Pennsylvania-Arizona Comparison

Harrisburg-Philadelphia Rail Line

Phoenix-Tucson Rail Line

March 2007 – Passenger Rail Corridor Profile Comparison

Harrisburg-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Phoenix-Tucson, Arizona (pre-2012)

Phoenix-Tucson, Arizona (Projected 2012)

Corridor Distance

104 miles

121 miles

121 miles

Corridor Host Railroad

Norfolk Southern Railway

Union Pacific Railroad

Union Pacific Railroad

Corridor Built (date)

1834

1880-1925-1964

1880-1925-1964

Improvement Commencement

2001

N/A

2008-2012

Population in Corridor

5,800,000+

4,000,000+

5,000,000+

Daily Passenger Trains

12 weekday round trips

6 weekend round trips

Thrice Weekly Service

Tucson-Maricopa segment

7 weekday round trips

3-5 weekend round trips

Ridership (Monthly)

72,100 (June 2006)

2,500-5,000

50,000 (March 2012)

Stations in Corridor

21 stations

4 stations

8 stations

Fare Structure

$12-26 (round trip)

$18-36 (round trip)

Tucson-Maricopa segment

$25-40 (round trip)

Passenger Rail Speed

110mph (Oct 30, 2006)

from 90mph

79mph max

45-79-90mph (Phoenix)

90-110mph (Gila)

Trip Duration (one way)

1 hour; 45 minutes

(105 minutes)

90 mins to 3 hours

(86-mile segment Tucson-Maricopa)

1 hour; 46 minutes

(106 minutes)

Daily Freight Trains

12+

10+ freights (Phoenix)

45+ freights (Gila Main)

20+ freights (Phoenix)

60-100 freights (Gila Main)

Signaling

Improved CTC signals

New electronics-fib-optics

2-dozen signal-houses

CTC and DTC ABS

CTC

Type of Locomotive Power

Electric Overhead Catenary

Conventional Diesel (90mph)

Advanced Diesel (110mph)

Grade Crossings

4+(due for grade separation)

78 grade crossings

120 grade crossings

Capital Improvements

Push-pull electric trains

200 miles of welded rail

216,000 concrete ties

48,000 wood ties

52 new switches

UPRR Double Track project improvement for 47-mile Tucson-Picacho segment, new CTC. (2007-2009) Welded rail for Phoenix Line curves. (2007-2008)

Possible construction of a single, dedicated mainline for passenger rail in segments between Phoenix and Tucson.

(Triple-track Picacho-Tucson)

Finance Structure for Passenger Rail

$145 million Upgrade to existing infrastructure

None available

$600 million -$1 billion

State (PennDOT)

$14.5 million

N/A

TBD State Funding (ADOT)

Federal

N/A

N/A

TBD (USDOT)

Amtrak

N/A

N/A

TBD (Amtrak)

Norfolk Southern

$2 million

N/A

TBD (Union Pacific)