Author: Russ Jackson

  • Amtrak CEO Boardman replies to RailPAC re Surfliner problems

    December 17, 2009 Mr. Paul Dyson, President Rail Passenger Association of California 1017 L Street PMB 217 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Paul: Thank you for your letter of December 5,2009, regarding unacceptable service failures on the Pacific Surfliners. We are equally disappointed with the recent service failures on the Surfliner service. You know, as well…

  • TAMC Rail Policy Committee Meeting Report

    Reported by Chris Flescher, RailPAC Associate Director, Salinas November 2, 2009 Commuter Rail to Monterey County There are some advantages to serving Salinas with a Capitol Corridor extension instead of the proposed Caltrain extension. The Capitol Corridor trains would serve both the commute market and the long distance travel market. The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers…

  • RAILPAC/NARP JOINT MEMBERS MEETING, LAS VEGAS, NV Report

    Report by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President 8TH DECEMBER 2009 was a historic day for RailPAC as we held our first ever members meeting in Las Vegas. The meeting was kindly hosted by Bob Fisher, NARP Council member and Director of the Nevada Broadcasters Association. 11 NARP and RailPAC members attended, which is about 30% of…

  • TRACKING RAIL NEWS . . . for December, 2009

    . . . Commentary and PHOTOS by Russ Jackson . . . On Time Performance. How’s this for an OTP for the first 20 days of November: Zephyr 85%, Starlight 85%, Builder 87.5%, CHIEF 97.5%, Sunset 88.9%, Eagle 92.5%. Then you add in the Corridors, Capitols 92.5%, Heartland Flyer 97.5%, Surfliner 80.3%, San Joaquin 91.3%,…

  • Metrolink drops Solo BULLETIN

    Metrolink CEO David Solow was asked to step down on December 11, and was replaced by former Riverside County Transportation Commissioner Eric Haley. Mr. Solow will stay on in a management position until June 30, 2010. Below are the two announcements from Metrolink, one stating action on fare increases and service cuts would be postponed…

  • RailPAC on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter

    By Jarrod DellaChiesa, RailPAC Director, San Lorenzo (NOTE: Jarrod became RailPAC’s newest Director by Board action 12/3/09, and we welcome him aboard!) Keep hearing about “tweeting”, “Facebook” and “posting”?  Well, all those buzzwords refer to Social Media and RailPAC is getting into it! Through social media, you’re now able to quickly find out what’s currently…

  • California Corridors November stats

    From: DAVID B. KUTROSKY, Managing Director, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority The Capitol Corridor November 2009 results are a mixed bag with a continued ridership decline compared to November 2008, yet revenue was above November 2008 with a strong on-time performance (OTP) result as well. It appears as the gap in monthly ridership declines is…

  • Sunset Limited: BULLETIN

    NOTE: Mr. Manning has two confirmations of his information. For a longer report on this issue see: News from URPA This Week at Amtrak; 2009-12-10, link in the right column of this post. Russ Jackson Photo: The daily Texas Eagle arrives at Dallas Union Station December 12. All of us look forward to the day…

  • RailPAC-NARP LAUS Meeting notice

    At Los Angeles Union Station this Saturday! Informal get together for all RailPAC and NARP members. Meet opposite Union Bagel. Come join us for rail talk and holiday good fellowship! Paul Dyson

  • MORE UNACCEPTABLE SERVICE FAILURES ON PACIFIC SURFLINER 12/05/09: Letter to Amtrak

    RAIL PASSENGER ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA 1017 L Street PMB 217, Sacramento, CA 95814 www.railpac.org 5th December, 2009 Mr. Joseph H. Boardman President and Chief Executive Officer NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION 60 Massachusetts Avenue NE Washington DC 20002 Dear Mr. Boardman: Once again I must write to you about the catastrophic service failures on the Pacific…