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Letter sent today to Mayor Garcetti, Los Angeles
This could be a template for YOUR letter to your Mayor, County Supervisor, Congressman etc. Hon. Eric Garcetti Mayor, City of Los Angeles Dear Mayor Garcetti: Thank you for your support of passenger rail, including the Amtrak National Network. We believe that this system of trains and connecting buses is a great asset,…
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Update from California High Speed Rail
News Release June 18, 2018 Toni Tinoco 559-445-6776 (w) 559-274-8975 (c) [email protected] Ben Kimball 559-623-0450 (w) [email protected] Cross Valley Corridor Plan Approved With Connection to Kings/Tulare High-Speed Rail Station DINUBA, Calif. – Today, the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) Board voted to approve the Cross Valley Corridor Plan that will serve as a vision…
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Coalition Forming to save the Chief, and the rest of the National Network
Leaders of RailPAC, All Aboard Arizona, Southwest Passenger Rail Association and the Rail PAssenger Association (NARP) met in Mesa AZ Saturday in the first steps to set up a coalition to support the National Network trains, especially in the west. We’ll be working to add support groups in Colorado, Oregon and Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas…
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LAUS Summer Train Fest – But where are the advocates?
Take a look at the announcement for the Summer Train Fest: Union Station Summer Train Fest to be held Saturday, July 15 As I write we have not received an invitation, even though we were regularly invited to National Train Day activities. Apparently we have to be approved by Metro, Metrolink and LOSSAN, possibly Amtrak…
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Amtrak At Last Looking to Renew or Upgrade Locomotives
From Amtrak Press release: Amtrak to Improve National Network Locomotive Fleet New or rebuilt locomotives will provide more reliable service, a smoother ride and improved safety features WASHINGTON – With demand for Amtrak service at record levels, Amtrak is moving to either acquire new locomotives or rebuild its current diesel fleet of locomotives to supplement…
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Southwest Chief Developments
Amtrak’s actions regarding the Southwest Chief, threatening to stop running the train through western Kansas, Colorado and eastern New Mexico via the Raton Pass have run into opposition from the Senators for those states. https://www.chieftain.com/bipartisan-bicameral-lawmakers-raise-concerns-over-amtrak-withholding-funding-for/pdf_55d3c0bc-6523-11e8-9163-d371f5d9f499.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share RailPAC will be asking California and Nevada Senators to write in support of their colleagues. Please support our efforts by…
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Amtrak National Network Campaign – Some Helpful Tools
Here are a couple of sample letters to cut and paste in whole or in part. The first objective is to get our California Senators, Feinstein and Harris, to recognize the problem and to take action with their fellow Senators: Dear Senator ( ): Thank you for your support of passenger rail, including the Amtrak…
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Boardman Joins the Fight for the National Network
In a surprise development, Joe Boardman, former Amtrak CEO, has written a scathing article in Railway Age criticizing the policy of the current Amtrak Board and CEO. When I get permission I’ll reproduce it here. Boardman states that the national network, and especially the long distance trains, are threatened by a philosophy that seeks to…
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California Integrated Travel Conference 2018 at UC Davis May 1and 2
RailPAC Board members Doug Kerr and Steve Roberts attended this event, and their report follows. Chad Edison and State staff have been working hard to bring together the many State rail and transit agencies to make travel easier for the passenger, a long standing RailPAC goal. On May 1 and 2 Steve Roberts and I…
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The Anderson Tape – LA Rail Summit April 19, 2018
The recording of Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson’s presentation, plus audience questions, is now available. The Anderson segment begins at approximately One Hour and 46 minutes. https://www.ustream.tv/recorded/114596550 It seems to be taking an awfully long time for the implications of these remarks to sink in. RailPAC is currently reviewing the options, and sounding out potential allies,…