Las Vegas "X" Train coming in 2013

[mfs NJT459]

From Huffington Post:

LAS VEGAS -- As if a weekend in Las Vegas isn't wild enough for Southern Californians, a Nevada entrepreneur is about to add five more hours of party to either end.

 

After striking an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad last week, the Las Vegas Railway Express is one step closer to bringing to life the X Train, a luxurious "party train" complete with big screen TVs, recliners and two ultra lounges.

 

"The whole idea is when you get on a train, you feel like you're in Las Vegas," said Michael Barron, president and CEO of the $100 million venture that hopes to launch its maiden voyage on New Year's Eve 2013. "It's essentially a nightclub on wheels."

 

Tourists can't get from Southern California to Las Vegas by rail alone, and Barron's company isn't the first to try and fix that. The much-talked-about XpressWest project proposes a high-speed train connecting Sin City to the region from which it draws 25 percent of its tourists.

 

But it's a multi-billion-dollar proposal that would require setting new tracks, and it's often panned as a "train to nowhere" because the first phase would start in relatively obscure Victorville, about 100 miles outside of Los Angeles.

The X Train proposal calls for an Amtrak crew aboard a 576-passenger train that runs at standard speeds on traditional tracks.

 

It would start in Fullerton, Calif. – already home to an Amtrak station and part of Southern California's Metrolink commuter train network – and end in downtown Las Vegas.

 

A conditional agreement with Union Pacific, approved Nov. 16, will allow the company to use a rail line that's currently limited to freight trains and hasn't served passengers since Amtrak discontinued its Desert Wind service in 1997 due to low ridership.

 

Tickets for the adults-only train would cost $99 each way and include a meal and beverage, with plenty more alcohol available for purchase. To keep ticket prices low, the company would try to make money booking Las Vegas hotels and entertainment for passengers.

 

With initial plans for one trip a day on Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday, Barron believes he can attract tourists weary of the weekend traffic gridlock and perhaps hung over from their weekend revelry.

 

"Sunday is horrific," Barron said of the Interstate 15 corridor that links Las Vegas and its neighbor. "So now you've been up for 40 hours gambling and you have to drive for seven hours – that's just horrible. But people do it in spite of that!"

John Lawson, who was in Las Vegas from Orange County for a few days over Thanksgiving, said he'd like the option of hopping on a train rather than braving bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way back.

"If you party really hard, it sucks driving back," said Lawson, 28.

 

Vegas visitor Christina Bojorquez, 25, said she'd have to weigh the cost of the train ride against other cheap options, including discounted flights and sharing the expense of driving to Vegas.

 

"For special occasions it would be good, but not all the time," she said.

 

Tom Skancke, a transportation consultant for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, pointed to the proposed trains and other alternatives to personal cars as options that could entice a new generation of tourists. A new Greyhound Express nonstop bus route between L.A. and Las Vegas launched earlier this month.

 

"These modes of transportation do appeal to a younger, more eco-friendly traveler," Skancke said. "This generation is more interested in passenger rail, transit and high-speed rail than previous generations."

 

There's still work to be done on the X Train to get it running by late 2013. The sixteen cars the company has purchased need to be renovated, and a station needs to be completed in downtown Vegas.

 

"We're four years and $12 million into it. It's a lot of infrastructure building," Barron said. "This is a simple concept in discussion, but it's complicated to do."

 

Official Website

http://www.vegasxtrain.com/

[Turbo19]

This seems like a nice "pleasure" type of service, however I'd like to see a more affordable option in the future (HSR).

[Brighton Express]

This seems pretty interesting...

[Kamen Rider]

however I'd like to see a more affordable option in the future (HSR).

 

 

that went out the window when Desert Xpress went swinging for the fences.

[mfs NJT459]

its similar to the ACES, only the age is 21+...

 

I think the service really should be from LA Union Station w/ a stop in Fullerton to Las Vegas

[qjtransitmaster]

genius it won't be slower than a bus so it won't share ACES' fate

[theaveragejoe]

its similar to the ACES, only the age is 21+...

 

I think the service really should be from LA Union Station w/ a stop in Fullerton to Las Vegas

 

 

Sounds like ACES all over again lets see how long this one can last this time!

[Kamen Rider]

does have a few points in it's favor. Las Vegas is an hour and a half further by car through the Mojave Wasteland Desert (gotta stop playing Fallout: New Vegas) than the drive from Midtown Manhattan to AC.

[theaveragejoe]

does have a few points in it's favor. Las Vegas is an hour and a half further by car through the Mojave Wasteland Desert (gotta stop playing Fallout: New Vegas) than the drive from Midtown Manhattan to AC.

 

 

Yes but service doesnt start in downtown LA (Union Station) which I think is gonna hurt them.

[qjtransitmaster]

Yes but service doesnt start in downtown LA (Union Station) which I think is gonna hurt them.

 

NOPE Metrolink service links to this line from LA and suburban orange county via inland empire line. UNLIKE NYC LA has several CBDs not just one but many meaning many people are not all going to and from downtown LA. The ACES was slower than the bus by 1 hour it had no chance and indirect ROW was hurting the route. This X train is direct unlike ACES and the bus won't be head to head faster in this case as people going to vegas are all coming from different parts of LA riverside and orange county and palm springs ect. Meaning Metrolinx may have an opportunity to send their crosstown line to vegas which will attract a large market share as the rail network reacheds more places at once than a greyhound station. But those without $ to burn will go greyhound and not near rail but bus will use buses but buses don't have a speed advantage like they did with NYC to AC.

[theaveragejoe]

NOPE Metrolink service links to this line from LA and suburban orange county via inland empire line. UNLIKE NYC LA has several CBDs not just one but many meaning many people are not all going to and from downtown LA. The ACES was slower than the bus by 1 hour it had no chance and indirect ROW was hurting the route. This X train is direct unlike ACES and the bus won't be head to head faster in this case as people going to vegas are all coming from different parts of LA riverside and orange county and palm springs ect. Meaning Metrolinx may have an opportunity to send their crosstown line to vegas which will attract a large market share as the rail network reacheds more places at once than a greyhound station. But those without $ to burn will go greyhound and not near rail but bus will use buses but buses don't have a speed advantage like they did with NYC to AC.

 

But this train will be stuck in the rail traffic heading east as its the 2nd busiest east-west route for UP. Also most people either like driving or flying. The prices they are charging will limit their marketshare. I would expect Megabus to do better on this route that its running from LA to Vegas.

[qjtransitmaster]

But this train will be stuck in the rail traffic heading east as its the 2nd busiest east-west route for UP. Also most people either like driving or flying. The prices they are charging will limit their marketshare. I would expect Megabus to do better on this route that its running from LA to Vegas.

like driving you can't be serious. But UP rail traffic may kill it thus giving buses an unfair advantage. Flying over rail yes but car nope. Their prices I admit are a bit high for no reason.

[Kamen Rider]

Yes but service doesnt start in downtown LA (Union Station) which I think is gonna hurt them.

 

So, it's an improvement on the private high speed rail project, whatever they call themsevels now. They wanted to start from Victorville. Fullerton is atleast on the right side of the San Gabriels.

 

It's a 40 minute ride from LA Union to Fullerton station on Amtrak and Metrolink, or about 30 mintues by car. Victorville is a full hour and fifteen mintues by car and they only thing passing through there now railwise is the Southwest Chief, and that's a 4 hour trip to do 80 miles. Plus eastbound it get's there at 9 PM and westbound it's tagged for 20 after 4 in the morning.

[qjtransitmaster]

So, it's an improvement on the private high speed rail project, whatever they call themsevels now. They wanted to start from Victorville. Fullerton is atleast on the right side of the San Gabriels.

 

It's a 40 minute ride from LA Union to Fullerton station on Amtrak and Metrolink, or about 30 mintues by car. Victorville is a full hour and fifteen mintues by car and they only thing passing through there now railwise is the Southwest Chief, and that's a 4 hour trip to do 80 miles. Plus eastbound it get's there at 9 PM and westbound it's tagged for 20 after 4 in the morning.

the train is not that much slower than the car wow. I don't know that area but southwest chief is it that slow to do a trip that should take 1 hour?

[Turbo19]

the train is not that much slower than the car wow. I don't know that area but southwest chief is it that slow to do a trip that should take 1 hour?

 

The route suffers in California. Please view the schedule here: http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/66/819/Southwest-Chief-110412.pdf

 

Between LA Union and Victorville alone, the Southwest Chief gets tied up a lot.

 

Between LA & Fullerton to favor Metrolink, between Fullerton & Riverside due to BNSF rail traffic, between Riverside & San Bernardino due to the Colton Crossing (UP), and basically UP has priority up until Needles for the most part.

[qjtransitmaster]

The route suffers in California. Please view the schedule here: http://www.amtrak.co...hief-110412.pdf

 

Between LA Union and Victorville alone, the Southwest Chief gets tied up a lot.

 

Between LA & Fullerton to favor Metrolink, between Fullerton & Riverside due to BNSF rail traffic, between Riverside & San Bernardino due to the Colton Crossing (UP), and basically UP has priority up until Needles for the most part.

 

then why bother running trains why can't UP run their own passenger trains wouldn't it be cheaper to operate for them than for amtrak to run it?

 

DAFAQ? a bus is FASTER CMON AMTRAK!!!!!! This is why people DON'T USE AMTRAK. 1 hour and plus to do a 40 min trip unacceptable they shouldn't even bother

[Turbo19]

Speaking of buses, look up Megabus's new service between LA & LV, and Riverside & LV.

[theaveragejoe]

then why bother running trains why can't UP run their own passenger trains wouldn't it be cheaper to operate for them than for amtrak to run it?

 

DAFAQ? a bus is FASTER CMON AMTRAK!!!!!! This is why people DON'T USE AMTRAK. 1 hour and plus to do a 40 min trip unacceptable they shouldn't even bother

 

Why cause UP couldnt careless about this service!

[qjtransitmaster]

Why cause UP couldnt careless about this service!

 

if some incentives are given maybe they would do a better job than amtrak

I really think amtrak should give up on sharing with freight

[DJ MC]

then why bother running trains why can't UP run their own passenger trains wouldn't it be cheaper to operate for them than for amtrak to run it?

 

DAFAQ? a bus is FASTER CMON AMTRAK!!!!!! This is why people DON'T USE AMTRAK. 1 hour and plus to do a 40 min trip unacceptable they shouldn't even bother

 

 

There is a reason why UP and everyone else that had passenger trains gave up passenger trains in the first place. That reasoning is why Amtrak was created in the first place to keep passenger trains in this country alive while trying to stay alive and improve the service the best they could.

 

Amtrak is being held by the balls by the government and has been since May 1, 1971. I can safely say the only reason we haven't lost any trains so far is because of the current administration, but even then it really doesn't matter, cause we've lost more trains under democratic administrations then any Republican administration, so Amtrak is basically being held by the balls no matter who's in office.

 

You should be glad we have any passenger trains running around the country at all considering what's happened in the last 41 years. Thanks to people like William Graham Clayton, Jr., Thomas Downs, David L. Gunn, and Joseph Boardman Amtrak's head is still above water to this day.

[qjtransitmaster]

There is a reason why UP and everyone else that had passenger trains gave up passenger trains in the first place. That reasoning is why Amtrak was created in the first place to keep passenger trains in this country alive while trying to stay alive and improve the service the best they could.

 

Amtrak is being held by the balls by the government and has been since May 1, 1971. I can safely say the only reason we haven't lost any trains so far is because of the current administration, but even then it really doesn't matter, cause we've lost more trains under democratic administrations then any Republican administration, so Amtrak is basically being held by the balls no matter who's in office.

 

You should be glad we have any passenger trains running around the country at all considering what's happened in the last 41 years. Thanks to people like William Graham Clayton, Jr., Thomas Downs, David L. Gunn, and Joseph Boardman Amtrak's head is still above water to this day.

 

the times will soon change this hehe. ridership will overwhelm amtrak eventually.

[Kamen Rider]

is that from the same logic that made you say 3 million people a day would use NJT transit rail within the next few years..?

[DJ MC]

the times will soon change this hehe. ridership will overwhelm amtrak eventually.

 

 

They said the same years ago and Amtrak is still here. Plus I think your forgetting the two 130 passenger car orders Amtrak made from CAF and Nippon Sharyo this year. Keep in mind not all of the equipment will be replaced for the single level order. Some of the ones in good condition will be kept for a few more years. Nippon Sharyo's option order for 300 additional cars as well as CAF's option order for 70 is also something to be aware of.

[qjtransitmaster]

They said the same years ago and Amtrak is still here. Plus I think your forgetting the two 130 passenger car orders Amtrak made from CAF and Nippon Sharyo this year. Keep in mind not all of the equipment will be replaced for the single level order. Some of the ones in good condition will be kept for a few more years. Nippon Sharyo's option order for 300 additional cars as well as CAF's option order for 70 is also something to be aware of.

 

That wasn't what I meant. But It can be a possibility as amtrak and passenger rail providers get more creative.

[mfs NJT459]

Well, the project has hit the "politics as usual" mark as far as funding

 

http://reviewjournal.com/news/traffic-transportation/proposal-proposed-69-billion-high-speed-rail-project-hits-snag