The Sacramento train station hosted two big events in December… A Photo Report by Russ Jackson, RailPAC Secretary.

Inside the dedication tent on December 8, Sacramento area officials gathered to enthusiastically support the half-mile extension of the RT light rail line from the K Street “Downtown” Mall into the Amtrak station. In this picture are Mayor Heather Fargo at the podium, with RT District Manager/CEO Dr. Beverly Scott, Transit Board Chair Roger Dickenson, County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan, and Caltrans Director Will Kempon. RailPAC was there in force, (not pictured) with VP North Art Lloyd, Treasurer Bill Kerby, directors Marcia Johnston, and Bruce Jenkins (who can be seen in the front row).

A Sacramento RT light rail train is about to depart the Amtrak station on December 12, passing by the newly restored historic REA Building. This photo was taken from train platform 2, showing how easy it is to walk from the trains to the new Starbucks and the “Soups In The City” restaurant, whose windows on the lower corner provide a great place to watch all the train activity at the station.

An historic Sacramento streetcar, The Daisy, runs under the same catenary as the light rail extension into the train station. There is a plan to return these historic cars to the Tower Bridge, linking West Sacramento and the Capitol Mall. This view of “yesterday and today” shows the great cross-platform transfers possible to Amtrak 6, the eastbound California Zephyr, as well as all the other trains that stop there.

The Capitol Corridor 15th birthday celebration on December 12 was held inside the Sacramento train station on a rainy day. Speakers, seen cutting the commemorative chocolate cake, were (l-r) Amtrak Assistant Superintendent Road Operations Brody Heilman, Capitol Corridor rider Russ Weikle, Capitols Managing Director Gene Skoropowski, CCJPA Chairman and Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickenson, Caltrans Rail Program Chief Bill Bronte (the Corridor’s “banker,”) and passenger Julie Hamilton from the famous “CC Riders”group. All enthusiastically spoke of the success of the trains and enjoyed the cake as did the photographer. Yes, RailPAC was there, too!

There was great coverage by the local print and TV media at the events on December 8 and 12. Here, Caltrans Rail Program Chief Bill Bronte is interviewed on the platform on the 12th by the ABC station, News10. A Capitol trainset is ready to depart for San Jose in the background. The Capitols are now the third busiest Amtrak-operated corridor in the country, with 16 round trips to the Bay Area from Sacramento, carry more than 4,000 riders daily, and have plans for more service coming in future years.

Photos by Russ Jackson, RailPAC Secretary