Las Vegas Amtrak service progressing slowly

Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001 | 10:20 a.m.

Amtrak's proposed but long-delayed high-speed passenger service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas is progressing -- slowly.

Danette Woo, environmental compliance specialist with the Mojave National Preserve, a 1.6 million-acre desert area just south of the California-Nevada border, said studies have begun on track improvements in the park area.

The 340-mile route between the cities crosses the park and before Union Pacific, which maintains the route, can begin $28 million in track improvements, it must file an environmental assessment with the National Park Service.

The first draft of the assessment was filed last week. Several reviews and hearings, which could take several months, are ahead before Amtrak can begin operating a 300-passenger high-speed train acquired from Renfe Talgo of America on the route.

Amtrak had hoped to start service last year, but a new startup date hasn't been set in light of the work that lies ahead.

Amtrak hit another snag last summer when it had to request an exemption from federal crash-safety standards mandated by the Federal Railroad Administration for the use of lightweight passenger cars manufactured by Talgo.

The FRA decided to allow Amtrak's use of the Talgo trains on routes on which it was already in operation in the Pacific Northwest. The company expects a similar exemption for trains on the Las Vegas-Los Angeles route since it's the same equipment.

Amtrak has hoped that high-speed train service would garner support from the Las Vegas casino industry in the form of advance ticket purchases, but so far, no casino company has stepped forward to participate.