Over a full decade ago in 1998, the late Adrian Herzog, Ph.D., one of the original bright lights of United Rail Passenger Alliance, compiled a long term plan for the expansion of Amtrak.

Dr. Herzog, who by profession was a rocket scientist and university physics department chair professor, died far too young of a heart attack at his home in Northridge, California in February of 2001 at the age of 52.

Outside of the classroom, Dr. Herzog was a business partner with the late Byron Nordberg, also an original bright light of URPA. Dr. Herzog and retired United States Marine Corps Colonel Nordberg were the proprietors of NHA, Inc., a highly successful rail consulting firm based in Oceanside, California. NHA was the engine which brought the UTDC (now Bombardier) bi-level commuter passenger cars to Southern California for both Metrolink and the Coaster services. A very young Noel Braymer, now editor of the Western Rail Passenger Review and luminary in California passenger rail circles, and also an early associate of URPA, worked with Colonel Nordberg and Dr. Herzog.

The amount of work coming from Dr. Herzog was nearly unparalleled. He was one of the first, using early desktop computers, to create computer modeling for Amtrak passenger trains to measure performance and successfully predict future needs. Much of Dr. Herzog’s work has been featured on URPA’s web site, www.unitedrail.org and remains today as relevant as when it was created. Perhaps one of Dr. Herzog’s greatest accomplishments was the creation of the matrix theory, demonstrating how hubbing and end point connections are critical to the success of any passenger rail system.

Dr. Herzog believed passenger rail was viable on three levels: as a carrier of leisure travelers, as a carrier of regional travelers moving about for any number of reasons, and as a carrier of business travelers seeking an efficient way to travel making the best use of their time in trips under five hours. Remember, in 1998 when this plan was conceived, things like Wi-Fi connections were not yet common, laptop computers were still bulky and heavy, and cellular telephones were in use by a far smaller percentage of the population.

Dr. Herzog and Colonel Nordberg also believed in two basic principles. First, every route should have at least three frequencies, and more if viable. One frequency would be as existing, a second frequency would follow six to 12 hours later so every city or town would have service at marketable times, and a third frequency mimicking the old milk run local trains, where every station had a stop. As you look at Dr. Herzog’s plan below, and see a train with a route name such as the North Coast Limited, imagine a flip schedule train such as the Mainstreeter providing the second frequency, and perhaps another named train for the local.

In some instances, the local train may better serve the route by being a series of shorter trains, such as on the Southern Crescent route between Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, where two separate day trains may provide the best level of service versus one longer train, by providing one train operating between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, and a second day train operating between Atlanta and New Orleans. The first two trains, the Southern Crescent and the (to pick a name) Peach Queen would run the entire route, and the two day trains serve as the “local” option on two separate ends of the route.

Second, they believed passenger train routes did not always have to be in a straight line. They both favored “L” shaped routes where possible, such as taking the Lake Shore Limited from New York City to Chicago, and extending the western terminus of this train south to Memphis, Tennessee to make maximum use of equipment, and build as many city pair combinations as possible into the matrix theory.

Dr. Herzog’s plan focused primarily on a robust long distance network. Some of today’s short distance trains would be replaced by long distance trains (more efficient in many ways), but some regional services as we know them today would continue. Since this was a broad blueprint, many of the minor, regional services were not mentioned, but Dr. Herzog implied each would be retained based on productivity and cost.

Strategic Routes for Amtrak

A Planning Document

October 25, 1998 • Updated 2008

Prepared by Dr. Adrian Herzog, URPA • Northridge, California

Strategic Goal: Output equal to five times the revenue passenger miles produced in FY 2000, achieved by Year 7 of the strategic plan.

This document was originally prepared by the late Adrian Herzog, Ph.D. in October 1998, and updated a decade later in 2008. The breadth of the document demonstrates the foresight of Dr. Herzog in his quest to make passenger rail in his adopted country subsidy-free.

The planning concepts for this document came from several sources, including historic successful passenger train routes and connectivity points, current travel patterns in the United States for both leisure and business travel, and travel to and from major vacation destinations. As an example, more travelers come to New Orleans from Houston, Texas than any other location.

Other factors taken into consideration are population shifts and population growth in new areas, military installations, and locations of major colleges and universities. Additional factors, such as cruise ship terminals were also considered.

Tactical Goal: Maximize network density of flow by maximizing route inter-connectivity, and multiple frequency (2 to 4) trains per route, per day.

National Corridors

• Southern Transcontinental Corridor
• Southwest Transcontinental Corridor
• Central Transcontinental Corridor
• Northern Transcontinental Corridor
• Atlantic Coast Corridor
• Pacific Coast Corridor
• Southwest Corridor
• Central California Corridor
• Pacific Northwest Corridor
• Chicago-Midwest Corridors
• Florida Corridor
• Gulf Coast Corridor
• Texas Triangle
• International links to Canada and Mexico
• Northeast Corridor low level long distance trains

Equipment Types

Superliner Service

California Car Service

Use of the successful daylight California Car/Superliner compatible bi-level equipment for non-overnight trains

Talgo Service

Viewliner Service

Conversion of existing fleet single level cars. This Includes: Viewliner, Amfleet, and Horizon

Power Types

• Genesis (Long distance trains)
• F59PH (Corridors)
• AEM-7 (NEC Long distance trains)

Crew Bases

• Seattle
• San Jose
• Los Angeles
• San Diego
• Denver
• Fort Worth
• Chicago
• New Orleans
• Tampa
• Sanford (Auto Train T&E only)
• Miami
• Charlotte
• Newport News
• Norfolk
• Philadelphia
• Boston
• Vancouver/VIA Rail Canada

Maintenance Bases and Principal Commissaries

• Vancouver, British Columbia/VIA Rail Canada
• Seattle
• Eugene, Oregon
• San Jose
• Los Angeles
• San Diego
• Denver
• Fort Worth
• Chicago
• New Orleans
• Tampa
• Sanford (Auto Train/racks only)
• Miami
• Charlotte
• Newport News
• Philadelphia
• Boston

Turn Maintenance and Commissary Support

• Vancouver, British Columbia/VIA Rail Canada
• Toronto/VIA Rail Canada
• Montreal/VIA Rail Canada
• Boston
• Washington
• Lorton
• Newport News
• Norfolk
• Cleveland
• Detroit
• Chicago
• Eugene, Oregon
• Seattle
• San Francisco
• Lancaster, California
• Redding, California
• Reno
• Santa Barbara
• Las Vegas
• Nogales
• Duluth
• Kansas City
• St. Louis
• Memphis
• Birmingham
• Charleston, South Carolina

Southern Transcontinental Corridor

Sunset Limited	Los Angeles, Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Jacksonville Orlando, Tampa	Superliner Service
Golden State	Los Angeles, Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Abilene, Fort Worth, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto	Superliner Service
Southern Crescent	New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington, DC	Superliner Service
Gulf Breeze	New Orleans, Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York, Boston	Viewliner Service
Gulf Wind	Houston, New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa	Superliner Service
Continental	Los Angeles, Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Abilene, Fort Worth, Dallas, Atlanta, Washington, DC	Superliner Service

Southwest Transcontinental Corridor

Southwest Chief/Capitol Limited	Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Kansas City, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Newport News	Superliner Service
San Francisco Chief	San Jose, Oakland, Bakersfield, Albuquerque, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago	Superliner Service
Grand Canyon Limited	Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Denver	Superliner Service
Zia	Denver, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, El Paso	Superliner Service
El Capitan	Chicago, Kansas City, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson	Superliner Service

Central Transcontinental Corridor

California Zephyr	Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Reno, Salt Lake City, Provo, Denver, Chicago	Superliner Service
Overland Limited	Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Provo, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Laramie, Denver, Omaha, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston	Superliner Service
Pioneer Zephyr	Vancouver BC, Seattle, Portland, Ogden, Salt Lake City, Provo, Denver, Newton, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans	Superliner Service
George Washington	Kansas City, St. Louis, Louisville, Cincinnati, Charleston WV, Charlottesville, Richmond, Newport News	Superliner Service
Cavalier	Fort Worth, Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Washington	Superliner Service
The Memphian	Fort Worth, Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati, Charleston WV, Charlottesville, Richmond, Newport News	Superliner Service

Northern Transcontinental Corridor

Empire Builder	Vancouver BC, Seattle, Yakima, Spokane, Minneapolis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Newport News	Superliner Service
North Coast Limited	Seattle, Spokane, Missoula, Butte, Bozeman, Billings, Bismarck, Minneapolis, Chicago	Superliner Service
Hiawatha	Eugene, Portland, Spokane, Minneapolis, Chicago	Superliner Service
Broadway Limited/Three Rivers	Duluth, Minneapolis, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Boston	Viewliner Service
Pennsylvanian	Kansas City, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia	Viewliner Service
New England States	St. Louis, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, Springfield, Boston	Viewliner Service
Pacemaker	Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, New York, Philadelphia	Viewliner Service
Lake Shore Limited	Memphis, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, New York, Boston	Viewliner Service
Steeler	St. Louis, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia Crew Base: Philadelphia	Viewliner Service
Columbian	Denver, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Newport News	Viewliner Service
Oriental	Vancouver BC, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto (Seasonal)	Viewliner Service

Atlantic Seaboard Corridor

Silver Meteor	Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Charleston, Rocky Mount, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, St. Albans, Montreal	Viewliner Service
Silver Star	Miami, Ocala, Jacksonville, Columbia, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston	Viewliner Service
The Sunland	Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Columbia, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston	Viewliner Service
Everglades	Miami, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Columbia, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Buffalo, Toronto	Viewliner Service
Auto Train, (Passenger section)	Tampa, Orlando, Sanford, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Rocky Mount, Richmond, Lorton, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland (All station stops)	Superliner Service
Auto Train	Sanford, Lorton	Car carrier section
City of New Orleans	Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Mobile, New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto	Superliner Service
City of Miami	Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Charleston SC, Rocky Mount, Richmond, Charlottesville, Charleston WV, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago	Superliner Service
Flamingo	Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Savannah, Macon, Atlanta	California Car Service
Silver Comet	Miami, West Palm Beach, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Savannah, Macon. Atlanta, Birmingham	Superliner Service
The Resort Special	Miami, West Palm Beach, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Savannah, Columbia, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston	Viewliner Service
Champion	Miami, West Palm Beach, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Rocky Mount, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Long Island	Viewliner Service
Gulf Coast Special	Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Rocky Mount, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Long Island
Tidewater	Charleston, Florence, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Franklin, Suffolk, Norfolk	California Car Service
Piedmont	Charlotte, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Franklin, Suffolk, Norfolk	California Car Service
Southern States	Tampa, Ocala, Jacksonville, Savannah, Columbia, Hamlet, Charlotte	California Car Service
Palmland	Miami, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Jacksonville, Savannah, Columbia, Hamlet, Charlotte, High Point, Greensboro, Danville, Charlottesville, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston	Viewliner Service
Rue Orleans	New Orleans, Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham, Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Buffalo, Syracuse, Montreal	Superliner Service
Southwind	Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Savannah, Columbia, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit	Superliner Service

Pacific Coast Corridor

Coast Starlight	Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Eugene, Portland, Seattle	Superliner Service
Shasta Daylight	Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, Eugene, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver BC	Superliner Service
Columbia Starlight	Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Provo, Salt Lake, Ogden, Pocatello, Portland, Seattle	Superliner Service

Southwest Corridor

Pacific Surfliners	San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Jose, San Francisco	Joint Talgo and California Car Service
High Desert	San Diego, Los Angeles, Palmdale, Lancaster	California Car Service
Las Vegans/South	San Diego, Santa Ana, Riverside, San Bernardino, Barstow, Las Vegas	Talgo Service
Las Vegans/North	Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, El Monte, San Bernardino, Las Vegas	Talgo Service
Arizonan	Los Angeles, Riverside, Palm Springs, Indio, Yuma, Phoenix, Tucson, Nogales	Talgo Service
Grand Canyon	Nogales, Tucson, Phoenix, Williams Junction, Grand Canyon	Talgo Service

Central California Corridor

San Joaquins I	San Jose, Oakland, Fresno, Bakersfield, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, San Diego	California Car Service
San Joaquins II	Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, Redding	California Car Service
Capitols	San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Reno	Joint Talgo and California Car Service

Pacific Northwest Corridor

Cascades

Eugene, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver BC

Talgo Service

Chicago-Midwest Corridors

Train of the Saints	St. Paul (Minneapolis), La Crosse, Galesburg, Fort Madison, St. Louis	California Car Service
The Motor City	Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit	California Car Service
The Midwesterner	Omaha, Chicago, Cleveland	California Car Service
The Brewer	Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit	California Car Service
The City of Nashville	Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville	California Car Service

Florida Corridor

Seminole	Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville	California Car Service
Tampa Bay	Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa	California Car Service
Henry Flagler	Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, Miami	California Car Service
Citrus State	Jacksonville, Ocala, West Palm Beach, Miami	California Car Service
Florida Palm	Tampa, West Palm Beach, Miami	California Car Service

Gulf Coast Corridor

Gulf Coast Limited	Houston, New Orleans, Mobile	California Car Service
Iron Mountain	New Orleans, Mobile, Montgomery, Birmingham	California Car Service
Louisiana Eagle	New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Dallas, Fort Worth	California Car Service

Texas Triangle

Texan

Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas

California Car Service

Northeast Corridor (Extended Service Area, in addition to NEC Acela and Regional Service)

Mid Atlantic	Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Richmond, Newport News	Viewliner Service
Maple Leaf/Montrealer	Boston, Albany, Toronto, and New York, Albany, Montreal (Cross Platform at Albany)	Viewliner Service
Royal Blue	Newport News, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Long Island	Viewliner Service
Bostonian	Boston, New York, Allentown, Harrisburg	Viewliner Service
Shenandoan	Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Charlottesville, Cincinnati	Viewliner Service

* Note: Viewliner Service implies any low level conventional long distance and intermediate distance trains including Amfleet, Horizon, and Viewliner

If you would like to print this post, simply click on the “print this post” button at the top and a pre-formatted copy will be available.