August 27, 2008 Reported by Marcia Johnston, RailPAC Director, Sacramento and Chuck Roebuck, President, Capitol Corridor Riders and RailPAC Member, Auburn Chart and Photo courtesy Sacramento DOT. The City of Sacramento Department of Transportation held a public workshop August 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to update the public on the latest developments, discuss the…

Published Sunday, August 24, 2008, by the Marin Indpendent Journal By Dick Spotswood, RailPAC Secretary, Mill Valley THE BIG ISSUE on the November ballot in both Marin and Sonoma counties is the passage of Measure Q, a one-quarter cent sales tax to fund construction and operation of a commuter train between Cloverdale and Larkspur. A…

Transportation Agency for Monterey County Rail Policy Committee August 4, 2008 Meeting Reported by Chris Flescher, RailPAC Director, Salinas For the Monterey Branch Line service (Castroville to Monterey), there are questions about building the busway or light rail line in two phases. There are two alternatives and each seems to be very competitive for receiving…

Coast Starlight overnight ridership UP! Report and Comments provided by Eugene K. Skoropowski Managing Director Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Whatever records on ridership and revenue that existed before July 2008 can be considered “smashed” by the July statistics. Major growth happened all across California, and the Capitol Corridor and San Joaquins both grew at…

By RailPAC Director Bruce Jenkins and Treasurer Bill Kerby Photos by Bill Kerby The San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee meeting met in Richmond Thursday, July 17, 2008 at the Richmond Amtrak/BART Station. During Public Comment, Mike Barnbaum (RailPAC Associate Director), made comments on menu items and food service as well as several other items that…

Reported by photographer Mike Palmer Los Angeles Union Station was BUSY on Saturday, July 10. Lots of people on the trains. The line waiting for the Northbound Surfliner #775 around 2:45 (scheduled departure at 2:55) was very long. Metrolink had tons of people getting off the trains at the station. The RailPAC Roundtable met for…

Commentary by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President Agreement uses Coaster train set on weekends to relieve two of the busiest beach and race track trains. Starting next Saturday, July 19, A leased “Coaster” train set will operate as an “advanced” Amtrak 768 and 591 return between Santa Ana and San Diego, according to informed sources at…

By Gene Skoropowski, Capitol Corridor Managing Director The ridership and revenue numbers continue to be VERY GOOD across the board in California, and indeed across the nation. The June 2008 Capitol Corridor statistics from Amtrak are an all-time high for the month of June, as are the stats on the state’s other two intercity passenger…

Commentary by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President Overcrowded Trains? No New Cars Available? Time to Use our Brains! Here are a few statements that I believe reflect the current status of passenger rail in Southern California: Demand is outstripping currently scheduled supply on most days. While scarce Amtrak (Surfliner) equipment operates up to 18 hours a…

Los Angeles Union Station Join RailPAC President Paul Dyson, VP South James Smith, and others for an informal discussion of current issues relating to passenger rail! Look for us in the main waiting room, between the newsstand and the bagel shop.