Current status of the proposed West Wendover Amtrak Station.
Author: Paniolo_man
10 years ago the city of West Wendover, NV announced that they had recieved Amtrak approval to build a station to be served by the California Zephyr. This station was to be completed within 18 months and cost $1 Million.
There really hasn't been news coverage since. The station didn't get built, and I got a lot of conflicting information as to why from railroaders. I went digging in West Wendover's city records and found the status of the proposed station. After recieveing Approval from Amtrak the city of West Wendover, State of Nevada, and Union Pacific met about the proposed station. Union pacific demanded that a dedicated station siding be built, causing the cost to increase past $6 Million. Further engineering work further raised the cost to $12 Million. Since then, the station is included in the West Wendover CIP every year getting pushed back until they secure a grant to help fund construction.
Union Pacific killed the West Wendover Amtrak station (For now).
Photo 1 is the general area identified as the station location.
Photo 2 is a screenshot of a city report from mid-2016 about the meeting with UP.
Photo 3 is the station proposal as it appears in the most recent CIP.
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Re: Current status of the proposed West Wendover Amtrak Station.
Author: RailRat
Do they still run "Happy Buses" from SLC to Wendover for all the "Jack Mormons" and others to visit the casinos?
(Something I always heard about from my days of servicing there in the 90's)
The Casinos there would seem to be the only attraction people would want to take Amtrak to and from Wendover?, which the bus service seems to have covered pretty well, plus it's not to long of a trip from SLC and more convenient using thier own cars?
Jim Baker
Riverside, CA
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Re: Current status of the proposed West Wendover Amtrak Station.
Author: callum_out
Those numbers are consistent, UP has quoted $3M for a CTC set of switches (plus the siding) for grain elevator
connections.
Out
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Re: Current status of the proposed West Wendover Amtrak Station.
Author: OnTime
I have to agree with Amtrak. UP does not need a completely signaled siding to have passenger trains stop briefly twice a day. UP is simply trying to discourage expanding passenger operations that would contribute to a successful long term outcome for the Zephyr. There is no logical operational reason why this siding has to be installed. There are many other places on UP where Amtrak stops on the mainline for a few minutes to discharge and pick up passengers. Does not seem to be a problem in those locations. Why only at Wendover?
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Re: Current status of the proposed West Wendover Amtrak Station.
Author: P
Yes, it is quite outrageous. So, in 10 years, has there not been any pushback from Amtrak to get this platform built? What have they been doing?
Posted from Android
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Re: Current status of the proposed West Wendover Amtrak Station.
Author: coach
Building America, UP???
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Re: Current status of the proposed West Wendover Amtrak Station.
Author: TCnR
Looking at Google Maps the existing rail facility and siding is a mile or so to the east in Utah, Looks like it gets complicated breaking new ground.
Perhaps they could extend the existing siding, but that's probably complicated as well.
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Re: Current status of the proposed West Wendover Amtrak Station.
Author: irhoghead
I don't know what the passenger speed is through the proposed stop location, but let's figure the slow down, stop, and acceleration will add five minutes to the Zephyr's schedule. Considering Union Pacific's delivery schedules are usually based on days if not weeks, five extra minutes of any train waiting for the Zephyr to pass is not going to kill anybody. But, it's UP's railroad, so extortion is fair game. Until some ranking politician gets involved. If anyone cares enough to do so.
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Re: Current status of the proposed West Wendover Amtrak Station.
Author: okcrr
Funny. Not uncommon for UP to hold trains for hours waiting for opposing traffic anyway.
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Re: Current status of the proposed West Wendover Amtrak Station.
Author: railstiesballast
I think that the UP has become a "welfare queen" when it comes to free stuff from the government.
Just because it is free does not necessarily make it a good idea. Their passenger siding adds two control points and all the associated complexity of testing, potential failrues and delays, and opportunities for track geometry ("rough ride") exceptions. I don't think anyone is happy with how the similar demand for a station track at Palm Springs/Garnet has worked out and that was just for tri-weekly service.
If Amtrak were to offer to compensate the UP for any delays due to passenger trains stopped for station work, that should make the UP whole.
Sometimes people just like to pick a fight.
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