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Revisited: Sunset Limited “stations” at Deming and Lordsburg, NM and Benson, AZ
Report and Photos by Russ Jackson Originally published in the April 2010 “Tracking the News” In the June, 2007 issue of the Western Rail Passenger Review this writer described the pitiful condition of the places where Trains 1-2 “flag stop” at these three small communities between Tucson and El Paso. At Deming there were two…
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Is CA HSR on Track for Successful Implementation?
A small shift in priorities could produce major benefits sooner and help build public support. Commentary by Ralph James, RailPAC Member, Alta, Blue Canyon CA NOTE: This article also appears in a shorter version in the March Western Rail Passenger Review. Prioritizing the order of expenditure on public projects which may span many years can…
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Tracking Rail News . . . for March 2010
PHOTOS and Comments by Russ Jackson . . . Amtrak Western On Time Performance. On February 19, Train #1, the Sunset Limited arrived at Los Angeles Union Station at 8:20 AM. Nothing remarkable about that since its due at 8:40, but as crew members will tell you they consider that arrival time as being late…
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Trip Report: To “Sacramento Rails” on the Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited
Report and PHOTOS by Russ Jackson Yes, I know those trains don’t go to Sacramento, but on January 13 we boarded Texas Eagle # 21 at Ft. Worth and headed for San Antonio, then on to Los Angeles and drove up the Valley to Sacramento, combining a winter vacation with attending the very successful RailPAC-NARP…
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Response to White House HSR Awards
Commentary by Paul Dyson $2.25 Billion for California High Speed Rail. Too little to make even the smallest impact, and relies on California matching funds. Did anyone tell USDOT that California is broke and can’t even issue passenger rolling stock bonds approved three years ago?Beneficiaries: Consultants and engineering firms. Blue collar jobs created this year…
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High Speed and Commuter Rail Electrification: Is Catenary Height an Issue?
Commentary by Paul Dyson As we contemplate construction of High Speed Rail and electrification of existing routes we need to ask if catenary height an issue. This may seem arcane, almost academic, but it has real implications for the type of railroad network that we want to see here in California. Indeed it raises issues…
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RailPAC-NARP “Sacramento Rails” Meeting Report and Photos
Reported by Russ Jackson, railpac.org editor, with photos by the author. The 60 people who attended the January 16 meeting at the Rail Museum were not disappointed, even on a foggy Saturday in Sacramento. The survival and expansion of rail passenger service was on everyone’s mind, and the speakers were very qualified to discuss the…
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RailPAC writes Senator Boxer re Amtrak Board
Senator Barbara Boxer Washington DC Via Fax 22nd January, 2010 CALIFORNIA REPRESENTATION ON AMTRAK BOARD Dear Senator Boxer: California needs and deserves a representative on the Amtrak Board of Directors. At present there is no Amtrak Board member domiciled west of Illinois. Consider that: The State of California pays Amtrak almost $100 million per year…
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CA Corridors December statistics
Reported by DAVID B. KUTROSKY, Managing Director, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority NOTE: This article contains important future state financial information that Mr. Kutrosky discussed at the RailPAC-NARP Sacramento meeting, which will have impact on the state operated trains. The Capitol Corridor December 2009 results are mixed with a continued ridership decline compared to December…
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RailPAC-NARP Sacramento meeting UPDATE
“SACRAMENTO RAILS” In the California State Rail Museum meeting room where the 2008 annual meeting was held, 111 I Street, just west of the CSRM main building. Minimum Donation: $15, payable in advance: YOU MUST RESERVE BY JANUARY 13! SPACE IS LIMITED to 50, so E-mail [email protected], or call 916-833-4218 to reserve your space NOW.…