A concern of residents in the vicinity
of the Santa Fe Depot is the practice of trains idling during the night
(diesel engines running) in order to prepare Amtrak trains for the next
morning operations. Amtrak has been working on this issue, and has
reached the beginning of the construction stage of a project that will
significantly reduce the
idling night trains at the Depot.
The project will add electrical equipment to the south end of the
station, allowing the trains to use electrical power at night rather
than running the diesel engines. The engines will still be run at night
to test the trains for the morning, but for a small amount of time. The
project cost is $840,000. The goal of the project is to reduce air
pollution from the diesel engines, and also remove the noise of the
idling engines. Amtrak estimates the project will be complete by the end
of summer 2007.