August 2006 - Posts

Joleen's Amtrak Cascades #516 Portland to Tacoma Schedule Status

So first, the negative point.So the first thing I noticed was a 2 minute late arrival time into Vancouver, Washington.  With an estimated 10 minutes late into Vancouver.  That's just insane that an expectation can be made like that, it is really Read More
posted Wednesday, August 30, 2006 3:23 PM by adron | 1 Comments
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Amtrak Cascades Derails Friday the 25th 06'... and I'm stuck driving a rent a car!

So recently I had to take the trip to Tacoma that I have frequented via plane because of scheduling needs.  On the way back I was supposed to be able to catch the south bound Amtrak Cascades at Tacoma at 6:10pm.Well all came to an abrupt change of Read More
posted Sunday, August 27, 2006 11:45 PM by adron | 2 Comments
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Profit Motive or Charity Motive? Where's my Passenger Rail Service?

So it was just occurring to me the profit motive vs. the charity motive.  It boils down to make everyone suffer in stead of just the few that might run into bad fortune or luck.  The idea of a charity approach is an entitlement mentality for Read More
posted Friday, August 25, 2006 2:41 PM by adron | 0 Comments

Transportation in America? Where are the honest choices?

The comparison of various forms of transportation really brings up some interesting points.  America has come from spacious train travel and horse and buggy to tight, congested, and almost personally denigrating airplane, bus, and automobile transportation.Auto Read More
posted Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:56 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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TAC, SEA, TAC

Thursday after work I decided that I was going to ride one of the express bus lines from Tacoma to Seattle and back.  So I went down via the Tacoma Link Light Rail from the ole' Sheraton to the Tacoma Dome Station.  There I went into the "Bus Read More
posted Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:30 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Streetcar Survey!!

So there is a Streetcar Survey listed over at Portland Transport.  Even though the trackbacks don't want to work on the Portland Transport site, click the link and go take the survey!!  Tell em' you want more service, better frequency, and more Read More
posted Wednesday, August 23, 2006 9:37 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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If you're ever curious... and wonder why I make off hand comments about subsidies...

Read my viewpoint and solution to the tax bleeding of the populace for an unbalanced transportation industry. Read More
posted Wednesday, August 23, 2006 7:32 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Yeah, prices rise again!

Tri-Met raised it's fares again.  Of course I won't be totally happy until all transit costs again reflect the cost of the transportation provided and I get my transit tax money back.  So cheers to $5.00 bus tickets and 50 cents a mile road Read More
posted Wednesday, August 23, 2006 6:23 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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PDX, SEA, TAC

Portland to SEATACSo I woke up at an awful hour of 4:40am to get ready and depart for the airport by 5:20am.  After departing and arriving at the airport, departing on time at 6:30am, arriving a few minutes early, and getting out to wait for the Read More
posted Tuesday, August 22, 2006 6:46 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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It's 5:55am and I didn't just get up...

Ok, I didn't want mileage on my car and I needed to get to work as early as possible.  This unfortunately removed the Amtrak Cascades as an option.So now I sit here at 5:55am on Tuesday getting ready to board a flight to SEATAC, then to jump on an Read More
posted Tuesday, August 22, 2006 5:56 AM by adron | 0 Comments
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Interesting, but not a real improvement...

GM releases the first test drive of the new camaro.  I'm saddened and stoked to see such a thing. Read More
posted Sunday, August 20, 2006 11:30 AM by adron | 1 Comments
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More Passenger Rail Beggers Demand Lower Fares?

Ok, so I was going to enter that on this blog, but I want this to stay focused on the not so political side of transit, and this entry got way to political and volatile.  So with that I've posted it at my site, Adron's Politics titled "The Beggers Read More
posted Saturday, August 19, 2006 2:43 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Passenger Rail being Delayed by Freight?

Where is the real motive and the real demand?CSX is one of the nastier of the big Class Is.  But simply put, it's better they shove that product (or pull) it to where it needs to go before they start making passenger traffic a real priority.  Read More
posted Friday, August 18, 2006 12:54 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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This just cracks me up, I already knew it...

...and to think the Willamette Week did an article on it already!  The irony is I found the write up over on this Greener Miami Blog.Scooters are nasty polluting machines!!!...Drive an SUV instead, a Toyota one, and I gaurantee you'll pollute less!  Read More
posted Friday, August 18, 2006 9:09 AM by adron | 0 Comments
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The Crack of Dawn Morning Adventure!

5:23 AM I boarded the Tacoma Link Light Rail heading toward Tacoma Dome from the Convention Center stop. 5:30 AM The Link Light Rail Car arrived at Tacoma Dome Station.  I then walked directly across the street into the Sounder Train Station Read More
posted Friday, August 18, 2006 8:42 AM by adron | 0 Comments
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No Taxpayer Subsidy!

Beware this entry is somewhat politically tinged, but definately transit related.  Yes I side on the side of reason in transportation industry debates...  so with that aside.So I added two links to the side for the Alaska Railroad and the Ski Read More
posted Thursday, August 17, 2006 7:48 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Just for the Adventure of It!

So tomorrow or maybe sometime next week I intend to board the Link Light Rail to Tacoma Dome Station and board the 5:45am Sounder.  Arriving at 6:45am I hope to travel from the Sounder Seattle King Street Station to the 2nd & Washington Street Read More
posted Thursday, August 17, 2006 6:23 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Alaska Airlines travel from PDX to SEA

So next week I'll be taking the bite and flying to SEATAC and then bussing it down to Tacoma.  It'll be interesting to see how it all works out.So at this point the plan is, wake at the same time as when I drove a week ago.  Get ready and down Read More
posted Thursday, August 17, 2006 6:15 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Getting to Tacoma, Washington from Portland, Oregon

Writely Document So I need to get to Tacoma, WA at or by 8:00am on Tuesday the 22nd.  The following are my options. Mixed rail, bus, and air. Read More
posted Sunday, August 13, 2006 1:17 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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St Louis Light Rail Expansion

Over in St Louis at Metro the light rail expansion officially opens.  So it seems the rail trends continue for light rail.  St Louis officially opening a new stretch of light rail with dozens of other cities including Seattle, Washington Read More
posted Friday, August 11, 2006 9:46 AM by adron | 1 Comments
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Transportation Tracking Services

So maybe I'm just marvelling over an absolutely silly thing of our modern internet age, but it is just so helpful I had to marvel away.  The service that I am marvelling away at is online schedule & arrival tracking for transportation services Read More
posted Thursday, August 10, 2006 4:21 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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So while reading some transit/train related blogs...

I stumbled on an entry over at dogcaught "Another Railfan Blog" called Grumpy's Blog.  It's a funny, sometimes vulgar read but fun none the less. Read More
posted Thursday, August 10, 2006 9:44 AM by adron | 0 Comments
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Applegate Lodge (The Wedding Lodge)

So we've traveled from Grants Pass out some roads into the middle of no where.  I'm currently sitting by a clear river by the wedding lodge, about a hundred feet from the 2-lane road we took to get here.  The bridge is an old green painted Read More
posted Sunday, August 06, 2006 10:50 PM by adron | 2 Comments
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PDX, TAC, PDX Week #1 Labor Ready

So the trip up, I was able to skip the bus and take the train since band practice was cancelled post the show Sunday night.  This was good as I was dreading taking the bus to Tacoma.I'm still hoping to work something out with band practice Read More
posted Sunday, August 06, 2006 10:42 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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PDX, TAC, PDX first days at Labor Ready

Northbound Amtrak Cascades Departing 07/25/06Well the day of question has come to bear.  I've prepared for the trip north and grab my small wheeled piece of luggage and backpack and head for the door and then down to the streetcar stop a mere Read More
posted Friday, August 04, 2006 8:00 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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The Bigger Vehicle Wins

So over at Portland Transport another article that I just have to comment on was posted. To draw a parallel.  What two physical items are involved in the death of the most people every year in this country? It's a VERY easy list:1. Cigerettes2. Read More
posted Friday, August 04, 2006 12:59 PM by adron | 1 Comments
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28% of people find driving a chore!

As pointed out over at Portland Transport a Pew Research Center article "Americans and Their Cars: Is the Romance on the Skids?" many Americans seem to be losing interest in driving around.To me this is something that has been a long time coming.  Read More
posted Wednesday, August 02, 2006 7:50 PM by adron | 1 Comments
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