Railworks America

The Tehachapi double track project that is starting at the end of this year will not be as big as originally expected. The project (funded by BNSF and Caltrans) would double track the main line all the way from Bakersfield to Tehachapi with the exception of Loop Ranch (Tehachapi loop) to remain untouched. Over 100 million dollars was estimated to be the cost of the project, As is turns out those funds where not secured and the BNSF says they can only spend 25 million on the project. There are many different rumors as to how and why the project has shrunk. One of those rumors would be because of agricultural reasons. BNSF has also said they just don't have the money. So for now only five sections of track will be double tracked. I'm not sure which sections yet, but will keep you informed.
As many of you know Union Pacific is in charge of the track's and you might be asking why they are not pitching inn. Truth is UP over the last few years has spent money rebuilding the entire line from Bakersfield to Mojave, replacing all the tracks and grades with cement ties. Union Pacific is also currently finishing up the Wayside signal(CTC) project. So I guessing its time for BNSF to contribute ---Justin

If I had my guess, the finished portions would probably be of phase-I, which includes the line from Caliente to tunnel-2 (Allard/Bealville-West), perhaps even to include phase-II, from Bealville to Cliff. There's also the fact of Obama declaring the Chavez Ranch in Keene a National Monument last October, which effectively puts the kabosh on anything between Rowen and Woodford. CTC and BNSF had stated the monument was the key that blocked the project, mainly because it would take more than a year for a new environmental impact study and BNSF would miss the December 2013 deadline to receive a portion of the transportation initiative bond to help fund the project.

More info: http://www.planning.org/news/daily/stor ... =186134941

Hack wrote:If I had my guess, the finished portions would probably be of phase-I, which includes the line from Caliente to tunnel-2 (Allard/Bealville-West), perhaps even to include phase-II, from Bealville to Cliff. There's also the fact of Obama declaring the Chavez Ranch in Keene a National Monument last October, which effectively puts the kabosh on anything between Rowen and Woodford. CTC and BNSF had stated the monument was the key that blocked the project, mainly because it would take more than a year for a new environmental impact study and BNSF would miss the December 2013 deadline to receive a portion of the transportation initiative bond to help fund the project.

More info: http://www.planning.org/news/daily/stor ... =186134941

Business as usual for the gov...

Hack wrote:If I had my guess, the finished portions would probably be of phase-I, which includes the line from Caliente to tunnel-2 (Allard/Bealville-West), perhaps even to include phase-II, from Bealville to Cliff.

More info: http://www.planning.org/news/daily/stor ... =186134941

Thank you for posting a link Marc. Yes, that was my thinking too. Especially at Cliff. It is disappointing though, wouldn't be cool to see double track along the whole line? Lots of earth and tunnels would have to be removed, but It would be neat to see. ---Justin