RailPAC and URPA news release

Former President of RailPAC and currently a Vice President of URPA died of cancer January 30, 1997 in Oceanside, California.

Byron Nordberg was actively engaged in Rail Passenger advocacy and in Rail Passenger Consulting. He began his pro-passsenger rail activeties in the late 60’s by advocating the creation of a new intermodeal transportation center for Oceanside. In collaboration with State Senator and one time Amtrak Board member James Mills he was instrumental in creating what is now the Soutwest Corridor from San Luis Obispo to San Diego served by Amtrak, Metrolink and The Coaster. He was also a player in getting the San Diego Trolley started in the 70’s which lead to the general rail revival in Southern California. When he started his advocacy almost 30 years ago there were fewer than 3000 daily boardings onto rail vehicles in this region. Today, thanks to his work the daily boardings exceed 160,000.

During his extensive rail career, he founded NHA (Nordberg Herzog and Associates) consulting firm which was instrumental in bringing the Toronto bi-level equipment to Southern California. Today over 120 of these cars are in service or on order for Metrolink and the Coaster. As part of the same NHA study that brought the bi-levels to our area, he proposed the use of DMU equipment for teh Oceanside to Escondido line. His last act for rail was to inspect a Siemens Regio Sprinter at the Oceanside Transportation Center less than two weeks ago.

At the time of his death he was working in the Engineering division of Metrolink.

RailPAC and URPA are now in the process of asking to have the Oceanside Transportation Center renamed in his honor.

— Adrian Herzog