(3/4/13)
– IE Transit Talking Points Short
For
decades, the Riverside County Transportation Commission and the State
of California have been evaluating the feasibility of establishing an
intercity Amtrak passenger rail route between Los Angeles and Indio
via Orange County. The project has gained much support.
The
rail right-of-way that parallels the I-10 freeway between San
Bernardino and Indio is operated by the Union Pacific Railroad
(UPRR). UPRR continues a firm opposition to any new Amtrak service on
its tracks through this area.
While
many private sector railroad firms including UPRR are reluctant to
permit passenger intercity trains along their right-of-way’s, these
Class One private railroads have considered reinstating passenger
service. Public incentives both at the local and federal level should be considered to offset
any losses connected with direct passenger service. In addition, liability protection provisions should be considered. Such
business-friendly policies would incline private Class One railroad operators like UPRR to
operate or allow passenger trains along their right-of-way corridors and finally bring forth productive intercity rail transit service into the
Coachella Valley.
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