Plan to use Amtrak as fallback for high-speed rail criticized
Federal rules require another use for the track if the high-speed project unravels. But Amtrak officials have concerns about changing their popular Central Valley route.
By Dan Weikel and Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times
December 27, 2011
When the Obama administration gave California $3.4 billion in startup money for a high-speed rail system, it insisted on a guarantee that the project would not become a white elephant — something critics could brand as a train to nowhere.
The first section of track had to run down the spine of the Central Valley and have another use, should the rest of the bullet train project collapse.
Those requirements are now at the center of an intensifying political battle, waged by critics who say the state's fallback plan to use a 130-mile stretch of track for slower Amtrak service is a sham because there's no guarantee the national rail service will ever use it.
Amtrak said it has no agreement to operate on the track and has not analyzed the possible negative effects on one of its most successful rail lines. Still, the California High Speed Rail Authority has estimated 45 minutes could be shaved off Amtrak's current service between Bakersfield and Merced.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bullet-train-20111227,0,2904247.story
= new reply since forum marked as read
Rail was developed to transport freight not as a passenger transport, per se. And it remains an efficient means to move freight, even in the light of speedier truck transport.
No clue how this will play out. Seems some of the opposition to AMTRAK "relocating" to new rail lines if a bullet train becomes unfeasible after new rail construction comes from local cities that would be bypassed.
The discussions in Sacramento are pretty convoluted. They are in the article here, too.
from land owners who may have to sell right of way rights. Don't think either are anti-rail. Seems more of a conflict with the local picture vs. the big picture.
Standard conflicts, I guess. 
Not just NIMBY but from all the usual suspects. Nonetheless, it must be done and it will be done, the sooner the better.
I'm a huge supporter and am going to start attending the high speed rail commission meetings, I want to see the Altamont project done.
Let me know if you've been active on this matter, I can use some help in some efforts...
Californians For High Speed Rail (CA4HSR) is a grassroots, statewide coalition of high speed rail supporters advocating for the high speed rail project approved by California voters in November 2008. Founded in 2005, we exist to educate, inform, and organize Californians about ways they can help make high speed rail a reality in the Golden State. Additionally, CA4HSR also encourages sustainable development of the high speed rail (HSR) system, promotes the building of HSR stations in city centers for transit-oriented developments, as well as developing/improving feeder transit systems.
http://www.ca4hsr.org/