honest, It's ridiculous! We can compete and win by following the example of ELON Musk and Jeff Bezos. They both bucked the traditional way we pay for things, the way we buy things, the way we get internet services, the cars we drive, the way we drive, and hell, even the way we go into space, and they b3came the leaders in both retail and technology by not following the rules and not DOING THINGS THE SAME OLD WAY! They are billionaires because of thoer outside thinking. Florida, California and now Nevada are getting true HSR because private companies are kicking the traditional way.. and your praying that Amtrak will get service to NYC that gets you back and forth in 6 hours.. lol
Sad but true. America has dropped the ball on railroads since the mid 20th Century. Much as I hate to admit it and love trains, people want cars, tucks and highways and it's what we got starting with Eisenhower's interstate highway system. I love trains, but we cant' seem to make hauling people around profitable. For EL, even when the trains were packed they were losing money.
It is unfortunate the trains will not be highspeed. The US is way behind when it comes to this. When you travel abroad you realize this, even Turkey has a highspeed line if you can imagine that lol. It is also a shame that at least initially this will not be a viable commuter line but it will still be great for the tourism industry along with getting to the Newark airport from the Poconos. There are two highspeed rail lines that are looking promising, LA to Las Vegas and Dallas to Houston. Hopefully when those are built people will start to promote it more after using it.
Hey there! First time viewer. Amtrak conductor out of Maine.
I’ve absolutely fallen head over heels for this channel. Subscribed now and hoping you guys in PA get this done with your neighbors in Jersey and NYC.
Your cautious optimism is infectious, despite the major setback we are gonna begin to feel for Amtrak and public transit funding.
We will get thru this. Together.
Welcome aboard! Thank you for those kind words.
We will get it done, with or without the federal government. It's long overdue and I think people are now realizing that
@@alanthefisher lead the charge Alan, transit advocacy needs you now more then ever
54 years and counting. Will anyone who rode the cutoff under DL7W and EL ever have that chance again? It's hard to be optimistic.
I am.
What about the states of PA and NJ, Governor Josh Shapiro and Governor Phil Murphy, both Democrats? Can't the states do it without federal government assistance? I guess Joe Biden was a supporter of Amtrak and Trump is not. Do Democrats in general support passenger rail projects more than Republicans?
Chuck, keep giving us HOPE. It is going to be a really rough 4 years...
Maybe not. We'll see.
*Let's not forget, the ENTIRE thing was originally built in two years, soup to nuts. The bulk of it in just one. It's been over 40+ years to lay down new track and patch some concrete, and it's still not done. Let that sink in*
Actually, "soup to nuts" it took a total of about ten years to plan and build (41 months to construct).
There are a lot of "Trumpers" out there who want to see this project completed. Never give up!! It will get done.
Yes, that is evidently true.
I'm one of them, you are right.
I supported him too, and if this project is successful, it'll be a part of a new golden age. Instead of sending money overseas, we can invest it here at home.
Be of Good cheer we are all on this planet together and great things will happen
Just a bump in the road/ tracks how ever ya look at it. Time will tell. Keep up the great work your doing and always thanks for the updates 👍
You're welcome.
Great to hear the good news! I have faith that the project will be able to overcome these obstacles.
Specifically what new obstacles have been put in place? When did Trump state he would kill mass transit projects? I should remind everyone we are 34 trillion in debt.
Republicans only care about the debt when Democrats are in office. Spare me your hypocrisy. But to your point, read Trump's Project 2025. Read the transportation section. You'll get your answer there.
@1940limited Yup, who added one quater of that thirty four trillion?
Chuck, greatly appreciate all you are doing! Please know that President elect Trump did not author Project 2025 and has stated on record that he has not even read it. It would be great to emulate Reading and Northern’s success. They’re always expanding business and passenger excursion programs with great success.
Too much positive hard work has been achieved to give up. I know Chuck won't give up, I won't give up prayer is strong. Chuck, again thanks for yr great work. I much appreciate and know so many others do.
Thank you for that.
Thank you Chick for another great update on the Lackawanna Cutoff! We all owe you a debt of gratitude for your work in helping to get this project done. This will bring in much needed business revenue for Scranton and the surrounding communities.
The key is to keep fighting.
Chuck: thank you for your optimism and your long standing dedication to this project. We look forward to riding a train to Scranton!
You and me both!
Don't give up! Keep at it Chuck! Thanks for the update.
You're very welcome.
I love watching your Lackawanna Cutoff videos and the progress of this rail line Chuck. As a railfan, I was happy for the election outcome and I'm gonna stay positive and really hope everything still can keep moving forward and finish this project. I too think this will be a big benefit for commuters between Scranton and the North Jersey/NYC area and hope these new Senators or whoever realize it. I think some fall rail excursion's would be awesome too.
I don't agree with Chuck that we've come upon another red signal, this may be an amber one. With the $20 million allocated for the bridge replacement and track upgrades in PA and the near completion of the Roseville Tunnel improvements, progress continues. I remain optimistic.
Well, whether it's red or yellow isn't as important as to how long it stays red or yellow.
Sticking with you Chuck!
Glad to hear that!
I've been waiting for this update, for better or for worse. P.S. Chuck, really wished we saw you on 10/29 with the other officials and Mr. Malski at the presser/announcement in Scranton. Many of us in follower-land were thinking about you and commenting the same on here. Happy Holidays Sir. -SR
Didn't get the invite.
@@LackawannaCutOff that is so wrong you put so much into this which is helping them also!
Thank you Chuck. for the update. It's going to get done.....
Yep, that's what we plan to do.
Chuck, thanks for all your efforts and the efforts of your team. You have been right all along, this is an important project for the national system. Keep us posted. Bob Walsh
Much appreciated.
I still have hope this project will get done. You've come so far, it would be horrible to see all this work go to waste and the cutoff get destroyed
I'm not giving up. And I mean that. It's not BS. But...I need everyone's support. I can't do this alone.
Keep your chin up, Chuck! You continue to do great work for the cutoff, and will always have my support.
I appreciate that
Let's not forget that the President-Elect is an advocate of large Infrastructure. The Amtrak 2030 project is certainly a big infrastructure project. With some backing, these things can get done! Of course, we're now 8 years past MoS Operation Startup, so...
We'll see.
He claims he's probably infrastructure yet refused to find the gateway portal on the NEC. It's funny...
Best of luck! You all will get it done and I will be waiting for that video !
Thank you Chuck! Please let us know how we can help to continue to keep this project moving forward.
Stay tuned. I'll let you know.
Like the Signal analogy, but rather than red I see this as approach medium! The inertia is there, it will continue to move forward one way or another!
Approach medium would be OK. Even red is OK, if it's not a long delay.
10 years to get a culvert done?What the hell? We're without passenger service to the Poconos for 54 years! As I've said before, I hope I live long enough to see it happen. I hope I live long enough just to see it go to Andover. I hope Chuck makes it, too.
Me too!
This level of regulation, environmental review, sandbagging, by our governments (plural on purpose) prevents progress for sure.
@@1940limited 10 years. Incredible. It took 3 years to build the entire thing back in the 1900s. How the mighty have fallen…. Red tape will destroy this country.
Weh've had nothing but road construction on the main highways & expressways for the last 4 years with at least another year to go!! Here in Oregon, everything moves by roads!!
I have faith that this project will continue. However, we should not rest on our laurels. Remember the power of the pen, write to our new POTUS and the new Congressman and Seanator in Pennsylvania. Not email, regular mail! Chuck, thank you for all and your team do with the history and updates for the cutoff.
I fully agree. They don't expect a letter and it gets greater attention because it's much more likely to be read.
@LackawannaCutOff Not just that, but it may evidently show that people in support of such a project are so passionate about it, to where they sat down and wrote a personal letter in looking for support from the people you write to. Of course, the immediate outcome depends on the character of people in high positions, but even then, passion tends to overcome pure fury.
@@mamarussellthepie3995, persistence too pays off. As Benjamin Disraeli once said: "Sometimes you have to just outlast the bastards."
@LackawannaCutOff Haha! Yeah! That usually works, too! 😅
Thank you, Chuck.
You're very welcome.
Always here to support, Chuck. Hopefully it’s just all speculation for nothing
I hope so. You'll know more in the coming days and weeks.
Never Say never. One day a new lackawanna 4-8-4 wil run on the cut-off.
That would be very nice. With PTC, of course.
How about allow Steamtown to run to say, Dover, NJ with excursions?
Well Chuck, all we can do is talk to the new representatives in Pennsylvania and hope they continue. I live in Pa., just a few miles out of Scranton. I think it would be great for traveling to New York and not having to deal with traffic. Can’t look at it as democrat or republicans. We need unity and keep working on the project. This isn’t a train excursion from steamtown. This is a project that benefits everyone from Scranton to New York.
See if you can get Bresnahan's positive attention on this.
Hi Chuck, I think it will go through because they invested so much into already. But they are using the track from landing. The y invested in the tunnel, and that's almost completed. The road is pretty clean to Blairstown. I don't know how much has to be invested in the Paulinski viaduct and Delaware bridge. Maybe just mostly a cleanup. The people voted so we have to give them a chance.
There's been no work west of Andover, or east of Slateford. About $62 million has been set aside for the Andover project.
Good luck hope you can keep going on this project!!!!
That's the plan!
Chuck, how much of the project here has already been funded vs still needs to be funded? How much funding does the FRA have left to disperse?
Good question.
We will indeed get through this
Indeed we will!
Hoping and praying progress continues looking forward to the day the first trains roll
Someday we'll look back and say: "I'm glad we didn't give up when it looked so bleak."
If there is an obvious need for this transportation corridor, it will happen, regardless of who is in power. The cool thing about the Lackawanna Cut Off is that it is, relatively speaking, an inexpensive project since the primary infrastructure already exists. I am still optimistic that it'll get done.
I disagree. Projects, even the most worthy ones, require public and political support. Cartwright's constituents weren't convinced that he deserved another term in Congress. That's not the political endorsement that this project needed.
You have put so much into this don't give up! To bad NJ Transit took so long t get the Andover section started maybe things be different now if it was already competed. I think too may people are into this to let it die.
I believe in the self-fulfilling prophesy...both optimism and pessimism can be contagious. That's why I choose optimism. And, remarkably, it does work.
I hope that the new senator and representative will take up the fight to restore service to the Lackawanna Cut-Off. This is one project that I hope the Trump administration does not cancel out of spit for Joe Biden.
Trump might or might not. This wouldn't be high on Trump's "hit list", but perhaps his minions will cause mischief. Too soon to tell.
@@LackawannaCutOff Fingers crossed that this keeps on going. I have been looking forward to passenger service to Scranton for the last 20 years.
Keep sharing.
We need transparency
Indeed.
Since Pennsylvania went for him you would think they would be rewarded with completion of the project.
Just trying to be optimistic .
That's one way to look at it.
3:42 Well thank God you're making lemonade out of lemons! It would be much worse if you were trying to create, say, orange juice out of lemons, or lemonade out of oranges!
...or grapefruits, lol.
Thank you as always Chuck. I always drive down airport road in Andover and wonder how cool it would be to see a train flying overhead while driving underneath. Maybe we’ll get lucky. Trump thinks our infrastructure sucks so maybe he’ll let this stand. Hope for the best. We can’t give up hope now. Definitely going to take pictures of the other viaduct in the next couple weeks.
Trump is very transactional. But for now what that means regarding this project is impossible to say.
This feels hopeless. I'm trying not to give up but it's hard. Hopefully he doesn't interfere but Republicans love cutting.
Join the club! Discouragement is natural. It's why many projects fail. People give up. That's why we need to recharge our batteries and then move forward.
Is this a NJ Transit project or an Amtrak project? I thought NJ Transit was working on rebuilding part of the cutoff to a new station in NJ? Can the concrete Lackawanna bridges be reused? I hope maybe that the mostly Republican federal government starting next year will provide some funding for this project. Yes, a change in senators, president, etc. can cause a project to stall but I'm sure it will still get done.
The Port Morris-Andover section of the Cut-Off is a NJ Transit project. Everything west of there to Scranton is Amtrak. Yes, the concrete viaducts would need rehabilitation.
And to think, so many years ago one of the old Lackawanna Railroad conductors told me, kid you'll run the first revenue train up to Scranton if you behave yourself. Well, that didn't happen, I'm retired a little over six years now.
Lots of stories about how long it's taking, but few from people who tried to do anything about it.
@LackawannaCutOff I really don't think it will happen now after what happened last Tuesday. Mccormick and Makenzie are to right wing extremist who have no interest in the future of passenger rail transportation.
I'd like to know why they have to be environmental studies.When the rail line existed once before Amtrak, tour up the tracks.For what reason that I do not understand why.Why was certain areas sold off that?I'd like you to explain
The federal environmental assessment dates back to 2006-7, but from what I hear that basically it still covers about 80% of what would be needed for the FRA review. It would, therefore, be an update, not a full EA.
From all the environmental $tudies those monies could have gone to rebuild the Cutoff. Back in the day a railroad just said where do you need the railroad to be built and that was that. Too much regulation anymore. Also, Conrail became the owner of the Cutoff in 1976 and they didn`t like the uphill grades here and there plus they did not want any other freight railroad to use their tracks to protect their bottom line so they ripped up the tracks in NJ in 1984. They almost did the same on the Pa side but backed off.
It's more government bureaucracy which frustrates me, too.
PA saved the line through tenacity and political connections. Building (or rebuilding) a railroad today is a big deal. But right now the chances of creating brand new rail rights-of-way are basically nil.
Hi Chuck, I've been following your channel for some time and would love to see that line up and running again after so many years of being out of service.
I'm very curious as to if and how the "Railroad" can make a profit on this line and be able to recoup the rehab dollars to become profitable.
Would it be mainly be through passenger or freight service or perhaps both?
Passenger trains will make a profit when roadways start making a profit.
Like mot passenger trains in the USA today, it will have to be subsidized with tax dollars.
The new admin may back this for creating new domestic jobs in the long run.
Sadly they’d be more likely to do that with highway widening. Even though that’s more expensive
That would be nice.
Seeing as the money is already there and the infrastructure bill already long passed I think things will be ok. Perhaps you can do a video on the new people in office(local/state) and how to contacts them, now that Cartwright is gone its important to let the new guy know that this is an important project for people of rural PA. The Poconos alone has seen huge growth the last few years both domestic and tourism the time has definitely come for this line to be restored.
I'll see what I can do about that.
I heard supposedly if the project continues all the old Lackawanna signal bridges will be taken down ? I sure hope not , are they still intact on the New Jersey side ?
No, there are no signal bridges left on the Cut-Off.
@ that’s not good , they are so cool looking along the pocono main. They will probably have to be taken down for new signals is my guess.
I suspect it's a safety issue per Amtrak standards.
My take on this as much as I love Trump we disagree on passenger train services. I believe the Lackawana cut off should never had been abandoned. But now it's over due this area needs another type of transportation other then car or busses. I do believe that NEW JERSEY AND PENNSYLVANIA should get together with CSX / NS and pay for most of the bill make it mostly a 4 track line. And have NJT operate from Hoboken to Scranton. Drop Amtrack and the two fright railroads can use the line as well to
relieve the congestion on the other fright lines coming into NJ .
I've explained this countless times. What you're talking about is pure fantasy. There is no possibility of long-distance freight service on the line. You're not going to get NS and/or CSX to go in on this for several reasons, but the most obvious is that there is no access to Croxton Yard. Overhead clearances, commuter operations, etc., etc. put additional nails in that coffin. Zero chance.
I often wonder if EL could have kept the lake Cities going 1 more year then turned it over to Amtrak maybe the entire line would have been preserved. We'll never know.
EL wanted to get out of the passenger business desperately, particularly after the mail contracts were cancelled with the government. EL had no interest in having Amtrak come in.
@@LackawannaCutOff Once again, government. Why were the mail contracts cancelled?
The mail contracts went to trucks and planes.
I think you're trying to make lemons out of lemonade
And I think you should go back to sleep.
Thank you Chuck, I'm going to try and be optimistic and think that we'll be looking at a four year delay in the project. With Elon being put in charge of cutting the budget, I'm sure Amtrak will loose all it's funding leaving only the NEC and state supported routes remaining functional. Short term, my real concern is that they could cut off funding for projects already underway like Gateway, Portal Bridge, Baltimore Tunnel...etc. let's hope not. The price tag gets more expensive every year. Stopping and having to restart 4 years later would add Billions. Gateway's completion would allow for increased Scranton Service and possible expansion to Binghamton, Buffalo and beyond.
There's no way to predict any of this right now. We can make ourselves slightly crazy in the process, lol. Hang in there. we'll get through this.
The one thing I hate is politics no matter what side a person is on. The party the individual wants they think in cases like this is the person is going to carry the torch (Kamela Harris) and the opponent (Trump) will kill it for what ever reason. I pray it will continue to go on but people should not let their emotions get the best of them because we don't know what is in the minds and hearts of who ever would have won no matter what the party is/was
Well, the presidential election was driven by forces which also affected the local elections in PA, although I believe Reps.Matt Cartwright and Susan Wild were specifically targeted by the GOP. I'm neutral towards politics. It's the nature of the beast. It can be used for good or evil. And constituents can fall either way. Be careful, watch out for the wolf in sheep's clothing.
There goes the federal funding.
Not necessarily.
i guess your prediction was off a little. I think it would be great to have rail service back but it needs to pay for itself. since the pandemic a lot less people work in the city. this hurts making this a needed service unfortunately.
What does that mean, "pay for itself"?
Good point.
@@LackawannaCutOff the revenue from ticket sales/ rail traffic pays for the cost of operation. ?
Public transit doesn’t pay for itself through ticket sales, though ticket sales always supplement the budget.
The value is realized through 1) increasing property values in the regions served, and 2) easing congestion on other transportation resources, including highways. If a $$ amount must be placed on it, look to increasing tax revenue as regions grow, and decrease in $$ lost by traffic-chocked arteries like Route 80.
@@okoko47
No transportation system fully pays for itself, it is fiction. Roads dont pay for themselves, taxes on fuel that pay for roads do not pay the full cost. Road taxes generated in Alabama is much less than is spent on them. Truck road use taxes and the taxes from diesel fuel do not cover the cost a truck inflicts on roads. Airlines are heavily subsidized, the cost of the FAA air traffic control system and the like is not born by the airlines and the fees airlines pay to use airports is nowhere near the cost , airports are run by government agencies that get money from other sources like bridge tolls, regional taxes.
It would be nice to see a detailed update on how the tunnel project is coming along. I also wonder how Amtrak plans to restore the line through people's backyards in Slateford after it having been dormant, or even non-existent for decades. It could decrease home values for them. I doubt anyone still lives there that remembers an active rail line through the town.
The tunnel project is basically complete (as I stated in the video).
@@LackawannaCutOff OK, what about my other question?
About Slateford? The rail authority owns that.
We need Freight to move by Rail.
I agree, but what does that have to do with this project?
@@LackawannaCutOff Freight before Passengers.
As much as people say it will be passenger only, I'm sure there will be a freight switching contractor running the line as well as the passenger trains. Most if not all NJT lines have limited freight service. It's good to help NJT recoup some money that they're not making on commuters. I would imagine those operators would be either Chesapeake & Delaware, or Delaware Lackawanna.
Not going to happen.
Those two short lines cover the trackage east and west of the Cut-Off now. There's no need for any other freight service.
Good morning. I began watching your video today.
I live on the other side of Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. I am pleased and relieved that Harris and Casey lost. They were dreadful on so many levels. Biden was one of the worst presidents this nation has to suffer through. As for the commenter that claims Shapiro is light years better than any Republican....go talk to the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Allow me to fill you in on a railroad issue on this part of PA. In 1990, Conrail abandoned the old PRR Panhandle Line that connected Pittsburgh to St. Louis. This ended up forcing more freight traffic onto Interstate 70, which has always been busy anyway.
It is not just Scranton that lacks Amtrak. Columbus, Ohio doesn't have Amtrak at all. Neither does Nashville.
I think that expanding Amtrak is a great idea. Thing is, the federal government cannot continue spending trillions more than it takes in.
I'm glad to hear that you are pleased with the election results. Let's talk next year after the country has started circling the drain.
Great perspective. The trend in this country has been towards automobiles at least since the 50s. Even trucks can be faster and cheaper than railroads in moving freight. It's been a tough battle for the railroads for decades. I rode the cut-off many times under DL&W and EL but I dot' think I'll see it again.
The problem that has been festering for years is that it has become less and less lucrative to be a truck driver. The conditions and pay suck. The cost of fuel sucks. And the shortage of drivers is the result. That's why some trucks are being carried by rail.
@@1940limited
Without getting into a long story, trucks for years have been favored by the government, they are heavily subsidized relative to rail. Long haul trucking causes heavy damage to roads. Drive on highways like route 80, see the traffic, the lost time.
And there is a constant pattern of building roads or expanding existing roads to try and keep up.
It isn't either or. Trains alleviate traffic, they work in combination with trucks. I recently drove on the approach road to Port Newark and it was total deadlock with trucks, took like 30 minutes to move 1/2 mile. Trains can be more efficient for situations like that.
I read something about the ports on CA during the pandemic, trucks had no place to park waiting to load at the port, and traffic was horrendous. A big problem? There was no immediate rail
Access to the ports that once existed, thanks to the huge subsidies trucking had and unfair pricing rules ( which were deliberate), rail withered and died.
Unfortunately one of the blindedness of this country is the lack of term vision or planning. High speed rail in certain places could alleviate air traffic congestion, high speed freight rail could do.the same thing.
I have been a big fan of the Cutoff series! You linked it politically, and completely polarized me. Your cutoff shouldn't be financed if it cannot justify it's existence. A few nostalgic riders does not warrant your building of your model railroad.
My model railroad? Haha! If I were the only one advocating for this "model railroad" it would go nowhere.
With the nation as heavily divided as it has been since way before Trump, it's almost impossible not to introduce politics to practically every conversation. That said I'' prefer updates on construction of the cut-off and leave politics out of it, good or bad.
This election has really demoralized me. It's made me fearful for the future and feel utterly hopeless. I'm hoping that this will not be a setback and that this will end up being finished as originally intended. It's a service that is desperately needed in the area and many have been waiting for this for decades.
I think that the "Trump movement" will eventually fall apart. Not immediately, but when his supporters finally realize that they, too, have been screwed, All of this is predictable.
@@LackawannaCutOff I think the same, but... you never know... and Amtrak can be in danger too...
Republicans felt the same way in 2020. The country had enough of Biden's progressive movement and has sent it a clear rejection. I don't recall any setbacks in the cut off project during Trump's first administration other than the 10 year culvert fiasco, which had nothing to do with Trump.
I don't fully understand this election myself, but I think ppl are in for a rude awakening about campaign promises and reality.. it is very easy to go around promising you will wave a magic wand and ' fix gas prices') ( which right now are not that high, 2.79 where Iive. It is where it has been in real dollars), he can't wave a magic wand and make housing costs drop, insurance costs drop, he can't make food costs drop. His idea of getting rid of income taxes and paying for it via tariffs is basically putting the full tax burden on ordinary ppl ( tariffs are not paid for by foreign governments, that tells you how ignorant ppl are), it is a giant sales tax which are regressive.
And they think jobs were lost to cheap labor offshore? The tech bros like Musk went for Trump bc they want AI unleashed without any guardrails..and no, it isn't to make people work more efficiently, it will be to reduce labor costs ie get rid of human labor.
But they will convince themselves that the billionaires supporting the new administration care about ordinary ppl, when the same people sent 10s of millions of jobs to cheap labor and continue to.
All I have to say is that history suggests that 98% of the promises made will never be kept. Biden at least promised infrastructure work and unlike trump, it happened. They are building new chip plants in the US , which not only is jobs but also security ( Taiwan makes most of the worlds chips outside china; given that Taiwan may fall to China w Trump as president since he says he doesn't care, chip tech is routinely stolen from taiwsnese factories by Chinese spies). Trump won't break up the food industry, where a few companies control 70% of the food industry.
Given Trump's proclivities, he will think he has been given a mandate,but like 11m ppl didn't vote this year that did in 2020. If he goes on a rampage, he will see how fast ppls opinions can change, when he doesn't deliver on his promises, the way he didn't in 2016.
I fully agree. Trump's supporters are in for a rude awakening.
I think you guys can get along great with mr trump and others :)
Dude has a history of hating trains
We can only hope.
The nation has spoken. The progressive movement is fired.
@@1940limitedyou said the same thing in 2016. And look at what happened in 2018 and 2020
@darthmaul216 Just remember that everyone who does really support projects like this can write into him personally and passionately to ask for support of projects like this while staying outside of politics.
When things like this are transformed into anticipated and exciting things to be done by people, and not political strifes, they get done with support from all directions much easier. :)
hello you and your friends just had to vote for your pal Donald Trump 😥so the amtrak budget will get cut badly at least for the next 4 years so go ahead and keep voting for your republican friends 😂
Your project may have hit a snag but America dodged a bullet!!
Bullet? Huh???
@@LackawannaCutOff Commila!
Good point! It's unfathomable to me how anyone could think Harris would have won. I also dont' see why Trump winning automatically kills the cut off project.
All I can say is I hope Josh Shapiro wins re-election. I don't agree with him on everything but he's light years better than any Republican.
@@MrLarrythehacker Thats not the case what so ever and when you clean your elections up no dumbocrat will win again.
That's a rather broad statement with no specific examples and sounds strictly partisan. With PA going heavily red as it did this week, it seems democrat governors could be on the chopping block in the next election cycle. MI and WI may be facing the same scenario.
If you're going to resort to name calling, you're going to find yourself off this channel.
Im very happy with the results
Mark my words...you're going to be in for a rude awakening.
Biden said he supported but did not push for it. If Biden was committed, it would be a done deal. Trump view is unknown, but should not be negative. Casey has been useless, Mccormick will support. Chuck, your political views should stay out of the discussion
I guess you only get to post YOUR political views, lol.
@@daviddelguercio9324 1. It's his channel, lol. Either watch or don't, follow, or don't. 2. His political views follow FACTUAL support regarding the cutoff and intercity rail support in this country since the 70's... It's fine you have an emotional reaction to this video - actually, it's great - but people need to remembered their place and their manners.
Thank you, sir!
@@LackawannaCutOffyou brought it up and I thought it had no place either especially with your views. Those same supporters had been supporting you. You sound just like a liberal democrat.
waste of money glad for the loss of support
Thanks. Have a good day.
@@richardgash2349 Obviously you know nothing about this project
That’s highways?
Do we know for sure support is lost?
Instead of being a parasite of an operation the states of NJ and PA should foot the bill. Why should I pay for something I will never use
Oh, so you shouldn't have to pay for Interstates 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 if you don't use them? Makes perfect sense. Hahaha.
The same reason you pay for a lot of stuff you never use. Government loves to spend other people's money.
I am stunned with the outcome of the election. Things don't look good for the Cut-Off or the country.
For the first time in at least 4 years, things look great for the country. To imply the Cut Off project is dead just because Trump won the election I believe is over reacting. But since we've been 54 years without passenger service to NY, it is difficult to be optimistic we'll ever see it again.
We're just going by what is stated in Project 2025. Read that and see what you think.
At the end of the day, HOW DOES THIS PROJECT HELP DAILY COMMUTTERS TO NYC or lessen road traffic on I80? AMTRAK is only talking about rail service 3 times a day, and none of those times are when daily commuters would be traveling. And its still a 3 hour train ride both ways. That is ridiculous when most people can drive, and it takes 2 ½ hours in peak traffic.
Snail rail (traditional steel wheel) is ridiculous when places like Europe, Japan and especially China have completely rebuilt their HSR network and particular both China and Japan have developed and implemented MAGLEV trains that can travel at average speeds of 280+ mph. And cut distances of 300 miles down to 1 hour. From the very beginning all I kept thinking was, this is 3 times a day off peak was to satisfy MARTZ bus company to keep their cash cow and monopoly on commutter transportation.
America needs to rebuild AMTRAK along its interstate highways with MAGLEV technology and make train transportation the dominant means of travel for trips under 1000 miles. A route on I80 from NYC to San fran and on I95 from Bangor MA to Miami FL would pay for itself in both frieght and passenger service .
When people can travel from NYC to Miami in 7 to 8 hrs or from NYC to Chicago in 4 to 5 hrs or NYC to San Fran in 11 hours on dedicated MAGLEV guideways instead of Amtrak 19 ½ to 29½ hours or coast to coast 4 days (without delays from frieght traffic would change the way we live work and play in America.
Those small towns that are dying in middle America that desperately need tax dollars and jobs would immediately get an injection of services, money and youth. American young people, couples, families and employers would leave the big cities for homes they can afford because they could easily Commute on a daily basis 200 miles or more in less than 1½ hrs and still return home in time for school meeting and family sports.
Companies can easily move goods and services quickly large distances. HOMES would be affordable and farmers, fishermen and industries that requires skill labor but need lots of space could easily get there good into different markets and recruit those workers because the obstacles of living to far away is negated.
It's exactly this old world style of thinking that has put the rest of the world on the same footing as America. We have been sleeping while the rest of the world has not only caught up to us but surpassed us the technology that will spur jobs and lead those nations best suited to dominate these high paying industries.
Oh, please.
At present there is ONLY ONE high speed maglev line in service, between a METRO station in Shanghai and the airport. 31 km. No more. All the remaining worldwide high speed lines have rails and wheels and trains can run as fast as 320 km/h. Get your facts straight. Oh, by the way, the Japanese Maglev is a BIG white elephant that needed subsidies and it is unprofitable BEFORE starting operations and they have no idea of when (or if some day) the line will start operations.
@LackawannaCutOff We spend $850 BILLION with a B yearly on our military defense. In the last 6 years, we have given Ukraine and Israel over $200 billion that they won't repay, for the defense OF THEIR COUNTRIES. Why can we not accomplish this? I'll tell you why exactly!! Its just what I said! AMERICAN lazy ass, old ways of thinking and doing business ...
smfh the refusal to think ahead for the future of this country is why China, is kicking our teeth in. Imagine the good paying jobs a national project like this would bring to poor communities all over the nation. 25 Billion a year from the military budget and this could be done in 20 years.
Concrete and American steel, from American mines, smelted in American factories, copper wiring, chips, and technology from silicone valley, manufacturing plants to build the cars and new engine maglev technoligy reopened in the rust belt, Midwest and south. All the while developing new and improved technologies, braking and switching systems. Young American Engineers in science, math and computer systems developing new systems, designing new infrastructure and writing code for this new technology.
It's this antiquated way of thinking that has stopped American ingenuity and is causing more economic problems in this country. We simply cannot compete on a global scale with China. They won't follow traditional norns and rules, but we do and to be honest, It's ridiculous!
We can compete and win by following the example of ELON Musk and Jeff Bezos. They both bucked the traditional way we pay for things, the way we buy things, the way we get internet services, the cars we drive, the way we drive, and hell, even the way we go into space, and they b3came the leaders in both retail and technology by not following the rules and not DOING THINGS THE SAME OLD WAY!
They are billionaires because of thoer outside thinking. Florida, California and now Nevada are getting true HSR because private companies are kicking the traditional way.. and your praying that Amtrak will get service to NYC that gets you back and forth in 6 hours.. lol
Sad but true. America has dropped the ball on railroads since the mid 20th Century. Much as I hate to admit it and love trains, people want cars, tucks and highways and it's what we got starting with Eisenhower's interstate highway system. I love trains, but we cant' seem to make hauling people around profitable. For EL, even when the trains were packed they were losing money.
It is unfortunate the trains will not be highspeed. The US is way behind when it comes to this. When you travel abroad you realize this, even Turkey has a highspeed line if you can imagine that lol. It is also a shame that at least initially this will not be a viable commuter line but it will still be great for the tourism industry along with getting to the Newark airport from the Poconos. There are two highspeed rail lines that are looking promising, LA to Las Vegas and Dallas to Houston. Hopefully when those are built people will start to promote it more after using it.
Nobody wants to go to Scranton and Scranton doesn’t have any connections to the rest of Amtrak’s system.
Nobody is a small number, lol.
So? Most of the infrastructure is already there and it’s not like populations don’t increase
Yet 😉
There are lots of people living in the Poconos who got priced out of NJ but still work there. They may prefer a train instead of commuting I-80.
Bad vatnik, no vodka