If a high speed rail system is built between Albany and Buffalo as part of President Obama's transportation stimulus package, don't expect a stop in Batavia, according to Tim Hens, county highway superintended.
"They won't stop for us now, so I can't image they will stop for us at double the speed," Hens said.
Hens said its his understanding that the high-speed line will only stop at major cities.
There hasn't been a rail stop in Batavia -- which was part of history when Lincoln's train stopped here -- in his lifetime, which means for at least 35 or 40 years, Hens said.
There currently is an Amtrak route that heads east from Buffalo and the trip to Albany can take seven hours or longer, Hens noted, with stops to yield right-of-way to cargo trains and whether being two factors that can increase the length of the trip.
"You can drive a car there in half the time," Hens said.
Hens advocates a new dedicated line for a high-speed rail, but that would entail a great deal more expense, including new passenger stations and switches. The only place to build a rail without acquiring new right-of-way is along the path of the Thruway, but the Thruway Authority, he noted, has it's own agenda, which includes collecting tolls from drivers who might opt for rail over car travel if it were available.
While a rail stop in Batavia could be beneficial to the city, Hens said, it's just too close to both Buffalo and Rochester to efficiently run a train between spots so close together.
"You would get up to speed about half way from Buffalo and need to slow down to stop in Batavia," he said.
Well knock me over with a
Well knock me over with a feather. I can't believe there isn't going to be a High Speed Rail Station in Batavia. The next thing we're going to find out is the entire concept is flawed and the estimated cost to build the High Speed Rail is well below (as in billions of dollars) the actual expenditure required. This idea is merely a pipe dream meant to keep everyone distracted.
Just understand, I asked the
Just understand, I asked the question to satisfy my own curiosity on the topic. If I'm curious, maybe others are as well.
then why bother I thought for
then why bother
I thought for sure it would of involved Batavia
So many people from
Batavia work in either Buffalo or
Rochester.
I would be disappointed if it doesnt include
Batavia.
There is only ONE place for
There is only ONE place for an area transportation center and that is in Batavia - much like Syracuse and Albany have. Bus and train arrivals and departures happen in clean, well appointed and organized facilities. Batavia is the logical point for folks coming from either Buffalo or Rochester to begin thier trips. It is a short commute from either city.
From a historical point of view, of course Batavia has the story. When Dean Richmond was president of the railroad, EVERY passenger train stopped in Batavia.
We should be lobbying big time for the opportunity to become the transportation capital of Western New York.
Bea, first--so glad to see
Bea, first--so glad to see back on The Batavian. Where have you been? We've been worried about you.
Also, your idea of making Batavia a single hub for transportation serving both Rochester and Buffalo has some merit.
"When Dean Richmond was
"When Dean Richmond was president of the railroad, EVERY passenger train stopped in Batavia."
Yippee. We traveled around via horse and buggy. People communicated via letters or telegraph. Blacks were considered property and women couldn't vote. Those were some good times.
"When Dean Richmond was
"When Dean Richmond was president of the railroad, EVERY passenger train stopped in Batavia.
Yippee. We traveled around via horse and buggy. People communicated via letters or telegraph. Blacks were considered property and women couldn't vote. Those were some good times."
Valid points, however the consideration should be on what the added value would be to our area. A transportation center, in Batavia, would have job opportunities; it would be an asset when attracting businesses to the area; and it would have a positive recognition factor while still maintaining the rural flavor of our county.
The point is that Batavia was an integral hub for transportation and it could be again.
If you haven't taken the opportunity to ride the train east, I would strongly recommend the experience. The stops in Syracuse and the Albany transportation hubs are worth exploring. By the way, the Albany hub is not in Albany. It would be the same distance as Batavia is to Buffalo and/or Rochester.
PS: I do remember trains stopping in Batavia (yes, I'm old enough to remember when the Dead Sea wasn't sick). At that time, we were advanced enough to see women vote; blacks were emancipated; there was a telephone in almost every home; the city of Batavia had a bustling bus line; reliable cab service; a booming Main Street; and automobiles galore; we had a morning and afternoon mail delivery for those antiquated means of communication (the letter)and we had a busy telegraph office.
"Bea, first--so glad to see
"Bea, first--so glad to see back on The Batavian. Where have you been? We've been worried about you.
Also, your idea of making Batavia a single hub for transportation serving both Rochester and Buffalo has some merit."
Thank you, so much, Howard. I suffered a major computer crash in November. I'm stumbling along on an old one right now and hope to be fully back to normal soon.
It is ironic, that on my first night back on line after 5 months coincided with a topic that holds a great deal of interest to me - bringing rail service back to Batavia.
We should organize a train trip to NYC to see a baseball game, hehehe!
"We should organize a train
"We should organize a train trip to NYC to see a baseball game, hehehe! " Ya know Bea that is a great idea. let's see what kind of response we can get from "thebatavian" readers!! (will it be Yanks or Mets???
I'm in! Prefer the Mets. It
I'm in! Prefer the Mets. It would be a great trip.
I can understand why Batavia
I can understand why Batavia would not be a stop on a high speed rail line. In Europe the Higher speed raillines do go between major cities, however there are also local or express lines which stop at smaller cities. I remember travelling from Rome,IT to Florence using the express rail. It wasn't really express it was like taking Trailways Bus from Rochester to Buffalo and stopping at every town large or small on the way. So, in Europe there is a choice how one wants to travel by rail. Next time I'm in Italy I'll take the high speed railline to make that trip and it would only take 1.5 hours instead of 4 hours. Anyways, my point is, it would be nice to have a rapid rail stop in Batavia, but it's not economically feasable. I hope the high speed line gets done within the next 5-10 years if not sooner. Maybe, when that becomes successful we can start thinking about other raillines like the ones that used to travel western NY, connecting to a major hub like in Buffalo and Rochester. It's time to use electric powered trains to do all this, since we have an abundant source of electricity nearby.
Save me a seat, Yankees
Save me a seat, Yankees
Posted by Ron C Welker about
Posted by Ron C Welker about 35 minutes ago
Save me a seat, Yankees
Why can't we do both? Both teams are playing in new homes. I'd love to do a stadium tour.
Rail is not needed here.
Rail is not needed here. When it comes right down to it this will be under utilized and another government child sucking at the teet of your wallet.
If we need this multi-year project to stimulate the economy right now, why not give it back to those people who make the economy work, all of us.
If the stimulus money were all sent back to taxpayers the economy would immediately turn around including GM and Chrysler as people spent the money on things they need or want.
Instead we are going to steal from the next generation to build a rail line that we will never stop funding and then force the next generation to continue to do the same.
Well Put Peter. I think we
Well Put Peter. I think we all would like to see the stimulus money in our pockets. It is ours right???? The majority of us could use it to keep our heads above water. I dont understand who is in control of the taxpayers $$. OBAMA meant it to go back to us, not to be spent frivalasily {SPELL THAT}.
"I dont understand who is in
"I dont understand who is in control of the taxpayers $$. OBAMA meant it to go back to us, not to be spent frivalasily {SPELL THAT}."
You can't be serious. The Government is in charge of your money and they will spend it is they see fit. They know what's best for you. Social Security is truly supposed to be your money and that was spent here there and everywhere over the years, to everything but where most of it genuinely was supposed to go. (In fact, Social Security is nothing but a Ponzi Scheme but we aren't supposed to know that.) Lottery tickets we were told would benefit education - hah! Sin taxes are meant for health related expenses, doesn't happen anywhere near the amount it should be. The government is a giant very hungry pig and your tax dollars are the feed trough.
If Obama wanted us to have
If Obama wanted us to have that money he would have vetoed the bill.
Even just a regular train
Even just a regular train stop would be nice.I rember when i lived in Bedford Hills Ny the stopped at many small towns.Way smaller than batavia is.It is fun riding trains.And you see more..dan
I never thought putting our
I never thought putting our tax money into infrastructure was spending friviously. It is investing in our future. Just like the Erie Canal, the Transcontinental Railroad, the interstate highway system, Hoover Dam, the TVA, NYS Power Authority projects on the Niagara and St. Lawrence Rivers and our national parks. A new improved rail system which can get you from city to city quickly and efficiently can exist along side airports and highways and remove the stress on their respective infrastructures.
Not as long as I have a voice
Not as long as I have a voice will they dictate my life to me. Just for instance the thruway from Batavia to about the Monroe County line, and from Batavia to the Rez exit. The roads are deplorable. We pay the troll every time we decide to use it. What are they doing with the toll $$? Certainly not maintaining the thruway...
I have nothing against the railroad either. It would be smart to put a small terminal here in Batavia.
Like the fast ferry? That
Like the fast ferry? That can be considered infrastructure. Like the hundreds of subsidized mass transit projects the in country?
People like the freedom of their cars and would rather have that freedom over saving a few hours.
I drive the thruway everyday
I drive the thruway everyday and it is not in that bad of shape around here. I just took a trip to Cleveland this weekend and 90 is much worse elsewhere. Not to mention that the thruway is the best kept road in the winter.