September 2006 - Posts

Google Transit Expands!

Over at Google Transit, the labs have added Pittsburgh, Seattle, Eugene (Oregon), Tampa, and Honolulu.  So now we can get transit in more than just Portland!So go check it out!  :) Read More
posted Tuesday, September 26, 2006 9:21 AM by adron | 0 Comments

PDX, TAC, PDX

North Bound #500 for the week of the 5th thru the 8th of September.Today I boarded the train for my regular Portland to Tacoma and back trips for work.I got to the station with about 15 minutes to spare before departure time.  I however find that Read More
posted Monday, September 25, 2006 9:05 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Train/Amtrak Blogs

Ok so I went reading and found some good train entries recently on some other blogs of various nature.  On rather funny one was the Pinko Train entry.  Beware it's somewhat vulgar for the weak of heart.A nice summary of No Mystery Train.  Read More
posted Sunday, September 24, 2006 3:18 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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23rd to Riverplace Delay Study

So there is still more to really flesh out these solutions, but so far this is what I was able to derive as needed changes during a mere 3/4th trip.  I rode from 21st and Lovejoy to Riverplace, then back up to 10th & Salmon.  Just in that Read More
posted Sunday, September 24, 2006 2:55 PM by adron | 5 Comments
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More Amtrak Financial Info

I just wanted to post this image.  Whenever I discuss Amtrak's Funding and Budget with anyone I wanted to have quick access to somewhere I knew.  Well here it is straight from Amtrak's Financial Report itself.  I have the report available Read More
posted Saturday, September 23, 2006 12:02 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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The Research Thus Far - Notes

FY 2005 Amtrak Revenue:  $1.89 Billion FY 2005 Amtrak Expenses:  $2.94 Billion FY 2005 Amtrak Net Loss:  $1.05 Billion Amtrak Route Miles:  21,000 with 500 destinations. Amtrak has almost 300 trains per day with an average of 69,000 Read More
posted Saturday, September 23, 2006 11:32 AM by adron | 2 Comments
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TAC, SEA

So I decided that I'd just up and plunk my behind down on the north bound Amtrak Cascades run up to Seattle from Tacoma tonight.  So now I city at All City Coffee on 4th and Washington with a grand view of the tracks below, a billboard in front (ok Read More
posted Friday, September 22, 2006 10:07 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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A Quick Research Fact

As stated in a previous post, I've started an intense look into the various aspects of Virgin's Private Rail Travel vs. Amtrak's Public Rail Travel. A VERY interesting tidbit I just stumbled upon in comparing Virgin Rail vs. Amtrak. At 1,550 route Read More
posted Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:31 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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320mph TGV

Ya know, I can't help but sit and want to cry when I see such awesome footage. 320mph. Does the US realize the potential of this? Where did we really go wrong? I'm sorry an elaborate and more costly interstate system that we're all condemned to Read More
posted Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:23 PM by adron | 2 Comments
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Passenger Rail Report Begins

Thus it begins, the largest and most organized study that I have done on transportation yet. Specifically the largest study that I have committed to on Rail Transportation Companies and comparisons. So far I have downloaded financial information from Read More
posted Friday, September 15, 2006 2:16 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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PDX, TAC, PDX

So on the way home from work last week on Friday I had an exceptionally fun and interesting trip on the Amtrak Cascades south bound from Tacoma to Portland.  I boarded the train, along with my father, my coworker Reid Roman, and off we all went. Read More
posted Tuesday, September 12, 2006 7:21 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Union Pacific the Passenger Railroad's Friend

Union Pacific, a passenger rail friend. Read More
posted Thursday, September 07, 2006 7:09 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Battery Powered Electrical Streetcar

Wow, an electrical Streetcar - which is what they are already most of the time.  Sounds really nice but electricity comes from somewhere thus in most cities and areas of use it wouldn't be any cleaner on a whole than other forms.But it is a nice Read More
posted Thursday, September 07, 2006 2:00 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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The Toothbrush Trip

So I forgot my toothbrush.  With that I decided it best for the remainder of the week and all I work with that I set out on a venture to get a toothbrush.So I did a little search and found a Bartell Drugstore, figured it would have one, and checked Read More
posted Wednesday, September 06, 2006 6:24 PM by adron | 2 Comments
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The Flight Cost - AKA, another reason for increased short distance train travel

So I've sat down and started figuring out how much this "early arrival" need actually cost me this week.  To make a comparison keep in mind I generally pay $40.00 per one-way direction on the Amtrak Cascades.  Sometimes I pay $34.00 but generally Read More
posted Sunday, September 03, 2006 11:31 PM by adron | 0 Comments

Tri-Met's Bicycle Issues

Tri-Met seems to be having a unique Portland oriented issue with its transportation services. Too many bikes and not enough carry space. It's a standard issue of supply and demand, but being they are heavily subsidized I can see where they have a hard Read More
posted Sunday, September 03, 2006 7:15 PM by adron | 3 Comments
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PDX, TAC, VAN

Portland, Oregon toTacoma, Washington toVancouver, WashingtonSo after last weeks crazy mess of transit fiasco's from a late train, to a broken down bus, a extremely late bus, overfilled busses, the usurping of individual rights for one individual, Read More
posted Saturday, September 02, 2006 5:57 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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Another Advantage of Train Travel

In addition to the increased space, comfort, better ride, and more rigid strength and durability of the vehicles another thought just popped into my head after reading an entry over at Metroblogging Portland about a possible projectile off of I-205. Read More
posted Friday, September 01, 2006 4:51 PM by adron | 0 Comments
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