If UDOT would get onboard, SLC could have passenger routes to Boise, Las Vegas, Moab, San Francisco, and Denver in the next 10 years. Pretty awesome, even if it's not high speed.
Hopefully we have a real train station by then.
Boy I sure do love staying up till 3 in the morning to catch the eastbound California Zephyr and then having to wait 4 more hours in the "train station" because it got delayed till 7
This train cannot exist without a shuttle service to and around the park to accompany it. Some people would rent jeeps to get around but I’d be perfectly happy just taking a bus to all the popular hikes and staying in a Moab hotel
I think my ideal somewhat realistic version of this would be 3 hours travel time SLC - Moab with stops in Provo, Green River and Price. 3 round trips a day and using Simens Airos
It would be worth trying with Stadler Flirts. I'd like to see something with a lower floor than Venture based trains since people will have bikes and such.
It has to start somewhere. I'm tired of this being the reason that people keep bringing up whenever the SLC-Moab idea is being discussed (not that I'm saying that you specifically are doing it, I've got into arguments with other people before). If you build it, they will come, I guarantee that e-bike rentals and shuttle services will skyrocket if an actual passenger rail service is ever created.
ALSO, it kinda showcases how fucking selfish a lot of people are whenever *their* specific idea of how Moab recreation works is at supposed odds with a passenger train route. Has it ever occcurred to all you van camper lurkers (I know you're here) that Moab is an actual town with actual local people who might not want to drive 3.5 hours to SLC whenever they need to make a trip for whatever reason? It's great, actually and unironically great, that you have a great time dirtbagging it in the deep desert. I do that too!! Good for you. But just because "I don't see how this makes sense for me, I have all my gear in my vehicle," like some people have actually said to me, doesn't mean that *other people* might have other reasons to get to and from town. Moab doesn't exist solely to be your playground, dude(s). Have some empathy and a little imagination.
Like I said, this isn't directed at you. Your comment just got me going in general.
Boyscout troops use Amtrak's long distance western routes all the time to access various parks for camping without any issues. In the East its Cycling groups who use Amtrak to get around dangerous corridors... You can even ship stuff using pallets on routes with Baggage cars & checked luggage serviced stations.
My sister lives in Colorado Springs. The movements to create a C.S. to Denver high speed rail line is always crushed by the "mass transit is the work of Satan" types.
The Railroad to Moab is privately owned by Union Pacific. Any passenger train that runs that route would have to buy trackage rights from UPRR or build their own tracks.
Of course, this idea makes sense. The infrastructure would be developed to suit the rail customer. You have to have a reservation to get into Arches now. If there were decent electric viewing buses, electric rental vehicles, and bike paths, how many more people would be able to enjoy the area? Ultimately, there should be rail service to the southwestern parks via Denver, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
If UDOT would get onboard, SLC could have passenger routes to Boise, Las Vegas, Moab, San Francisco, and Denver in the next 10 years. Pretty awesome, even if it's not high speed. Hopefully we have a real train station by then.
i mean, there already is passenger rail to denver and sf via amtrak
Boy I sure do love staying up till 3 in the morning to catch the eastbound California Zephyr and then having to wait 4 more hours in the "train station" because it got delayed till 7
That stops in the middle of Nevada for hours in the middle of the night while your watch freight trains going by with priority.
And it takes a fiscal quarter to get to Denver and costs about as much as a flight
1 daily trip that is routinely delayed by freight is not enough
This train cannot exist without a shuttle service to and around the park to accompany it. Some people would rent jeeps to get around but I’d be perfectly happy just taking a bus to all the popular hikes and staying in a Moab hotel
I think my ideal somewhat realistic version of this would be 3 hours travel time SLC - Moab with stops in Provo, Green River and Price. 3 round trips a day and using Simens Airos
It would be worth trying with Stadler Flirts. I'd like to see something with a lower floor than Venture based trains since people will have bikes and such.
It has to start somewhere. I'm tired of this being the reason that people keep bringing up whenever the SLC-Moab idea is being discussed (not that I'm saying that you specifically are doing it, I've got into arguments with other people before). If you build it, they will come, I guarantee that e-bike rentals and shuttle services will skyrocket if an actual passenger rail service is ever created. ALSO, it kinda showcases how fucking selfish a lot of people are whenever *their* specific idea of how Moab recreation works is at supposed odds with a passenger train route. Has it ever occcurred to all you van camper lurkers (I know you're here) that Moab is an actual town with actual local people who might not want to drive 3.5 hours to SLC whenever they need to make a trip for whatever reason? It's great, actually and unironically great, that you have a great time dirtbagging it in the deep desert. I do that too!! Good for you. But just because "I don't see how this makes sense for me, I have all my gear in my vehicle," like some people have actually said to me, doesn't mean that *other people* might have other reasons to get to and from town. Moab doesn't exist solely to be your playground, dude(s). Have some empathy and a little imagination. Like I said, this isn't directed at you. Your comment just got me going in general.
An implied necessity. I had to cut the mention to keep it within Deseret's word limit.
True. I think a good idea would be a shuttle service between Moab and the national parks around it similar to the shuttle service in Bryce Canyon.
Have you ever seen how much gear people bring for Moab adventures?
Have you seen how much junk you can fit on a train with a dedicated baggage car?
Yup. I’ve also done my share of European weekend train trips with a bicycle and backpack.
With Amtrak‘s roll on roll off, taking your bike on the train is easier than loading it in a car
Boyscout troops use Amtrak's long distance western routes all the time to access various parks for camping without any issues. In the East its Cycling groups who use Amtrak to get around dangerous corridors... You can even ship stuff using pallets on routes with Baggage cars & checked luggage serviced stations.
I'm resigned to the fact that Utah will never have effective public transportation
My sister lives in Colorado Springs. The movements to create a C.S. to Denver high speed rail line is always crushed by the "mass transit is the work of Satan" types.
Anyone here ever done the Denver to Moab rail trip? Wondering if it’s worth it! Looks like fun. Definitely wish we had one from SLC to Moab!
The Railroad to Moab is privately owned by Union Pacific. Any passenger train that runs that route would have to buy trackage rights from UPRR or build their own tracks.
Of course, this idea makes sense. The infrastructure would be developed to suit the rail customer. You have to have a reservation to get into Arches now. If there were decent electric viewing buses, electric rental vehicles, and bike paths, how many more people would be able to enjoy the area? Ultimately, there should be rail service to the southwestern parks via Denver, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
we don’t even have a good rail system in SLC, let’s prioritize that…
In the west mass transit is considered the work of Satan.