Author: Russ Jackson

  • Amtrak’s summer long distance (bad) on time performance, and the Toledo Night Express

    Commentary by Russ Jackson …comments in this report are those of the author, not necessarily those of the RailPAC Board of Directors What a summer it has been for Amtrak’s long distance trains. The new fiscal year began on October 1 so the counting starts over. Usually we comment only on the western trains here,…

  • RailPAC rail PHOTOS of the month (September, 2014)

    Here are this month’s photos by RailPAC photographers from everywhere! Click on each photo to see it full size! Contributions to this page are welcome. Send your jpg rail photos to Russ Jackson, RailPAC Photo Editor, at [email protected]. 1. Amtrak’s northbound Vermonter, which travels the NEC to that state from Washington DC daily, is arriving…

  • Restoration of the Desert Wind is needed now!

    Commentary by Anthony Lee, RailPAC Associate Director At the recent congressional hearing regarding re-authorization of Amtrak, Congresswoman Diane Titus(D) of Las Vegas requested a another study regarding restoring passenger rail service to Las Vegas, which is good news. The best option of restoring passenger rail service is a daily connection to the California Zephyr at…

  • RailPAC Writes to CHSRA re Electrification, and the Response

    RailPAC President Paul Dyson wrote to the California High Speed Rail Authority AND other agencies re electrification. The Authority’s Board Chairman Dan Richard replied to Mr. Dyson. TO READ THESE ITEMS YOU MUST CLIC ON THE TITLE AND THEN ON THE BLUE LINES BELOW. Electrification_SCRRA_LACMTA_CHSRA Response_to_Paul_Dyson_9.23.14

  • Capitol Corridor Monthly Report (August, 2014)

    Reported by David B. Kutrosky, Managing Director Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Service Performance Overview A total of 120,553 passengers rode Capitol Corridor trains in August, an uptick of 2.2% compared to August 2013 and marking the fifth consecutive month of ridership increases for the service. Revenue for August 2014 was up 0.5% over August…

  • Let Us Start Now for Rail Service to Nevada

    Commentary by Robert MacDonald, RailPAC member, Oakland On September 11, 2014, the media announced that the Nevada State Legislature had passed the approval of TESLA’s constructing its “gigafactory” at Union Pacific’s station of PATRICK, which is about 13 miles east of the station of Reno. TESLA has announced that their new plant will employ 6,500…

  • Bipartisan Passenger Rail Legislation introduced in U.S. House

    PRESS RELEASE Committee Leaders Introduce Bipartisan Passenger Rail Legislation READ THE BILL at http://transportation.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hr5449.pdf For Immediate Release: September 11, 2014 Contact: Jim Billimoria, Justin Harclerode Washington, DC – Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders today introduced bipartisan legislation that improves the infrastructure, reduces costs, leverages private sector resources, creates greater accountability and transparency, and accelerates project…

  • Followup Comments re HR5449 regarding Amtrak

    NOTE: Below is a commentary on the newly introduced Passenger Rail bill, written by Andrew C. Selden on September 11. The bill was introduced in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on the same date. READ THE BILL at http://transportation.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hr5449.pdf To: Jim Billimoria and Justin Harclerode, U. S. House T & I Committee Gentlemen: HR5449 (Amtrak)…

  • Rail Photos of the Month: August 2014

    Here are this month’s photos by RailPAC photographers. NINE (9) of them this time from everywhere! Click on each photo to see it full size! Contributions to this page are welcome. Send your jpg rail photos to Russ Jackson, RailPAC Photo Editor, at [email protected]. 1. Ever wonder where Amtrak’s ex-Santa Fe “Hi Level” cars are?…

  • The sun is setting earlier now, but what about the fate of Amtrak’s Sunset Limited?

    Commentary by Russ Jackson, RailPAC Opinions expressed are those of the author, not necessarily those of the RailPAC Board The summer of 2014 is thankfully almost over. As this is written there is a week to go until Labor Day, and then the Congress will return to Washington DC for two weeks of yelling at…