by Gary Thorne, et al
As of mid October there has still been no construction activity at the long-delayed Maricopa site. The railcar which was to be placed at the site is still being refurbished, and is not yet ready to be transported.
Williams Junction, the long-awaited stop on the SOUTHWEST CHIEF, is open. The city of Williams and the Grand Canyon Railway first proposed this stop in 1991, with ARPA’s support.
The station at Willcox has been upgraded, but Amtrak apparently has no plans to serve the station at this time.
Benson, which is the site of the recently opened Kartchner Caverns, is hoping to see quite an influx of tourists. Amtrak’s SUNSET LIMITED/TEXAS EAGLE serves Benson four times a week.
Reports indicate as many as six freight trains a day now traverse the Phoenix East Line between Phoenix and Picacho. Meanwhile, the Phoenix West Line seems to be well used with shiny rails as far west as the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, but west of that point, it is not clear how often UP is presently using the line.
Union Pacific has completed the installation of welded rail on the “Tempe Branch” south of Tempe Junction, and part of the Phoenix Line east of Phoenix has seen welded rail laid. West of Phoenix, however, the 1950’s jointed rail is still the rule.
